Author: admin

The Fatal Cost of Being Female

Posted on | by

The Fatal Cost of Being Female

Maya Omkar
August 2025

Author’s Inspiration

I first became grossly aware of South Asian femicide when I picked up Rupi Kaur’s “the sun and her flowers.” Published in 2017, “the sun and her flowers” was Kaur’s second collection of poetry, desired for its minimalistic illustrations and simplistic but preeminent language. Needless to say, I enjoyed flipping through her array of relatable and beautifully descriptive poems; however, there was only one page that moved me deeply to the point where I think about it today. It was a page controversial for not even being a poem: her timeline of South Asian female infanticide. 

As the name suggests, femicide is the intentional murdering of girls or women. Sexism to the point of murder is rooted in centuries of cultural norms, religious beliefs, patriarchal societal structures, and in specified cases, wartime. 

For decades, women have been subjected to several forms of violence and murder whether it be honor-killings, dowry-related, societal downpour, or even just pure domestic violence.[1] Historically, the most common reason for femicide is due to social stigma, often resulting in infanticide. As South Asia’s origins were rooted in deep-seated patriarchal structures, the thought of birthing a girl has been, and sometimes still is, negatively provoking. Today, in several South-Eastern Asian countries, including the likes of China, parents are prohibited from learning the sex of the fetus. From the 1990s to 2017, 10.7 million female infants were documented as missing in India alone.[2] The sex ratio for male versus female has always been off balance in the South-Eastern region, notoriously always favoring males. Today, several organizations in South Asia such as The Pushpa Project and the Invisible Girl Project have branched together to raise awareness and prevent female infanticide from materializing. However, this doesn’t mean cases don’t occur. On September 1st of 2024, a 28-year-old Khyala woman strangled her 6-day-old daughter to death. During the investigation, they found the newborn in a bag lying on the terrace of the house across from hers. The woman told the police she had already faced extreme social stigma for birthing three daughters previously and wanted to repel the suppositions that she was cursed.[5]

Honor killings usually occur when a woman is subjected as “impure,” usually through the breaking of purity norms. A woman’s actions that are deemed dishonorable to her family may result in a homicide, usually committed by a close male relative. The justification for this mindset can only be explained through the common systematic devaluing of women which can be found across many cultures historically. Honor killings are most prevalent in countries where family reputation, societal norms, and community cohesion is significantly important to daily living. In contrast to domestic violence, honor killing is a decision typically made carefully and under the right set of standards where the costs and benefits are weighed. One might assume punishment acts as a deterrent, but the prospect of jail time isn’t an impending concern when it comes to honor killing. Acts of impurity include: refusing an arranged marriage, courting a man other than her husband, divorcing and remarrying, or having an extramarital entanglement.[4] In some cases, the murder is even publicly announced in a boast of glee. In Syria, a woman remembered, “I had just reached the police station…when I saw my classmate Aziz joyfully descending a hill…and chanting ‘I’ve killed her and saved my family’s honour! I’ve killed my sister and have come to hand myself over for justice.’ The three of them strolled slowly into the police station, chatting amicably.”[3] Globally, it’s believed that around 5,000 to 20,000 female lives are taken from honor killing in a year alone. 

 Although the cited cases of femicide and female infanticide occurred in South-East Asia and the Middle East, domestic violence against women is a global issue—it’s everywhere. Regardless of location, gender-based discrimination persists in every society. In much larger and recent cases, when a country is subjected to wartime, gender violence heightens tremendously. The Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been engulfed by a savage war since the mid 1990s. Enriched militant groups have employed sexual violence towards women as a tactic of war, and hasn’t stopped. General Secretaries of the International Trade Union Conference (ITUC) Burrow and Warda wrote, “Violence against women is the worst manifestation of women’s powerlessness and subordinate position at home, at work and in society.”[6] A UN report announced over 55,000 cases of sexual violence documented in the second quarter of 2024.[7] Sexual violence is systematically being used as a method of war in places such as Congo and Sudan.[6] 

Femicide isn’t just a cruel grievance against the individual woman or girl; it’s a feature of a deeply-set sexist society that has failed to protect half its population. No law or paper will ever change the normality of femicide—it demands a change in cultural perseverance and a global commitment to valuing men and women equally. The ongoing difficulties women battle each day serves only as a reminder of the pressing problems we have to face. 

References 

[1]  CORRADI, C. (2021, November 22). Femicide, its causes and recent trends: What do we know? European Parliament. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2021/653655/EXPO_BRI(2021)653655_EN.pdf

[2] Cultural and Social Bias Leading to Prenatal Sex Selection: India Perspective. (2022, June 13). PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9234277/

[3] Churchill Robert Paul. 2018. Women in the Crossfire: Understanding and Ending Honor Killing. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

[4] Aksoy, O., & Szekely, A. (2025, April 11). Making Sense of Honor Killings. SageJournals. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00031224251324504#bibr11-00031224251324504

[5] Jalali, U. (2024, September 1). Female infanticide: Mother of three girls, Khyala woman kills fourth daughter. The New Indian Express. 

[6] ITUC. (n.d.). Violence Against Women in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

[7] United Nations. (2024, September 30). DRC: MSF publishes alarming figures on sexual violence admissions. https://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict

Reactivated X Chromosome Boosts Brain Health in Older Females: A New Frontier to Preserve Cognition

Posted on | by

Reactivated X Chromosome Boosts Brain Health in Older Females: A New Frontier to Preserve Cognition

Carina Garcia
August 2025

It is well-established that women have longer life expectancies and a slower rate of cognitive aging.[1,2] Recent research from UCSF potentially explains differences in aging between sexes. Females possess two X chromosomes – an active X and inactive X, otherwise known as the Barr body. The X chromosome comprises 5% of the genome, however, there are limited studies focusing exclusively on the role of X chromosomes in the brain.[3,4,5] UCSF researchers found that in older female mice, gene expression of  the “inactive” X promoted brain connectivity and cognition. “Cognition is one of our biggest biomedical problems, but things are changeable in the aging brain, and the X chromosome clearly can teach us what’s possible,” said neurology professor Dena Dubal, MD, PhD, and David A. Coulter, Endowed Chair in Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease at UCSF.[5] Therefore, research of the sex differences in aging can not only aid our understanding of health and illness in women, but also highlight potential therapeutic interventions to benefit human health.[3] 

Reactivated X Genes Linked to Brain Function

In March 2025, UCSF researchers engineered two strains of laboratory mice, with the X chromosome from one strain silenced. This hybrid mice sample allowed researchers to gather data of genetic expression from each X chromosome. Researchers concentrated their collection in the hippocampus, a critical site for learning and memory known to decline with age. Remarkably, in older-aged mice (equivalent to a 65-year-old human), the X chromosome expressed about 20 genes in different cells of the hippocampus – one including Plp1, a component of myelin that is integral to neural signaling.[3,5] 

“We immediately thought this might explain how women’s brains remain resilient in typical aging, because men wouldn’t have this extra X,” said Margaret Gadek, a graduate student in UCSF’s combined MD and PhD Medical Scientist Training Program.[5]

Another study analyzing the association of X chromosomes with cognitive changes among a cohort of 508 older individuals (mean age of 88.4) demonstrated that the higher expression of specific X-linked genes were significantly related to slower cognitive decline only in women. Therefore, the gene activity of the X chromosome may contribute to cognitive resilience in aging women.[2]

The Promise of X-Linked Interventions in Aging Brains

“Are there interventions that can amplify genes like Plp1 from the X chromosome to slow the decline – for both women and men – as we age?” said Dubal.[5] 

Plp1 is a myelin component that supports neural insulation and signal transmission.[5] UCSF researchers found elevation of Plp1 in the hippocampus of aging female mice, ultimately improving cognition.[3] To investigate the relation between Plp1 and cognitive resilience, researchers expressed Plp1 in the hippocampus of aging females and male mice. This elevation of Plp1 improved cognitive resilience and performance on learning and memory tests. Given these compelling findings, this is promising for extending the understanding of cognition in older women, the association with the gene expression of the second X, and overall human health.[3,5]  

References

[1] Dattani, S., & Rodés-Guirao, L. (2023, November 27). Why do women live longer than men?OurWorldinData.org. https://ourworldindata.org/why-do-women-live-longer-than-men

[2] Davis, E. J., Solsberg, C. W., White, C. C., Miñones-Moyano, E., Sirota, M., Chibnik, L., Bennett, D. A., De Jager, P. L., Yokoyama, J. S., & Dubal, D. B. (2021). Sex-specific association of the X chromosome with cognitive change and tau pathology in aging and Alzheimer disease. JAMA Neurology, 78(10), 1249. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.2806 

[3] Gadek, M., Shaw, C. K., Abdulai-Saiku, S., Saloner, R., Marino, F., Wang, D., Bonham, L. W., Yokoyama, J. S., Panning, B., Benayoun, B. A., Casaletto, K. B., Ramani, V., & Dubal, D. B. (2025). Aging activates escape of the silent X chromosome in the female mouse hippocampus. Science Advances, 11(10). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ads8169 

[4] The eXceptional nature of the X chromosome. (2018). Human Molecular Genetics, 27(2), 242-249. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddy148

[5] UC San Francisco. (2025, March). The ‘Silent’ X chromosome gives the aging female brain a boost. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2025/03/429571/silent-x-chromosome-gives-aging-female-brain-boost

Modern Birth Control—De-stigmatizing Birth Control

Posted on | by

Modern Birth Control—De-stigmatizing Birth Control

Kashish Patel
August 2025

Even with decades of research, birth control is still one of the most misunderstood topics of women’s health. Misinformation, which is often rooted in social stigmas and outdated science, continues to influence public perception, often impacting the decisions women make. Myths about long-term fertility to hormonal effects discourage women from accepting the reproductive care that would be suitable for them. [1] Understanding the truth behind birth control is essential to get closer to a healthcare culture rooted in knowledge, not fear. 

Woman hand holding a contraceptive panel prevent pregnancy

Common Myths About Birth Control 

Despite 65% of U.S. women aged 15-49 using contraceptives, myths about birth control still fuel confusion and have prevented women from making decisions that could improve their health.[2] These are some of the most common misconceptions and what science has to say:

Myth 1: Birth control causes infertility 

There is no evidence that birth control causes long-term infertility. While birth control can prevent pregnancy while you are on it, most women regain their fertility within weeks to months after stopping. Some forms of birth control can be prescribed to help regulate cycles or manage hormonal conditions such as Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which makes it easier to conceive later. [3]

Myth 2: IUDs can get lost inside your body 

In rare occasions, complications like expulsion or shifting can occur, but IUDs do not “get lost” in the body. They remain in the uterus where they are placed by a healthcare provider. [4] With regular check-ups and by monitoring for signs such as pain, abnormal bleeding, or changes in the menstrual cycle, users can help ensure the IUD remains properly in place.

Myth 3: The pill is only for preventing pregnancy

While contraception is the primary use, many women turn to the pill for other health reasons such as regulating periods, reducing acne, and controlling the symptoms of medical conditions. [5] Birth control is a powerful tool all around and can serve to improve overall reproductive health. 

Your Body, Your Birth Control 

Choosing birth control is different for everyone. There are many factors that should be considered: health, lifestyle, future plans, and comfort with contraceptives. Many women feel overwhelmed by the number of options or are unsure which contraceptives are best for them.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to birth control. It is important to consider factors such as age and medical history. [1]

Some women consider a conversation with a gynecologist or primary care provider to help them narrow down options to find one that satisfies their reproductive needs. In addition, they can assess your medical history and explain how different methods will affect your body and answer any questions about side effects.  

Choosing birth control is an emotional decision as much as it is a medical one. Letting cultural taboos, external pressures, or common misconceptions influence choices can be harmful to one’s future. 

At the end of the day, birth control is a personal choice which should not be influenced by outdated misconceptions. 

References 

[1] Facts are important: Hormonal birth control. ACOG. (n.d.). https://www.acog.org/advocacy/facts-are-important/hormonal-birth-control

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, February 14). Products – data briefs – number 327 – December 2018. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db327.htm 

[3] ColoCRM. (2025, March 31). Can birth control cause infertility?. CCRM Fertility. https://www.ccrmivf.com/blog/can-birth-control-cause-infertility/

[4] Grey, H. (2024, November 28). Common birth control myths and misconceptions. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/birth-control/common-birth-control-myths#withdrawal 

[5] Birth control myths. Nationwide Children’s Hospital. (n.d.). https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/bc4teens/resources/birth-control-myths

Advancing Breast Cancer Prevention: The α-LA Vaccine

Posted on | by

Advancing Breast Cancer Prevention: The α-LA Vaccine

Carina Garcia
June 2025

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and leading cause of death in women globally. Current treatments require multidisciplinary care, allowing for personalized therapies and treatments accounting for certain biomarkers.[3,8] The standard course of treatment for early-stage breast cancer is breast-conserving surgery with radiotherapy or mastectomy, and dependent on the case, may also incorporate adjuvant systemic therapy as needed. Further, the treatment for metastatic breast cancer aims to optimize patient’s quality of life and survival.[8] Breast cancer care is continuously evolving with new, innovative preventive care and treatments, many of which are currently in development and undergoing trials. Among the advancements underway, a promising vaccine known as the α-Lactalbumin (α-LA) vaccine has drawn interest for its targeted approach, focusing on a breast-specific protein.[7] This novel approach could pave the way for the future of breast cancer prevention and improve women’s health.

Image by Freepik

What is α-LA?

α-LA is a breast-restricted protein only expressed during lactation, and it serves as a unique marker for breast cancer.[5,6] Notably, studies have shown that the highest α-LA expression levels were found in patients with stage IV breast cancer. These levels are comparable to those found in women in the last trimester of pregnancy and patients with gynecological cancers. Moreover, the level of α-LA in pregnant females were significantly higher than women with benign breast tumours or non-gynecological cancers and for non-pregnant females and males. Additionally, it is crucial to note that the level of α-LA in patients with stage IV breast cancer were significantly higher than patients with stage I-III breast cancer.[6] Given this context, the elevation of α-LA protein in advanced stages of breast cancer makes it a feasible target for a prophylactic cancer vaccination.[5,7] The groundbreaking concept of an α-LA-targeted vaccine strategy builds upon previous research by the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, which successfully found that the α-LA vaccination completely prevented breast cancer growth in mice at risk for the disease.[4,7] Therefore, further understanding the processes that enable the vaccine to target cancerous cells will provide valuable insights into its potential effectiveness in human patients.

The Inner Workings of the Vaccine 

The α-LA vaccine intends to activate the immune system, forming a protective response against breast cancer cells expressing α-LA.[1] Studies indicate the viability of clinically-inducing a proinflammatory immune response against α-LA.[7] Further, this prophylactic vaccine does not cause any significant inflammation in normal, nonlactating breast tissue, thus minimizing the potential risks of the vaccine.[5] The vaccine also contained an immunologic adjuvant, a drug that enhances the immune response against α-LA to prevent tumor growth.[4]

The α-LA vaccine is an experimental drug not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).[2] Recently, Anixa Biosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company, completed a phase-one clinical trial of the α-LA vaccine. This trial focused on individuals who have completed treatment for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) as well as those at high risk for the disease or its recurrence.[1,4] 

The aim of the phase-one trial was to determine the optimal dosage for participants with early-stage TNBC and to enhance the immune response to the vaccine. The study also included cancer-free individuals who are at high risk for developing TNBC or who have chosen to undergo prophylactic mastectomy because they have a high genetic risk for the disease.[4] 

The three cohorts of this trial included: 

  1. Participants with high-risk TNBC.
  2. Participants scheduled for prophylactic mastectomy secondary to genetic risk of TBNC.
  3. Participants that are post-TBNC treatment and are receiving adjuvant pembrolizumab.[2]

TNBC is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, accounting for 12% to 15% of all breast cancer cases, with a mortality rate of about 25% within five years of diagnosis. At present, the only reliable preventive measure for those at high risk for TNBC is undergoing a mastectomy. Thus, the development of the α-LA vaccine represents a significant step towards alternative preventative care for those affected by or at risk for TNBC.[4]

Optimism at a Professional Level

“We believe we have made significant progress in the development of this vaccine, having recently completed enrollment in the Phase 1 clinical trial. We look forward to the next stage of development and are optimistic about the impact this vaccine could have in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer,” said Amit Kumar, Ph.D, CEO of Anixa Biosciences, Inc.[1] 

The innovative vaccine strategy of the α-LA vaccine inspires a hopeful outlook for the future, where scientific advancements can yield transformative solutions for women’s health.

“Long term, we are hoping that this can be a true preventive vaccine that would be administered to cancer-free individuals to prevent them from developing this highly aggressive disease,” says oncologist Dr. G. Thomas Budd in a statement to the Cleveland Clinic.[4] 

References 

[1] Anixa Biosciences, Inc. (2025, June 3). Anixa biosciences’ breast cancer vaccine featured in NewsNation interview. PR Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anixa-biosciences-breast-cancer-vaccine-featured-in-newsnation-interview-302471341.html 

[2] Budd, G. T., & Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. (2025, May 23). Adjuvant Therapy With an Alpha-lactalbumin Vaccine in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. http://clinicaltrials.gov. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04674306&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1749942627723910&usg=AOvVaw3E-6rajBTKUGmPdIiRTpKp 

[3] Burguin, A., Diorio, C., & Durocher, F. (2021). Breast cancer treatments: Updates and new challenges. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 11(8), 808. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11080808

[4] Cleveland Clinic. (2023, May 15). Is there a vaccine for breast cancer? https://health.clevelandclinic.org/breast-cancer-vaccine-trial

[5] Jaini, R., Kesaraju, P., Johnson, J. M., Altuntas, C. Z., Jane-wit, D., & Tuohy, V. K. (2010). An autoimmune-mediated strategy for prophylactic breast cancer vaccination. Nature Medicine, 16(7), 799-803. https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.2161

[6] Thean, E., & Toh, B. (1990). Serum human α-lactalbumin as a marker for breast cancer. British Journal of Cancer, 61(5), 773-775. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1990.173 

[7] Tuohy, V., Jaini, R., Johnson, J., Loya, M., Wilk, D., Downs-Kelly, E., & Mazumder, S. (2016). Targeted vaccination against human α-lactalbumin for immunotherapy and primary Immunoprevention of triple negative breast cancer. Cancers, 8(6), 56. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers8060056


[8] Wang, J., & Wu, S. (2023). Breast cancer: An overview of current therapeutic strategies, challenge, and perspectives. Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy, 15, 721-730. https://doi.org/10.2147/bctt.s432526

My Body, My Data: A Federal Shift in Reproductive Privacy as of June 2025 

Posted on | by

My Body, My Data: A Federal Shift in Reproductive Privacy as of June 2025 

Sanya Talwar 
June 2025

Congress Reboots Protection with “My Body, My Data” 

On June 11, 2025, U.S. Representatives and Senators introduced the My Body, My Data Act, sponsored by Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) and Senators Mazoe Hirono (D-HI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), with the aim to create federal guardrails around reproductive health data —including menstruation, contraception, IVF, pregnancy, and abortion records— by limiting how companies collect, store, and share it.[1] The legislation would require informed user consent, strong data deletion options, and harsh penalties for misuse.[2] 

Digital Trials, Real-World Consequences 

This renewed push follows documented misuse of digital data. In a 2022 Nebraska case, Facebook messages between a mother and daughter were used as evidence in an illegal abortion prosecution.[3] In Texas, prosecutors used license-plate readers to identify people visiting abortion clinics. Anti-abortion activists have geofenced Planned Parenthood clinics, delivering targeted digital ads to visitors.[4] 

This isn’t just invasive—it’s dangerous. Experts warn that without regulation, reproductive health data can and is being used to criminalize people for seeking care. 

What the Bill Actually Does 

The Bill proposes: 

  • Data minimization: Companies can only collect data necessary for delivering requested services.
  • Consent-Driven access: Users must explicitly agree to data use and can demand deletion
  • Transparency: Platforms must disclose data practices clearly.
  • Enforcement: Companies violating the law could be fined up to $1000 per user per day.[2] 

These protections mirror Washington State’s 2023 My Health, My Data Act, which has become a model for reproductive digital privacy law nationwide.[5] 

Backers Weigh In 

Reproductive rights groups have endorsed the legislation. Mini Timmaraju, president of Reproductive Freedom for All, emphasized the stakes: “No one should fear that their period app or search history could be used against them in court”[1] 

Dr. Dhazaleh Moayedi, an OB-GYN, stressed that patients’ safety depends on privacy: “We cannot provide ethical care if our patients are at legal risk for seeking help.”[6] 

Even tech experts are speaking out. Mozilla Foundation warned in 2024 that 87% of health apps lack proper user protections.[7] 

Parallel Bill Targets Law Enforcement 

In May 2025, five House Democrats introduced a complementary bill: the Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act, which would block law enforcement from accessing reproductive data in civil or criminal investigations, including fertility treatment, miscarriage records, and abortion communications.[8] 

Why This Matters Right Now 

  • A 2025 academic review of 45 health apps found that most apps transmitted user data to third-party marketers or analytics firms, often without full user consent.[7] 
  • States like New York, Connecticut, and California have been passing their own data shield laws to counter federal inaction.[5] 
  • Without federal legislation, people in anti-abortion states remain exposed to potential criminalization through digital footprints.[4] 

A New Era of Advocacy 

My Body, My Data reframed reproductive justice in the digital age. It acknowledges that the post-Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization reality extends beyond clinics and courtrooms—it reaches into browsers, apps, and smart devices. Protecting personal data is now a fundamental part of defining bodily autonomy. 

This legislation, if passed, would be the most comprehensive federal privacy protection for reproductive data in American history. As of now, the bill has been introduced but has not yet passed. Lawmakers expect debates and committee reviews over the summer, with a potential floor vote anticipated in the fall session of Congress. Advocates are urging swift action given the urgency of reproductive data vulnerabilities nationwide. And even if it fails in the short term, the momentum for digital rights is building state by state—and person by person.

At its core, this debate is about basic human rights—the right of every woman to control her body and her health information without fear or interference. Reproductive data privacy should not be negotiable—it must be a federally protected right. 

References 

[1] Jacobs, S., Hirono, M., & Wyden, R. (2025, June 11). Democrats reintroduce the My Body, My Data Act to protect reproductive health data. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/11/democrats-my-body-my-data-act

[2] U.S. House of Representatives. (2025). My Body, My Data Act – Bill Summary. https://www.congress.gov 

[3] Levenson, M. (2022, August 10). Nebraska woman charged after police obtain Facebook messages about abortion. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com 

[4] Brenan, M. (2024, December 15). Geofencing, health data, and abortion: The new front in digital surveillance. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com 

[5] Washington State Legislature. (2023). My Health, My Data Act. https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary 

[6] Physicians for Reproductive Health. (2025). Dr. Moayedi’s Congressional Testimony on Data Privacy. https://prh.org 

[7] Mozilla Foundation. (2024). Privacy not included: Health and period-tracking apps. https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded [8] U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce. (2025, May 22). Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act introduced. https://energycommerce.house.gov

The Pink Tax: The Hidden Cost of Being a Woman

Posted on | by

The Pink Tax: The Hidden Cost of Being a Woman

Manushree Kanchi
June 2025

Even though it may sound like a government-imposed fee, the “Pink Tax” is not an actual tax. Instead, it describes the overpricing of products and services marketed solely towards women. This “tax” encompasses a wide range of items from drugstore to professional. Women are often faced paying more than men for the same items with the only difference being the color of packaging or the gender label. It is disparities like these that quietly add up over time to contribute to the expensive cost of being a woman.

Image by Freepik

In Everyday Life

A 2015 study by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs studied an estimate of 800 products. The conclusion found that women’s products cost an average of 7% more than similar items that are marketed to men. The study also showed that there was a 13% upcharge on personal care products and even a 7% price difference for children’s items. Neutrally categorized items such as razors and lotions are usually priced higher for women. They are often packaged in pink and labeled “for her”. [1]

Not only do products reflect this gendered pricing, but services do as well. For example, the dry cleaners may charge more to clean a woman’s blouse than a man’s shirt, even when the materials are nearly identical. Haircuts for women tend to be more expensive than men’s, regardless of hair length. These patterns in pricing are integrated so deeply into everyday life that most people don’t even question them. However, these common occurrences do accumulate quickly and over the course of a year, can cost women over $1,300 more than men. [2]

Compounding the Wage Gap

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women earn about 83 cents for every dollar a man earns. For women of color, the gap is even wider. Overall, women are often spending more while earning less. [3]

Critics of the term “Pink Tax” sometimes argue that women can just buy men’s products to avoid the markup of their own. While this is true, this dismisses the real issue at hand. Many women feel pressure to use products marketed specifically for them to meet societal standards of appearance or femininity. Some essential items like menstrual products have no male equivalent at all. In many U.S. states, feminine hygiene products have been taxed as luxury items. 

Legal Action & What Comes Next

There are some states that have taken steps towards addressing the issue. In 2022, California passed the Gender Tax Repeal Act, which prohibits businesses from charging different prices for “substantially similar” goods based on gender. [4] While there are a couple states with legislation like this in place, efforts to pass a federal Pink Tax Repeal Act have been stalled, leaving many American consumers unprotected from gender-based pricing.

Ending the Pink Tax isn’t just about lowering prices of personal products or services. It’s about economic fairness and gender equity. While women pay more when they earn less, society silently penalizes them for their gender. Advocates and lawmakers must continue pushing for change to ensure pricing becomes fair and truly equal.

References

[1] From Cradle to Cane: The Cost of Being a Female Consumer. (n.d.). https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dca/downloads/pdf/partners/Study-of-Gender-Pricing-in-NYC.pdf 

[2]: Taylor, K. R. (2023, March 8). Pink tax: What does price discrimination cost women?. Kiplinger. https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/pink-tax-womens-products-price-discrimination 

[3] Ascott, E. (2025, March 21). Women still earn 83 cents to every dollar made by men, despite pay transparency. Allwork.Space. https://allwork.space/2025/03/women-still-earn-83-cents-to-every-dollar-made-by-men-despite-pay-transparency/#:~:text=Women%20 Still%20 Earn%2083%20 Cents,By%20 Men%2C%20 Despite%20 Pay%20 Transparency 

[4] California implements “Pink tax” law prohibiting gender-based pricing for substantially similar products | practical law. (n.d.-a). https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/w-037-9037?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)&firstPage=true 

Cervical Cancer and HPV: A Preventable Disease

Posted on | by

Cervical Cancer and HPV: A Preventable Disease

Ali A. Lateef
June 2025

While breast cancer is linked to a number of genetic and environmental factors, cervical cancer is overwhelmingly a virus-linked condition. Specifically, the human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for 95% of cervical malignancies.[7]  It is this link between HPV and cervical cancer that makes eliminating the latter a possibility by controlling and eradicating the former.

Image by Freepik

Overview

HPV is not one entity, but instead a group of variant yet similar pathogens. It is linked to many types of cancer in addition to cervical cancer such as vulvar, vaginal, anorectal, oropharyngeal, and penile cancers.

Most infections with HPV are effectively handled by the immune system without any long-term issues and often without the person knowing they were even infected because of a lack of symptoms. If, however, it does persist, and it’s one of the cancer-causing (oncogenic) types, then it becomes a source of concern.

In symptomatic infections with certain HPV types, warts start developing in various areas including the hands and feet, mouth and face, and/or the anal and genital areas, resolving on their own in a matter of 1-2 years. These wart-causing types are not connected to cancers, and the oncogenic types usually cause completely silent infections.

After 15-20 years of infection with an oncogenic type, cancerous development could be seen in the cervix. Early stages are often asymptomatic and only when there’s been significant growth can cancer symptoms usually be seen.[5]

The Lived Experience

Cervical cancer takes decades to develop, and symptoms can take time to appear, so for most patients hearing the news that they’ve got cancer is often a blindsiding experience, and they have little time to fully digest the news as they must hastily decide upon a treatment plan.

When they arise, symptoms include abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge (post-menopause, between periods, after sex, or heavier/longer than usual), pelvic pain, and in more progressive disease swelling of the legs and urinary or bowel issues.[2]

Within weeks, a person can go from believing themself to be completely healthy to possibly preparing to undergo surgery that may approach a radical hysterectomy.

Chemotherapy, radiation, and brachytherapy (internal radiation) can cause a host of side effects: nausea and vomiting, fatigue, anxiety, skin issues, bowel and urinary issues, and loss of appetite/weight, with the whole experience being physically tiring and emotionally draining.

Throughout this journey, support from friends and family provides a lifeline for many patients to not lose themselves in worry and doubt, and support from their partners can help maintain the connection of intimacy between them.[1]

Prevention, Protection, Treatment

The principal method of HPV control is vaccination, with the American CDC recommending routine vaccination at 11-12 years of age.

The vaccine currently used in the USA is the 9-valent Gardasil®, meaning that it protects against 9 HPV types, most notable among them are types 16 and 18 which alone cause 66% of cervical cancers. Overall, the types covered by the vaccine account for about 81% of all cervical cancer cases.[6]

Practicing safe sex has some efficacy in protecting against HPV, although condoms don’t offer full skin protection and a significant percentage of the sexually active population is infected at any given time, so the main prevention strategy remains vaccination, accompanied with safe sex and limiting the number of sexual partners.[4]

If someone gets infected with HPV, there’s currently no cure for it, but that may change in the future as a new vaccine, Vvax001, is being tested as a potential treatment for type 16 positive patients with premalignant developments in their cervix.[3] Findings from its phase 2 trial were published in March of this year, so there’s still more testing to be done before it becomes available.

Conclusion

While HPV has a tendency towards malignancy, the process occurs at a very slow rate making the development of cancers span decades.

Cervical cancer symptoms can take time to arise, and when they do arise they’re sometimes confused for other conditions which delays proper diagnosis and treatment, making routine Pap smears essential for accurate early diagnoses.

By educating ourselves and future generations about how we can protect ourselves from this disease, sharing the stories of survivors, promoting vaccination, and attending regular screenings, we can become one of the last generations to ever suffer from this disease.

References

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Cervical cancer screening and survivor stories. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/cervical-cancer/stories/index.html 

[2] Cervical cancer symptoms: Signs of cervical cancer. Cervical Cancer Symptoms | Signs of Cervical Cancer | American Cancer Society. (2024, October 2). https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html 

[3] Eerkens, A. L., Esajas, M. D., Brummel, K., Vledder, A., van Rooij, N., Plat, A., Avalos Haro, S. B., Paijens, S. T., Slagter-Menkema, L., Schuuring, E., Werner, N., Kosterink, J. G. W., Kroesen, B.-J., Wilschut, J. C., Daemen, T., Bart, J., Nijman, H. W., de Bruyn, M., & Yigit, R. (2025). VVAX001, a therapeutic vaccine, for patients with HPV16-positive high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: A phase II trial. Clinical Cancer Research, 31(6), 1016–1026. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-24-1662 

[4] How to protect against HPV. American Cancer Society. (2024, April 30). https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/hpv/hpv-prevention.html 

[5] HPV and cancer. NCI. (2025, May 9). https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hpv-and-cancer 

[6] HPV vaccine administration | CDC. CDC. (2021, November 16). https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/hpv/hcp/administration.html 

[7] World Health Organization. (2024, March 5). Cervical cancer. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cervical-cancer 

Pomegranates, A Woman’s Fruit?

Posted on | by

Pomegranates, A Woman’s Fruit?

Harika Maganti
June 2025

Originating in the Middle East and northern India, and grown widely across central/south Asia and the Mediterranean, pomegranates have always been a trendy fruit, and while they have been prized for centuries in many cultures around the world for their alleged health benefits (specifically for women), do these claims hold up when viewed under our modern day scientific lens?

Image by Freepik

Nutritional Profile

Pomegranates consist mostly of water, and are a good source of fiber, vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, potassium, and antioxidants. There are numerous phytochemicals and flavanoids in both the seeds (arils) as well as the peel. The deep red of the juice comes from anthocyanins, and if the name sounds familiar it’s because that’s the same compound found in blueberries. An oil can be made from the seeds, and the oil is particularly rich in fatty acids like punic acid, and tannins like punicalagin and punicalin.[4] 

Health Benefits

Pomegranates have potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, there are nearly 122 phytochemicals found in the fruit![3]  It is safe to say their Punic acid, (found only in pomegranates) has potential anti-cancer properties as well as being heart-healthy.[4]  Ellagic acid, also known as ellagitannins, can slow the growth of cancer cells, and also directly stop the biochemical inflammatory pathways. Essential oils from the fruit contain anti-microbial, and even insect repelling properties.[1]   

Effects on Women

But how can this fruit help women? Menopause and perimenopause are times in a woman’s life where she undergoes many physical, mental, and emotional changes. Pomegranate extracts can help reduce symptoms like night-sweats, and hot flashes, and may even help with bone problems common to the menopausal age group like osteoporosis.[1]  Research is starting to show that pomegranates can work to keep the hormones in balance, specifically estrogen.[1] These characteristics also make them useful for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, the polyphenols of pomegranates are anti-androgenic.[1] Studies show that the juice of the fruit was even able to reverse changes to the endometrial lining caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome.[1] As we discussed earlier, pomegranates have anti-cancer properties, and research is starting to show that the fruit is especially effective against breast cancer.[1] Specifically they can help to stop the conversion of androgen to estrogen, which helps to prevent the development and spread of affected breast cells, the ellagatannins and punic acid are especially effective.[1]   

Conclusion

Pomegranates have so many special components, that it’s possible that there are still many more undiscovered health benefits. The fruit has always been linked to the fairer sex throughout history, from its association with various Greek and Mesopatmian goddesses to the Virgin Mary by many renaissance painters, the blood-red seeds are a visual metaphor for life, fertility, and motherhood in many cultures around the world.[2]  So for women, perhaps a pomegranate a day may truly keep the doctors away.   

References

[1] Jang, J. Y., Kim, D., Im, E., & Kim, N. D. (2024, October 3). Therapeutic potential of pomegranate extract for women’s reproductive health and breast cancer. Life (Basel, Switzerland). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11509572/#sec4-life-14-01264 

[2] Neher, G. (2025, January 20). Tiktok’s pomegranate obsession: The Trendy Fruit was also big during the Renaissance to talk about female fertility. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/tiktoks-pomegranate-obsession-the-trendy-fruit-was-also-big-during-the-renaissance-to-talk-about-female-fertility-221440 

[3] UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, & Taufer, J. (n.d.). Citrus research and education center. Pomegranate Health Benefits – Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) – University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences – UF/IFAS. https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/pomegranates/pomegranate-health-benefits/ 

[4] Zarfeshany, A., Asgary, S., & Javanmard, S. H. (2014, March 25). Potent health effects of pomegranate. Advanced biomedical research. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4007340/#ref-list1

Eunice Foote: A Scientist Written Out of History 

Posted on | by

Eunice Foote: A Scientist Written Out of History 

Harshitha Chaganti 
March 2025

Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Galileo Galilei, and Marie Curie are the names that often come to mind when we think of great scientists, yet only one of them is a woman. Throughout history, countless women have made groundbreaking scientific discoveries, only to have their contributions overlooked or credited to men. One such scientist is Eunice Newton Foote, a pioneering researcher whose work on the greenhouse effect predated some of the most well-known climate science, yet for years her name remained in the shadows of history.

Image by Freepik

Eunice Newton Foote was born on July 17, 1819 in Goshen, Connecticut. She pursued her education at the Troy Female Seminary (now Emma Willard School), an institution famous for its progressive approach to women’s education during the era. There, she developed an interest in scientific subjects, laying the groundwork for her future experiments.

In 1856, Foote conducted experiments to understand the warming effect of various different atmospheric gases. Using household items, glass cylinders, thermometers, and an air pump, she measured how gases carbon dioxide (then known as “carbonic acid gas”) and water vapor absorbed heat when exposed to sunlight. Her findings were groundbreaking: 

  • Carbon Dioxide’s Heat Absorption: Foote observed that carbon dioxide absorbed more heat and retained it longer than other gases, leading her to conclude that an atmosphere rich in this gas would elevate Earth’s temperature. 
  • Implications for Climate: She hypothesized that variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels could have contributed to historical climate changes, suggesting that higher concentrations would result in a warmer planet. 

Foote’s work predated the more widely recognized experiments of John Tyndall by three years, yet her contributions remained largely unrecognized during her lifetime. Had her research received the attention it deserved, discussions about climate change might have begun much earlier, potentially influencing policies and scientific advancements that could have helped mitigate global warming before it became a crisis.

Despite the significance of her research, Foote faced societal barriers typical of the 19th century. As a woman, she was not permitted to present her findings at the 1856 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Instead, Professor Joseph Henry of the Smithsonian Institution presented her paper, acknowledging the limitations placed on women in science at the time.

Foote’s work was subsequently overshadowed, and her name faded into obscurity. It wasn’t until recent decades that historians and scientists revisited her experiments, recognizing her as a pioneer in climate science. In 2019, on the 200th anniversary of her birth, NOAA celebrated her contributions, shedding light on her role in early climate studies.

Eunice Newton Foote’s story is a testament to the challenges women in science have historically faced and the importance of acknowledging their contributions. Her experiments laid the foundation for our understanding of the greenhouse effect and climate change. Today, as we grapple with global warming, Foote’s early insights serve as a reminder of the critical need for diverse voices in scientific discourse.

By bringing Eunice Foote’s legacy to the forefront, we not only honor her achievements but also inspire future generations of women scientists to pursue their passions, undeterred by the biases of their time.

References

[1] First Paper to link CO2 and global warming, by Eunice Foote (1856). The Public Domain Review. (n.d.). https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/first-paper-to-link-co2-and-global-warming-by-eunice-foote-1856/ 

[2] Huddleston, A. (2019, July 17). Happy 200th birthday to Eunice Foote, Hidden Climate Science Pioneer. NOAA Climate.gov. https://www.climate.gov/news-features/features/happy-200th-birthday-eunice-foote-hidden-climate-science-pioneer

[3] Kurland, Z., Hafner, K., & Feder, E. (2024, February 20). The woman who demonstrated the greenhouse effect. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-woman-who-demonstrated-the-greenhouse-effect

A Deadly Glow: The Case of the Radium Girls

Posted on | by

A Deadly Glow: The Case of the Radium Girls

Tanvir Bhamra
March 2025

Let’s set the scene:

it’s the early 1920s, the world is still at war, and industries are booming, including one that promised an ethereal glow with a brand new material–radium. Recently discovered by Marie Curie and her husband Pierre in 1898, it was quickly implemented into everyday items in society. The miracle element produced a glow that was seen as an opportunity to evolve the dials on clocks and watches, a paint mixture containing zinc sulphide and radium was made to make the hands and numbers visible in the dark. And who was responsible for applying this glow-in-the-dark magic? Young, working-class women, unaware that the very paint they handled would slowly poison them.[2]

Image by Freepik

They were employed at factories like the United States Radium Corporation (USRC), sitting in rows, carefully painting tiny numbers on the dials. At the same time, they were encouraged to practice “lip-pointing,” a technique where the tip of the paintbrush was pressed against their lips to keep the strokes fine and precise. The process would often involve the women ingesting a little of the radium-infused paint, and when concerns were brought to their supervisors about the side effects, they were met with claims of it being harmless and even beneficial to health.[2] This is something the vast majority thought as well. A small amount of radium was believed to be a miracle medicine, having been used in commercial products like facial creams and water.[1]

Radium, like all radioactive elements, emits ionizing radiation–an invisible force that can wreak havoc on the human body at a cellular level. When the Radium Girls ingested tiny amounts of radium daily through the instructed technique, the substance didn’t just pass through their bodies–it became part of them.[2] Radium behaves similarly to calcium, with the body mistaking the two and absorbing it into the bones, slowly destroying tissue from the inside out. The results were horrifying: necrosis of the jaw (deterioration of jaw bones), anemia, and cancers.[1] Even Marie Curie, the scientist who discovered radium, fell victim to its deadly effects, dying from aplastic anemia (lack of new blood cells being produced), a condition caused by prolonged exposure to radiation. At the time, little was understood about the dangers of radiation, but the tragic deaths of the Radium Girls helped expose its devastating impact. 

One by one, the girls started showing symptoms and falling sick. First, it was the teeth–painfully crumbling and falling out. This was followed by aching bones, mysterious tumors, and deteriorating bodies. The USRC had known prior, maybe not to the full extent, but they at least knew radium was dangerous and had even warned their male scientists to wear protective gear while the women were left in the dark, with the only remaining light source coming from their own bodies.[3] 

In 1922, Amelia (Mollie) Maggia, one of the first known victims of radium poisoning, suffered a horrific and mysterious illness that began with a toothache and quickly escalated into agonizing ulcers, bone decay, and excruciating pain. Her jaw had even fallen into her dentist’s hands with no tools needed. By September, the relentless disease had spread to her throat, causing her to die at the mere young age of 24. Her death was falsely labeled as syphilis, a misdiagnosis the company later used to discredit the growing concerns about radium’s dangers. Meanwhile, more of her colleagues including Grace Fryer were beginning to suffer similar symptoms, but their employer, the USRC, refused to take responsibility, even going as far as to fund studies that denied any link between their work and deteriorating health.[3]

Despite being dismissed and ignored, the women fought back, determined to hold the company accountable. Grace Fryer led the legal battle, securing a lawyer after years of rejections, but the statute of limitations and lack of legal recognition for radium poisoning made the case an uphill climb.[3] Eventually, in 1927, the women settled out of court, but their story gained national attention, inspiring another group of dial painters in Illinois, led by Catherine Wolfe Donohue, to continue the fight. Even as she wasted away from a massive tumor, Donohue testified from her deathbed in 1938 ultimately winning justice and helping to establish workplace safety laws that still protect workers today.[1] The Radium Girls’ suffering was immeasurable, but their bravery changed labor rights forever; Their legacy serves as a powerful reminder that perseverance and courage can ignite lasting change, ensuring safer workplaces for future generations.  

References

[1] Balkansky, A. (2019, March 19). Radium Girls: Living Dead Women. Library of Congress Blogs. https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2019/03/radium-girls-living-dead-women/

[2] Bryan-Quamina, G. (2023, April 11). The Radium Girls. Science Museum Group. https://blog.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/the-radium-girls/

[3] Moore, K. (2017, May 5). The Forgotten Story Of The Radium Girls, Whose Deaths Saved Thousands Of Workers’ Lives. https://www.afacwa.org/the_forgotten_story_of_the_radium_girls_whose_deaths_saved_thousands_of_workers_lives