This interdisciplinary project provides an informative, accessible, and comprehensive introduction to women's health. Emphasizing the perspectives of diverse groups of women, it addresses various biological, economic, social, environmental, and political factors that influence women's health and well-being.
Women are more likely than men to experience mood disorders, certain types of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, arthritis, lupus, and celiac disease. In addition, women face significantly more barriers to health care than men due to a variety of social, economic, political, and environmental factors, including inequality, poverty, legislation, and pollution. Despite this, the field of women's and girls' health remains both understudied and underfunded.

Women's Health: Understanding Issues and Influences explores important topics in the field of women's health in the early 21st century, offering readers a comprehensive and informative yet accessible introduction to women's health in the United States. While some topics are unique to women's health, others illustrate how women's health and women's experiences within the U.S. health care system are different from men's, as well as how certain health issues impact women differently than men. Entries have been crafted by a diverse team of contributors with wide-ranging expertise, and each entry features a collection of further readings and cross references to other relevant entries.

• Provides a comprehensive overview of a broad range of topics relevant to women's physical, mental, and social health
• Identifies and explains factors that contribute to health inequities and health disparities for women overall as well as for different subpopulations of women
• Offers an interdisciplinary perspective on the biological, economic, social, environmental, and political factors that influence women's health and well-being
• Draws on the expertise and experience of a diverse team of contributors, including academic researchers, health care providers, policy analysts, social workers, public health professionals, and activists.
• Addresses important changes in women's health in the past 50 years as well as significant health-related policies, legal decisions, and social movements that have facilitated such changes

Jillian M. Duquaine-Watson, PhD, is professor of instruction and head of the master of arts in interdisciplinary studies program at University of Texas at Dallas.