The Medicalization of Women’s Bodies: Practices to Stay Grounded

Women’s healthcare has been a contentious topic for decades. Women have been diagnosed as hysterical, had their opinions dismissed, and seen serious medical conditions labelled as “just” period cramps or anxiety. As a result, many women have had to advocate relentlessly for their own health simply to receive equal care.

In fact, the word hysteria is derived from the Greek word for uterus. The term reflects how women’s health and mental well-being were historically viewed as inherently unstable and in need of outside management.

Today, women’s health is still frequently medicalized. Natural bodily experiences are often treated as medical problems or pathologies, while genuine pain and distress are dismissed as “simply part of being a woman.” This raises an important question: how can women ensure that medical professionals take their concerns seriously when they experience legitimate health issues?

In this blog, we will explore the medicalization of women’s bodies and discuss ways women can stay grounded while navigating complicated healthcare situations.

The Medicalization of the Feminine: A History of Pathologizing Women’s Bodies

When we discuss “medicalization,” we are referring to the ways society treats women’s bodies as territory to be managed rather than as part of a whole person.

The unfortunate reality of modern life is that political institutions still attempt to control women’s bodies in exactly this way. In the United States, for example, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. As a result, reproductive rights have become restricted across many states.

Women are often denied autonomy over their own bodies, regardless of whether they are underage or at risk of significant physical harm. These restrictions frequently affect survivors of sexual assault.

Ten of the 21 states with abortion bans or strict gestational limits do not include exceptions for pregnancies resulting from sexual assault. Even in the 11 states that allow exceptions for rape or incest, survivors often face additional barriers. Limited provider availability, mandatory reporting requirements, and strict gestational limits can make access to abortion care extremely difficult.

Reproductive Coercion and Violence: How Women Lose Control of Their Autonomy

Research shows that women who experience domestic violence often face poorer sexual and reproductive health outcomes. The reasons behind these outcomes are complex and not always immediately visible.

Many women report patterns of “reproductive control” carried out by male partners. This behaviour can include pressuring women to conceive, interfering with birth control use, or manipulating pregnancy decisions. These actions place women in situations where they may enter pregnancies they are not physically, mentally, or financially prepared for.

However, the loss of bodily autonomy does not occur only in political or domestic contexts. It can also happen in clinical settings.

Looking closer to home in Canada, researchers have reported concerning rates of traumatic births involving the use of forceps or medical vacuum devices during the second stage of labour.

To be clear, these tools can be medically necessary when labour stalls and the lives of both mother and child are at risk. However, epidemiologist Guila Murara, assistant professor in obstetrics and gynecology at McMaster University, notes that Canada has one of the highest rates of maternal trauma during assisted deliveries among 24 high-income countries. The injury rate in Canada averages approximately 16 percent.

When medical professionals prioritize procedural efficiency over a mother’s well-being, it reflects another form of medicalization in which women’s experiences are sidelined.

Women’s Health Concerns: Often Overlooked and Rarely Taken Seriously

This pattern of managing women’s bodies while ignoring their voices extends beyond childbirth statistics.

According to a national Canadian survey reported by the digital health platform Maple, 74 percent of women say their health concerns are not taken seriously. Additionally, 43 percent report delays in receiving treatment they believe they need. Twenty-five percent say they have experienced misdiagnosis or significant delays in receiving an accurate diagnosis.

These outcomes reflect a healthcare system that often interprets women’s symptoms through a lens of pathologization. Their concerns may be dismissed as “normal” for their gender or attributed to emotional instability rather than legitimate physical conditions.

Women’s Pain: “She Can Handle It, Right?”

The tendency to pathologize the feminine creates a painful paradox. Women’s bodies are frequently monitored and managed, yet their actual suffering is often minimized.

According to the Gender Pain Gap Index Report, more than 56 percent of women say their pain or discomfort has been dismissed by trusted healthcare providers. Nearly one-third report delaying or avoiding care because they fear being dismissed.

These statistics highlight the need for systemic reform in clinical training and healthcare policy. Women’s pain, discomfort, and medical concerns are valid and deserve proper attention.

Routine medical procedures can also disproportionately impact women. Poor pain management practices are common in certain procedures because of lingering assumptions that women can simply tolerate the pain.

For example, intrauterine device insertions and hysteroscopies are sometimes performed without adequate pain management. Yet many patients report significant discomfort during these procedures.

The misconception that women are naturally built to tolerate pain often leads to unnecessary suffering. The fact that some women can give birth does not mean they should be expected to endure constant or untreated pain in other medical contexts.

We no longer live in a world defined by ancient moral narratives about suffering. Women should not be expected to endure pain because of outdated beliefs or systemic bias.

How Women Can Speak with Medical Professionals and Advocate for Their Health

Reclaiming authority within a medicalized system often begins with communication.

Women have historically been encouraged to remain soft-spoken and agreeable. While kindness is valuable, unquestioned compliance can be dangerous in healthcare situations.

When discussing health concerns with doctors, it is important not to allow those concerns to be dismissed too quickly. Building a relationship with a consistent family physician can help establish trust and continuity of care. Walk-in clinics and emergency rooms serve important purposes, but they are not always substituted for an ongoing medical relationship.

How to Stand Up for Yourself When You’re Sick

If you visit a healthcare provider and feel that your concerns are being dismissed, there are constructive steps you can take.

First, do not assume that the provider’s initial interpretation is final. Medical professionals are highly trained, but patients also know their own bodies and experiences. You can request additional testing or provide more detailed information about your symptoms.

Unfortunately, women often encounter familiar dismissive phrases in medical settings. These statements can signal that a provider is minimizing a patient’s concerns.

Common examples include:

• “It’s just normal period pain.”

• “You’re probably just stressed.”

• “It’s all in your head.”

• “You’re just being emotional.”

• “You’re young, so it’s nothing serious.”

• “Your symptoms are typical for postpartum.”

• “You just need to rest more.”

• “It’s probably just anxiety.”

• “You’re not sleeping enough.”

• “You’re overreacting.”

• “You’re exaggerating the pain.”

• “Your lab results look fine, so it can’t be that bad.”

• “You’re just hormonal.”

• “This is just part of being a woman.”

• “You should just try therapy.”

Hearing statements like these can be frustrating, especially when you are already in pain or distress. However, there are ways to respond calmly and assertively.

For example:

• “Normal does not mean it should be ignored. Please investigate this further.”

• “Stress may be a factor, but it should not replace a full assessment.”

• “My symptoms are physical, and I would like a medical explanation.”

• “Let’s focus on the clinical facts.”

• “Age does not eliminate the possibility of serious conditions.”

• “Typical symptoms still deserve evaluation.”

• “Rest alone will not address the underlying cause.”

• “Anxiety should not be the default diagnosis. Please explore other possibilities.”

• “Sleep issues can be symptoms rather than causes.”

• “Pain can be real even when it is not visible.”

• “Lab results are only part of the diagnostic process.”

• “Hormonal changes can still indicate medical conditions.”

• “Being a woman should not mean living with untreated pain.”

• “Therapy may help emotionally, but I also need medical investigation.”

Staying Grounded: Finding Community Through the Yoni Mudra Art Gallery

Women’s bodies have been scrutinized, controlled, and misunderstood for centuries. One of the most powerful responses is community.

When women come together to share experiences and knowledge, they challenge systems that have historically minimized their voices. Spaces that celebrate women’s bodies and experiences can be deeply empowering.

The Yoni Mudra Art Gallery aims to create exactly that kind of space.

We are a collective of artists, philosophers, educators, and activists who provide opportunities for women and curious learners to explore the concept of the divine feminine and better understand women’s lived experiences.

Yoni art celebrates the vulva as a natural and beautiful part of the female body. Rather than treating female anatomy as pornography or pathology, this art form presents it as something worthy of appreciation and reflection.

Visitors can attend lectures, participate in classes, view artwork, or simply enjoy conversation over a cup of coffee. The goal is to create a welcoming environment where people can learn about women’s bodies while unlearning harmful cultural assumptions.

You are always welcome here.

Visit the Yoni Mudra Art Gallery and explore a space dedicated to education, connection, and the celebration of women’s experiences.