Researchers from Harvard Medical School published a survey that indicated that after the release of the Barbie movie last summer, interest in gynecology increased, which was also reflected in internet searches, according to the British newspaper, Daily Mail. Ars Technica.
The Mattel fashion doll, released in 1959 and sold over a billion copies, tells the story of Barbie's desire to become a real woman, and when she finally succeeds and leaves Barbie Land, she goes for a gynecological exam. -Top
The researchers noted an average increase of 51 percent in online searches related to gynecology. The researchers also took into account searches such as “what is a gynecologist,” “what does a gynecologist do,” and “should I go to a gynecologist,” totaling 34 searches, and found a significant increase of 154 percent in searches related to the disease. Definition of gynecology.
According to the research, the increase in searches did not translate into an increase in actual screenings — for example, searches for “gynecologist near me” did not increase — either because the results did not encourage users to seek screening, or because users did not need gynecological care in the first place.
The paper concludes by drawing attention to the links between popular culture and public health. They cite the case of journalist Katie Couric, who live-streamed her colonoscopy, temporarily leading to a 21 percent increase in colonoscopies.
When actress Angelina Jolie wrote an article about her battle with breast cancer, it led to a 64% increase in genetic testing for breast cancer. There is no accurate data on the effects of these phenomena on individuals’ health.
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