Maria Shriver says her efforts to achieve gender equality in medical research are more about human rights than politics.
Shriver mentioned that she does not view this issue as partisan because there are Republican women involved and men from Republican backgrounds.
Maria Shriver, a correspondent for NBC News and the founder of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM) Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic, believes it's not a political issue but a human rights issue.
Jill Biden, together with Shriver and leading researchers, gathered at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in downtown Washington to highlight the improvement of women’s health research.
Biden remembered her conversation with Shriver at the White House, where Shriver emphasized the problem of women's health being understudied and underfunded, as well as the reliance on research based on men.
“This has created gaps in our understanding of conditions that mainly or exclusively affect women or affect men and women differently, making women seek healthcare in a medical world designed mostly for men,” Biden explained.
Shriver aims to change the discussion surrounding women’s healthcare. Her focus shifted to Alzheimer’s disease, which disproportionately affects women, after her father's diagnosis in 2003.
Shriver realized that there was a lack of research, facts, and guidance for women at mid-life after investigating Alzheimer’s disease.
In March, President Biden highlighted the launch of the first White House initiative on women’s health research in his State of the Union address, urging Congress to pass his $12 billion plan to revolutionize women’s health research and benefit millions of lives nationwide.
Shriver stressed the importance of Congress granting the $12 billion requested by the president to address the long-standing research gaps.
Shriver believes that lawmakers can help level the playing field, which is essential for progress.
Shriver, the 68-year-old niece of late President John F. Kennedy, emphasized the distinct health concerns and issues faced by women as they make up 51 percent of the population.
“It’s crucial to recognize that men and women are fundamentally different. It's not that women are more important, but they have not been studied to the same extent as men,” Shriver stated.
During the event hosted by WAM and the Society of Women’s Health Research, Shriver assisted in awarding grants to researchers whose work will further address the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer’s disease on women by examining the influence of a woman’s unique biology, genetics, and lifestyle.
In 2018, Shriver publicly announced that she switched her voter registration from Democrat to independent, citing the divisive nature of politics as a personal issue.
Shriver stated that she still considers herself an independent. She explained that being independent allows her to have discussions with members of all political parties in a unique way.
She mentioned that people often assume she is a Democrat, but when talking to medical researchers and doctors, she is not concerned about their political views.
She strongly emphasized the importance of focusing on common ground rather than differences.
Shriver recently spoke positively about the president, noting his respect for women. She expressed concern about the challenges women would face if Biden does not win the election in November against former President Trump.
Shriver expressed admiration for Biden's actions in signing an executive order to expand government efforts for women's health, including $200 million in new funding, describing it as a significant and transformative step.
She emphasized the importance of supporting candidates at local, state, and national levels who share the same commitment to advancing women's issues.
Shriver expressed her constant focus on moving humanity forward, rather than favoring only one political party. She is determined to promote unity and progress on important matters.
