First published 1973
From the "rest cure" to the diagnosis of hysteria, the medical profession has long pathologized women's bodies and minds. In this concise history, Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English expose how the biomedical rationale was twisted to justify widespread sex discrimination. As they trace the sexual politics of medical practices, a disturbing pattern emerges - one that continues to shape reproductive rights struggles today. At its core, this is a story of power, control, and the lasting impacts of framing women as weak and defective.
Genres: medical, 20th-century, gender-studies, feminism, history-of-medicine, 21st-century
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: power-dynamics, social-issues
Setting: United States
112 pages · Paperback · The Feminist Press at CUNY
Content warnings: ableism, sexism