The illusion of empowerment: commercializing women’s health in the digital age.

Health Promotion International

Brooke Nickel , Tessa Copp , Barbara Mintzes

Summary

The article explains how women’s health has historically been neglected in research, funding, and clinical care, and how this long‑standing gap has created a booming commercial market that claims to “empower” women but often shifts responsibility and risk onto them. As the article states, “women’s health has long been under‑researched, under‑funded, and structurally marginalized.”

Instead of governments and health systems fixing these gaps, private companies now offer apps, tests, supplements, and services that promise personalised solutions. While some women genuinely benefit from these tools, the article argues that the way they are marketed can be misleading and may worsen inequities.