Chemical Entanglements - Gender & Exposure

The event I attended on Thursday, May 4th, was “Chemical Entanglements - Gender & Exposure.” This talk was based on the discussion of the gendered impacts of chemicals on human populations, and the lecturer, Florence Williams, she particularly pointed out the issue on toxic chemical effect of the association with women. For example, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Surprisingly, according to the data which shows the information about world cancer statistic for both sexes, breast cancer was the second most common cancer.  Indeed, the samples of this statistical result were only collected and counted with women (male excluded). Therefore, it is the topic that really worth to considerate and do the research of the consequence that has been caused by environmental toxins. In addition, it should be a concern that the effects of environmental toxins make the different impacts on different genders, especially the dangers for women.

Photo with a beautiful stuff of the event

Why we have to pay attention to this topic, which is not only focusing on the relationship of chemicals and public health but also keeping an eye on gender. Because it is so true that Florence said “humans are the only animal with breasts, and human’s breasts are very unique.” Indeed, breastfeeding is a praiseworthy behavior and the credit must go to all mothers. Only female can do this which is cherishable- breastfeeding. However, in the meantime, women are under the suffering of the environmental impacts on their health from the way of social norm. The point was revealed by Rachel C. Lee, a director of UCLA Center for the Study of Women, she said “ through feminized roles, women have been disproportionately exposed to toxic chemicals that have been explicitly marketed to women and structured around the reinforcement of gender and racialized beauty norms.”

Yes, women have been getting a lot of exposure to chemicals in cosmetics for the reason of looking prettier or adorable, which is the code of beauty norm in society. For example, skinny, blonde, or busty are kinds of the standards of beauty. For achieving this kind of beauty, women probably go through dying hair, making lots of makeup, or even doing plastic surgery. All the way that women go through are involving some chemicals, such as parabens and phthalates, which are harmful. Social and cultural practice can disproportionally expose women to petrochemicals, such as phthalates(Oertelt-Prigione, 2012). Yet, phthalates have been the widely used in consumer products. We cannot deny that the chemicals in cosmetics make us look, feel and smell better. However, the research strongly suggests that at certain exposure levels, some of these chemicals may contribute to the development of cancer in people.

In fact, these chemicals which women use daily, such as nail polish and hair-spray, are considered hormone disruptors. According to the science study, hormone disruptors can affect how estrogen and other hormones act in the body, by blocking them or mimicking them, which throws off the body’s hormonal balance. And it should be noticed that the development and growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer would be made by the changing of estrogen.

myself during the event

In short, regarding to the view that has been proposed by Harvard School of Public Health, people in the U.S. are exposed to more than one hundred chemicals daily from the use of personal care products (Roeder 2014, n.p.). Those chemicals are present in our blood and urine. Such the study shows that “it has been linked to rising rates in breast cancer, asthma, autism, reproductive problems, and other health issues” (Roeder 2014, n.p.). Thus, what we should do is reducing everyday exposure to toxic chemicals in personal care products. It is the way to improve women’s health and give the better way of breastfeeding without any of worries.

Reference:

Arriola, Isa. "REDUCING EVERYDAY EXPOSURE TO TOXIC CHEMICALS IN PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS CAN IMPROVE WOMEN’S HEALTH." CSW.UCLA.EDU/CE. CSW.UCLA.EDU/CE. (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 12 May 2017. <https://csw.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/Policy-Brief-23-Arriola.pdf>

"Exposure to Chemicals in Cosmetics." Breastcancer.org. Breastcancer.org, n.d. Web. 12 May 2017. <http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/cosmetics>

Jordan. "Beauty Ideals Around The World." Google Sites. Google.com, n.d. Web. 12 May 2017. <https://sites.google.com/a/uw.edu/sociology-165-jordan-winters/home/beauty-ideals-around-the-world>

Kelley, Melissa. "LIMITING EXPOSURE TO PHTHALATES IN PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS." CSW.UCLA.EDU/CE. CSW.UCLA.EDU/CE. (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 12 May 2017. <https://csw.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/Policy-Brief-22-Kelley.pdf>

"Personal Care Products." Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP). Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (Formerly Breast Cancer Fund), n.d. Web. 12 May 2017. <https://www.bcpp.org/our-work/personal-care-products/>

"Policy Briefs." Center for the Study of Women. UCLA, n.d. Web. 12 May 2017. <https://csw.ucla.edu/publications/policy-briefs/>

Roeder, A. " Harmful, untested chemicals rife in personal care products." Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health News, 13 Feb 2014. Web. 12 May 2017. <https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/harmful-chemicals-in-person-al-care-products/>