Women in alternative health care. Their influence on traditional medicine

B. Rowland and L. J. Schneiderman

Male domination of the traditional health care systems is well recognized. In contrast, it appears that women are a more important force in the alternative health care system, which is made up of neighborhood clinics and community health centers. A study of 17 such alternative health care centers in the San Diego area discloses that women account for almost half of the directors, all seven of the assistant directors, more than three-fourths of the clinic coordinators, and almost half (40%) of the membership of the boards of directors. Since many of the recent innovations in traditional health care derive from the alternative health care movement, the influence of women on the traditional systems may be more substantial than heretofore recognized.