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A review by antoniamshmmr
Unwell Women by Elinor Cleghorn
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
4.5
The book shines light on the way women have historically been treated in medicine and how it affects women to this day. A very informative summary of the wide history of western medicine is given throughout the book, while explaining all the systemic problems such as racism, sexism, etc. that women and non-binary people had to face.
One thing I would‘ve liked to see in the book would be a comparison or simply some information about the medicine of non-western society as this book mainly focuses on USA/UK and partly some other western countries. To keep a red lining I understand that this might be difficult to include though.
Overall a very good read – painful sometimes – seeing that so many aspects of inequality retain to this day. I am positive this book helps a lot of (unwell) women to focus on what doctors are telling them and how historical inequalities may be hidden within those words.
One thing I would‘ve liked to see in the book would be a comparison or simply some information about the medicine of non-western society as this book mainly focuses on USA/UK and partly some other western countries. To keep a red lining I understand that this might be difficult to include though.
Overall a very good read – painful sometimes – seeing that so many aspects of inequality retain to this day. I am positive this book helps a lot of (unwell) women to focus on what doctors are telling them and how historical inequalities may be hidden within those words.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Abortion, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
Minor: Suicide