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Hysterical Women

Health, sexism & hysteria

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Sarah Graham

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Hysterical Women of the Week: 17 March

March 17, 2019March 15, 2019 | Sarah Graham

This week’s roundup of sexism and dismissal in women’s health

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Hysterical Women of the Week: 28 October

October 28, 2018November 22, 2018 | Sarah Graham

Slightly later than usual, here’s this week’s roundup of sexism in women’s healthcare

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Stop ovary-acting

Hysterical Women is a feminist blog founded by freelance health journalist Sarah Graham, to explore the sexism, paternalism, dismissal and disbelief surrounding women’s healthcare.

“Hysteria”, from the Greek word for uterus, hystera (ὑστέρα), was historically used to describe a range of emotional, mental, physical and sexual symptoms in women.

It’s no longer an accepted medical diagnosis, but the idea of ‘hysteria’ lives on. Often used interchangeably with ‘hormonal’, the word ‘hysterical’ is used to dismiss women as overly emotional or irrationally upset.

Ovary-acting, if you will.

But how much are our hormones really calling the shots, and how much is just plain old-fashioned sexism?

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Hysterical Women is a passion project, funded out of my own pocket, produced in my spare time, and generating absolutely no profit. If you appreciate the work that I do, please consider supporting Hysterical Women for the price of a cup of coffee, which will help cover my time and web hosting costs.

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