Gender Stereotypes Explain Disparities in Pain Care and Inform Equitable Policies

Abstract

Despite women experiencing and reporting more pain than men, women receive less intensive and effective treatment for their pain. The current work leverages the well-developed social psychological literature on gender stereotypes, specifically stereotypes of emotionality, to understand gender biases in pain care. Specifically, gender stereotypes about emotionality may generate beliefs that women dramatize, overemphasize, or even fabricate their experiences of pain relative to men. This mistrust in women’s experiences of pain could undermine efficacy and equality of care. Research needs to directly examine the role of provider stereotype endorsement in pain care disparities, how these stereotypes influence patient–provider interactions, and whether these stereotypes may be implicit in health care policies. Established interventions and potential policy reform could combat gender-emotionality stereotypes and thereby mistrust of women’s reports in the context of pain treatment.