Stewart CohenDirector/DP/Photographer, Stewart Cohen Pictures · Director/DP/Photographer @ Stewart Cohen Pictures | Film Production

SC Pictures | AHA | Research Goes Red :90 | Director Stewart Cohen

16 Sept 2020 · 2 min

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1:50

In this 90‑second public service announcement, three women (Speaker A, B, and C) articulate why women—especially women of color—have been historically underrepresented in medical research and why that matters. They note that it took a congressional act to mandate inclusion of women, yet gaps remain, with cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of death for women and new mothers, and many medications used during pregnancy never tested on pregnant women. The speakers emphasize that research findings derived from men are often inappropriately applied to women, underscoring that "women are not little men." They call viewers to join the American Heart Association’s Research Goes Red initiative, which aims to place women in the driver’s seat of scientific discovery. The PSA urges participation regardless of health status or location, encouraging women to be counted, matter, and shape their own health futures.

Chapters

Because I might want to have kids. Because of my hormones. Because I'm pregnant.
Because it might cost too much to include me.
Because the results in men easily apply to women. Because I'm a woman.
For many reasons, women have long been underrepresented in research. In fact, it literally took an act of Congress to mandate the inclusion of women.
But there's still so much more that needs to be done. And women of color have the most catching up to do.
I won't let history dictate my future. It's time for change. It's time for change.
It's time for change.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women.
It's also the number one cause of death of new moms. Not to mention that most pregnant women will take some kind of over-the-counter medication that's never been tested in pregnant women.
Even today, many women are medically treated based on research results of men.
Women are not little men. Participating in research can help change these facts. That's why I'm joining Research Goes Red. Go Red for Women's newest initiative that puts women in the driver's seat to accelerate scientific discovery. You don't have to be sick.
You don't have to be unwell. You don't even have to leave your living room.
But it's time we had more women creating solutions for women. So watch me.
Watch me be counted. Watch me matter. Watch me be represented.
Watch me change my future.
Watch me go red.