clarkf87's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This book is an infuriating but important read on how the medical field gaslights women into believing their health issues do not exist and projects its own patriarchal views to keep women sicker for longer than men. How many times have we been told to go home, suck up your pain, take the anxiety/depression medications, drink a glass of wine to relax, and/or please your partner because it will do both your bodies good?
Through research and testimonials, this book explains how little women’s health issues have been studied in the past and how many of the ailments were classified to be “hysteria.” For decades, scientists even used only male animals for their medical research. Health issues like heart attacks and multiple sclerosis are still misdiagnosed in women today.
Women are NOT hysterical, hypochondriacs. We are untapped resources of information for women’s health. Our symptoms are real and our health matters. Women have been left behind in medical science and untrusted with our own bodies for too long.
PS I’m never calling myself a hypochondriac again. My symptoms are and were always REAL!
szaibol's review against another edition
4.0
Very informative but very dense.
There are a lot of stories from different women about how they were (not) treated by health professionals and their pain was brushed off, belittled or just simply attributed to female hysteria.
The book is about the American health care, and health care professionals but unfortunately this negligence and lazy science is often the case in other countries as well. As a middle aged woman who grew up in Eastern Europe I have had good and bad experiences with the Healthcare system and especially with gynecologicists. In the US though I haven't gotten any remarks during any of my visits.
But even though I may not have had negative experiences so far that doesn't mean that it won't happen in the future - to me, or to my family.
There are a lot of stories from different women about how they were (not) treated by health professionals and their pain was brushed off, belittled or just simply attributed to female hysteria.
The book is about the American health care, and health care professionals but unfortunately this negligence and lazy science is often the case in other countries as well. As a middle aged woman who grew up in Eastern Europe I have had good and bad experiences with the Healthcare system and especially with gynecologicists. In the US though I haven't gotten any remarks during any of my visits.
But even though I may not have had negative experiences so far that doesn't mean that it won't happen in the future - to me, or to my family.
lifesarosch's review against another edition
3.5
Interesting until the promotion of chronic Lyme as non quackery.
arayo's review against another edition
informative
sad
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexism, Misogyny, and Medical content
Moderate: Racism, Cancer, Infertility, Ableism, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, and Classism
avalydia's review against another edition
3.5
About as infuriating a read as you can imagine. I work in a medical-adjacent field and let's just say I believe it. Absolutely wild how doctors will assume that women are just "hysterical" or "emotional" or whatever the dismissive word du jour is instead of considering that maybe... possibly... women know when something's wrong with their bodies?? I know, what a "crazy" thought, give me some antidepressants!!
Took a star and a half off because it was often a dry read in between the patient anecdotes.
Took a star and a half off because it was often a dry read in between the patient anecdotes.