Idealism and the Intern: Women's Health Care in a Perfect World

by Carmel Aronson

Last summer, after experiencing the sophomore academic crisis that strikes so often at nontraditional liberal arts colleges, I began looking for an internship in the field of feminist health care. After years of study in the matter, I wanted some hands-on experience in the topic about which I felt most passionate. I came across the National Women's Health Network by accident but was so inspired by its mission statement that I decided to apply to its internship program.

The mission of the National Women's Health Network is to advocate for national policies that protect and promote all women's health and to provide evidence-based, independent information to empower women to make fully informed health decisions.

"Empower," "evidence-based:" these are the specific words that I would associate with health care in a perfect world. A year later, having spent an academic quarter working with the Network, I'm confident in the stability and potential of the current and future feminist health movement.

Although I had worked previously with numerous feminist nonprofits, all of these organizations were relatively young and untested. I wanted to observe the realities of maintaining a feminist nonprofit over the long term, so the Network stood out for its longevity— founded in 1975!—as well as the substance of its internship program. Thoughtfully designed to introduce a younger generation of activists to the full spectrum of feminist health organizing on the national level, the Network's program gives interns a key role in maintaining the Information Clearinghouse, where we research matters of interest to women all over the country. Many organizations place interns in roles where their presence primarily benefits; the host organization. The Network treats interns as members of the staff and encourages us to explore areas of personal interest. The skills I honed through my internship—above all, sustainable feminist business practice— will benefit me, as a woman's health activist, for the rest of my life.

I recall clearly the first time I took a special request phone call through the Clearinghouse. Even with my pen and notepad in hand, I was nervous that I would sound uninformed and make a fool of myself. But as the woman on the other end of the line shared the complexity of her history and the choices she faced, I came to realize that each woman's story is as unique and as complex as the woman herself. In contrast to health information services that are very specific in their scope, the Clearinghouse is open to anyone with absolutely any question about women's health, from insurance coverage or treatment options for the uninsured to the roots and actual prevalence of teenage pregnancy. Very rarely did I feel that a question was cut and dry, falling perfectly within a boilerplate answer.

I could have listened to that phone line all day, every day, and although certain themes did repeat themselves, no two responses were duplicated. I reveled in the opportunity to ask women how 1 could best serve them in my answers, and I was struck by how infrequently most of us get that sort of individual attention in our daily lives. I never lost this newfound reverence for individuality, which led me to hope that all women can recognize how special they are and that they deserve personalized care and attention.

On the days that I was not answering the phone line, I attended conferences, Capitol Hill hearings and other meetings on women's health issues. Through these I acquired so much useful literature that I had to mail it home because my suitcase could not fit it all. From my first such conference (on black women's health) forward, I learned which topics in women's health are currently emphasized and placed in the spotlight for national dialogue. Conversely, I learned through glaring omission which topics are being ignored. I learned how different types of organizations relate to a specific focus on women's health, i.e., how the role of the patient may be viewed differently based on the goal of the conference and type of attendees. I felt like both a spy and a grateful participant. Unlike many other attendees, I was not a doctor, policy maker or researcher. I was simply a woman who wanted to help other women understand the decisions that affect our ability to advocate for our health.

Finally, I learned a lot about myself— where my knowledge about women's health was lacking (for instance, older women's health), and what that said about power relations in society. By taking calls through the Network Clearinghouse, I learned how to be an activist for all women, not just those who fit the same categories as my friends, my family and myself. Thank you for sharing your stories, and I hope that I was able to return the favor.

Carmel Aronson is entering her senior year at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, where her self-selected focus is community studies with an emphasis in multiculturalism She is also "trying my luck at grant writing to secure funding for a volunteer organization that I founded with several friends providing doula services, free of charge, to incarcerated women at a local prison." Network internships are available year-round, with financial assistance provided in the fall and spring. Interns are asked to spend 10-12 weeks at the Network updating an information packet and assisting with answering requests for health information. For more information, visit the Network's website.