As Long as Life, Mary Canaga Rowland, M.D., 1873-1966: The Memoirs of a Frontier Country Doctor

These accounts culminate in chapter eight, which describes in detail how women across the globe mobilize and empower themselves to combat these health-threatening situations. It explains their growing effort to assert some autonomy over their well-being by organizing self-supporting groups (such as self-help networks, lobbyist groups and campaign committees) to address such issues as spouse abuse, poor sanitation, insufficient medical services, and unsafe working conditions. While some of these groups consist of women working individually and others reflect alliances with government agencies, all share the mutual goal of making women's health a top priority in their society. This book is as suitable for an undergraduate in women's studies as for a medical professional engaged in public health practice. It is written in clear, unambiguous terms and contains an abundance of references as well as a brief, annotated bibliography at the end of each chapter. Such clarity and thoroughness make the work a timely addition to the current literatuLe op women's health, yet what renders it most valuable are its innovative ideas. Doyal's work represents not only an educational resource but also an instrument for social and political action. She makes a compelling argument for women's health care reform, calling for a restructuring of traditional epidemiological methods so that women's ailments may be examined within the context of their daily lives.