Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

A media release following the planned demonstration by the Vancouver Women's Health Collective (VWHC) and other women's organizations at the Ministers Forum on Health Reform (July 23, 1992), in protest of the government's refusal to provide core funding to the VWHC. This release, written by the VWHC, outlines the meeting that took place between the VWHC and the health minister's assistant, who met with the collective before the demonstration. Further action is planned by the VWHC to continue the dialogue on women's health issues that extend beyond birth control and reproductive technologies, such as the social determinants of health.

A pamphlet available at the Vancouver Women's Health Collective (VWHC), reproduced from an article presented at the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research Conference in San Francisco, May 20 1983. The pamphlet examines the medicalization of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), and the treatment of PMS as an illness. The author argues that the symptoms associated with PMS are perhaps better dealt with as symptoms of inequality and the subordination of women under patriarchy: treating women's symptoms is about treating women to be manageable and docile. The author is also critical of the use of progesterone to treat PMS, citing the unknown risks associated with its use. The author encourages women to try other treatments for PMS, non medical treatments, and consciousness-raising groups which promote women's shared knowledge.

The annual report of the Vancouver Women's Health Collective (VWHC) for 1999-2000. The report includes the purpose, goals, mission statement, members and donors list, steering committee members and staff, and a statement of revenue and expenditures for the year (ending March 31, 2000). As well, the annual report describes the year in review, with details about the work done by the VWHC, the movement to a new location, the work done by volunteers at the information centre, the community health advocate project, workshops. and the VWHC newsletter.

A brochure outlining the politics, services, and advocacy work of the Vancouver Women's Health Collective (VWHC), including abortion counselling, cervical cap and diaphragm fitting, health practitioner and therapist directory, education and publications for purchase. The brochure briefly discusses the self-help approach and lay-person approach to health care and health information that the VWHC employs.