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Complaints and Disorders
Complaints and Disorders: The Sexual Politics of Sickness | Barbara Ehrenreich, Deirdre English
3 posts | 4 read | 8 to read
In this exciting sequel to their underground bestseller, Witches, Midwives, and Nurses, Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English document the tradition of American sexism in medicine before and after the turn of the century. Citing vivid examples, including numerous "treatments" and "rest cures" perpetrated on women through the decades, the authors analyze the biomedical rationale used to justify the wholesale sex discrimination throughout our culture-in education, in jobs, and in public life. Ever since Hippocrates, male medics have treated women as the "weaker" sex. By the late 19th century, when the authority of religious documents had waned, the ultimate rationale for sex discrimination became solely biomedical. In this intriguing pamphlet, the authors raise the diffuclt question: "How sick-or well-are women today?" They assert that feminists today want more than "more": "We want a new style, and we want a new substance of medical practice as it relates to women."
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thec0zy
Complaints and Disorders: The Sexual Politics of Sickness | Barbara Ehrenreich, Deirdre English
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This pamphlet was fascinating. It examines the affects of the patriarchal system of power on women's relationship to medicine and public health. The authors are women, so they approach the subject from a very personal frame of reference. I can't count the number of women I know who have an anecdote about expressing an emotion, only to be asked by a man whether they were menstruating. The link is strong, and I can't wait to read more about it!

Sue Wow that sounds really interesting. I wonder if there's anything more recent with a similar premise... 8y
thec0zy @Sue I believe this pamphlet basically sparked a whole sociological field. There's one book on my tbr shelf on gender and health. I'm definitely going to look into it more! 8y
Sue Cool, that looks amazing, thanks! I will have to investigate further :) 8y
Hooked_on_books Sounds really good. I've heard good things about her. 8y
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thec0zy
Complaints and Disorders: The Sexual Politics of Sickness | Barbara Ehrenreich, Deirdre English
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Finally getting around to reading this! It's itty bitty, so maybe I can get through it tonight!!

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TheApesOfWrath
Complaints and Disorders: The Sexual Politics of Sickness | Barbara Ehrenreich, Deirdre English
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Highly recommended by my mom.