The Default Body
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For much of modern medicine, one body has quietly been treated as the default.
And the consequences of that choice are still unfolding today.
As March comes to a close and Women’s History Month comes into focus, this episode explores how the foundations of medical research and practice have historically centered the male body—and what that has meant for women’s health.
From the origins of anatomical study to modern clinical trials, we look at how these patterns formed, how they became normalized, and how they continue to shape diagnosis, treatment, and research funding today.
Because the effects aren’t just theoretical.
They show up in how pain is understood.
In how medications are prescribed.
And in which conditions receive attention—and which are still catching up.
We also explore what’s beginning to change—from increased inclusion in research to emerging efforts that aim to better represent the full population medicine is meant to serve.
Because medicine is built on data.
And data reflects who we choose to study.
References & Further Reading
Sex Bias in Medical Research
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV) Policy
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) – History of Women’s Participation in Clinical Research / NIH Revitalization Act overview
Historical Foundations of Medicine
- Encyclopaedia Britannica – Gray’s Anatomy overview and historical context
- Encyclopaedia Britannica – Galen and early medical theory
Diagnosis & Treatment Gaps
- American Heart Association – Heart attack warning signs and symptom differences
- National Academy of Sciences / National Academies Press – Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health: Does Sex Matter?
Drug Response Differences
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – Zolpidem (Ambien) dosage differences between men and women
Women’s Pain & Clinical Bias
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Sex differences in pain perception and treatment
- Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics – Gender bias in pain assessment and care
Condition-Specific Gaps
- World Health Organization (WHO) – Migraine and other headache disorders
- American Migraine Foundation – Migraine prevalence and impact
- Autoimmune Association – Facts about autoimmune disease
- Office on Women’s Health (HHS) – Women’s health conditions and disparities
Women’s Health & Research Gaps
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Office of Research on Women’s Health – Research initiatives addressing gaps in women’s health
- World Health Organization (WHO) – Global perspective on women’s health disparities
Postpartum & Care Gaps
- 4th Trimester – Our Work
