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emilykfitzgerald's review against another edition
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Classism
a_violentfemme's review against another edition
4.25
I found the middle of the book most interesting and in particular the legacy of eugenics and birth control.
I would however liked to have seen more on LGBTQ+ women and bodies but I suspect that is entirely its own study. As a sufferer of endometriosis, I am too familiar with the gender bias in medicine and found this to be a must read.
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
chronically_theo's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism
radfordmanor's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
beatriks's review against another edition
4.5
The history is of misogyny and discrimination and mistreatment goes beyond what I knew and is far more shocking than I thought. I'm planning to give the book as a present to some women around me.
Highly recommended.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Violence, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
4.0
Cleghorn's dry humor was much appreciated throughout this journey to balance the horrific nature of the trends and stories she shares. I found the ancient history amusing, with the Greek concept of "the wandering womb" especially hilarious. But the lived realities of these experiences are far from funny. Seeing medical knowledge peeled back to reveal the insidious tentacles of patriarchy creeping through everything was somehow both liberating and disheartening. Women have survived some horrible shit, sometimes with no help from doctors, and others in spite of the very medical attention meant to cure their ills.
Of the many topics covered, here are just a few that will stay with me:
• hysteria, hormones, and the other excuses to dismiss women's pain altogether or root it in psychology
• abortion, forced sterilization, birth control, eugenics, and all the ways women's reproduction is more valued than her own well-being and decided by the medical apparatus
• the way medical knowledge has been accrued without female input or consent in so many cases -- I was especially horrified by accounts of research done on enslaved Black American women and the more recent trials of The Pill on Puerto Rican women without knowledge of the risks
• the lack of knowledge, empathy, and support for women with chronic pain conditions
This is far from a complete history, but I don't think that's feasible for one book, anyway. It's largely focused on the US and UK, but I was relieved that the author addresses race, class, and gender identity as intersectional factors in women's health. I will carry these thoughts into my own experiences as a patient, and I want to learn even more about this topic and advocacy.
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer, Infertility, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment