Diversity & Inclusion

Hey everyone,

This is Victoria Belle Health co-founder and CEO. Today I want to talk about diversity and inclusion.

First, a little intro is needed. At Belle Health, one of our goals is to enhance precision medicine for women’s health, starting with premenstrual disorders (PMS, PMDD, and PME). Our first big step toward this goal is the Belle app, a wellness ally that uses science and technology to support your health understanding the impact of your cycle and rewriting your premenstrual story.

So we are a FemTech. “But What About Inclusion?”

Well, you often hear us refer to ourselves as part of “FemTech,” where users are typically identified as “women” or “female.” There are specific reasons tied to medical perspectives that shape this framing, and I want to dive into that today. But just as crucially, I want to clarify how this focus aligns seamlessly (and necessarily) with our principles of inclusivity that embrace and support every member of our community without exception.

For this purpose, I believe that understanding sex and gender identity helps illuminate why our focus is where it is. This distinction shows why gender identity, which is deeply personal and intrinsic, doesn’t always align with the sex assigned at birth. The conversation around these themes is ongoing and rich with insights from psychology, sociology, and gender studies.

According to them, sex usually refers to biological differences, including physical attributes like chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive organs. It’s not strictly binary and includes a range of variations. Gender, in the other hand, is a social construction influenced by societal norms about roles and behaviors expected from people based on their perceived sex. This construct is evolving and recognizes identities beyond just male and female, such as non-binary or gender-fluid identities.

This considered, we must understand that our mission develops in the medical field and for that we need to focus on biological females. Why? In our case, medical precision necessitates a focus on biological females for many reasons.

First, biological females have unique health needs, especially linked to reproductive systems like menstrual cycles and hormonal fluctuations. Tailoring health solutions like the Belle app to these specific needs allows us to address health issues more effectively.

Second, understanding hormonal variations throughout menstrual cycles is crucial. This insight allows us to develop interventions that alleviate menstrual-related discomforts, let’s not forget our first goal is to help PMDD warriors, and this understading is crucial to te able to accomplish this.

Third is about preventive care. Conditions like endometriosis and PCOS are prevalent among those with female reproductive organs. Early and tailored interventions can significantly improve life quality.

As you can see, focusing on the unique biological aspects of female health leads to more customized and effective healthcare solutions. However, despite our focus on biological females, Belle Health is unyieldingly inclusive. Our mission and operations do not (and never will) exclude any gender identity or sexual orientation.

We’re committed to providing a platform that is accessible to everyone, continuously improving to meet the needs of our diverse community. This commitment extends to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community by ensuring our actions and products reflect and promote inclusivity.

So yes, while we are a female health company, we are also community-driven. Every step we take is aimed at responding to your needs, guided by your voice. It’s a journey we are proud to be on, especially as it includes advocating and supporting broader inclusivity.

Here’s what we’re doing right now to ensure everyone feels supported and included:

1. Adapting Our Language: We’re refining the way we communicate within our app to ensure it’s inclusive and respectful to all identities.
2. Engaging the Community: We’re rolling out a survey to dive deep into the specific needs and experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals dealing with PMDD. This will help us tailor our content and features to better serve this community.
3. Inclusive Beta Testing: We invite LGBTQIA+ individuals to participate in our closed beta testing. This is an opportunity for direct feedback and influence over the app’s development, ensuring it meets the diverse needs of our user base.

Your ideas, suggestions, or concerns are always welcome. Please feel free to reach out at victoria@bellehealth.co, and don’t hesitate to share feature suggestions on our public roadmap.

 

Thank you so much for being a part of this journey with us. We really cherish your support and involvement.

Love, Victoria