Toluna conducted a survey of 5,072 UK adult respondents from different backgrounds in May 2024. Participants were divided into four groups: 49% men, 50% women, and 1% nonbinary. Research shows that women are disproportionately affected by pain dismissal.
The study found that despite attempts to resolve this issue, there is still a gender gap in pain. In 2024, 62% of women felt that their pain was ignored or dismissed. This is a significant increase of 13% from 2023. Men, on the other hand, reported similar experiences to women in 2024. This is a significant increase from 38% last year. The report shows that young women in particular experience higher rates of pain dismissal. Four out of five women between 18 and 24 years old reported that their pain was ignored.
42 % of women going through the menopause said that healthcare professionals had dismissed their pain. One in six women also had to wait over a year before a diagnosis was made for menopause related pain. This delay can have a negative impact on their work performance and well-being, as they struggle to manage their symptoms while still fulfilling their professional duties.
The impact of pain dismissal in the workplace on women
The report highlights that women are not only dismissed for their pain in healthcare settings, but also in the workplace. One out of five women who responded to the survey felt that their career was negatively affected by their pain being ignored. Women, especially those with menstrual or menopause symptoms, often find that their workplace becomes a difficult environment when they are not taken seriously.
One woman in ten said that their pain was dismissed for the first time between 10 and 15 years old. A third of those women were younger than 21. Women over 45 years old continue to report that their pain has been ignored. This is compared with 49% of men of the same age.
Janet Lindsey commented: “To discover that women are affected by the gender gap as early as 10 years of age is alarming.” This can lead to a lifetime impression in women that pain is not important or that men and women have different pain thresholds.
“When women avoid seeking help because of their pain or it affects their careers and lives, we know that change is needed. Everybody’s pain is important, no matter what the cause, where it occurs, age or gender. Women should be as confident as men in their ability to speak up about pain, not only being taken seriously, but also receiving the best diagnosis and treatment.
Consequences of Mental Health on Career
Another key finding is the emotional impact of pain dismissal. A third of women said that the dismissal of their pain had affected their mental health, a significant increase over a quarter compared to last year. Women reported feeling gaslighted by healthcare professionals. 25% of women said they started to doubt the severity of their pain when it was dismissed. This has led to many women’s physical health deteriorating, but also causing them psychological distress.
The report also highlights that women feel often unsupported by health professionals when they are trying to address their pain. One third of respondents said that healthcare professionals need more training about the types of pain women and men experience. A further 30% of respondents called for more training to prevent gender bias from affecting medical judgment.
Clare Knox is the CEO and founder See Her Thrive. She commented: “We can see, from this report and our own activities, that women are less likely to disclose their pain at work once it’s dismissed. This means fewer resources and less support to create an equitable workplace.
“But self advocacy is only half of the battle.How can work with businesses, governments and the public to create a culture that empowers women so they are empowered to ask for help and support when needed?”
