Why feminism in public health?

The issues raised in this editorial and exemplified within a number of the studies reported in this issue indicate new directions for public health, d irections which take feminist scholarship, both outside and within the medi cal framework, into account. The changing potential of feminist public heal th, as derived from the articles in this issue, can be summarised within th e following issues: new research areas, positioning women as actors, develo pment of theoretical frameworks, reflexive theory of science, interplay bet ween sex and gender, gender-sensitive methods, diversities among women/men, pro-feminist research on men's health and using the results for change. Th us, feminist public health represents a shift towards the new public health , with holistic and multidisciplinary activities, based on theoretical plur alism, multiple perspectives and collective actions with the aim of improvi ng the health of gender-subordinated groups.