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  • Unwell Women

  • A Journey Through Medicine and Myth in a Man-Made World
  • By: Elinor Cleghorn
  • Narrated by: Hanako Footman
  • Length: 14 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (167 ratings)

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Unwell Women

By: Elinor Cleghorn
Narrated by: Hanako Footman
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Summary

Medicine carries the burden of its own troubling history. Over centuries, women's bodies have been demonised and demeaned until we feared them, felt ashamed of them, were humiliated by them. But as doctors, researchers, campaigners and most of all as patients, women have continuously challenged medical orthodoxy. Medicine's history has always been, and is still being, rewritten by women's resistance, strength and incredible courage.

In this ground-breaking history Elinor Cleghorn unpacks the roots of the perpetual misunderstanding, mystification and misdiagnosis of women's bodies, illness and pain. From the 'wandering womb' of ancient Greece to today's shifting understanding of hormones, menstruation and menopause, Unwell Women is the revolutionary story of women who have suffered, challenged and rewritten medical misogyny. Drawing on Elinor's own experience as an unwell woman, this is a powerful and timely exposé of the medical world and woman's place within it.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Elinor Cleghorn (P)2021 Orion Publishing Group
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Critic reviews

"Seamlessly melding scholarship with passion, Unwell Women is the definition of unputdownable." (Telegraph)

"A richly detailed, wide-ranging and enraging history.... Unwell Women is not just a compelling investigation, but an essential one." (Observer)

"A passionate and indignant history." (The Times)

What listeners say about Unwell Women

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Really fascinating

Brilliant book, gained so much more knowledge about the history of women and medicine. Very well read too, thoroughly enjoyed it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Necessary and painful listening

Any woman who has ever gone to a doctor with pain will recognise a lot in this.

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A must must read!

Everyone must read this book! So insightful, so fascinating. At times so eye-opening and infuriating and difficult to listen to. But an absolute must, despite the shocking stories and examples.

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Leaves a lasting impact

This book delves into deeply unsettling subject matter of the history of women’s pain, yet its power to inform and enlighten is undeniable. A must-read for all seeking knowledge and understanding. Its informative approach shines through, leaving a lasting impact. Highly recommended!

Listened to it on 1.2 speed and worked well

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Amazing book. EVERYONE must read this

I did not know, you most probably will not know, we should all know, we need to know.
Expertly written and beautifully read this book is FANTASTIC

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Excellent book!

I loved this book, it provides a highly interesting and engaging overview of the history of women and medicine and the ways that medicine is not made for women and therefore often fails them. I really appreciated how intersectional this book was and especially the discussion of trans women at the beginning was very carefully written and very well done in my opinion.

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5 people found this helpful

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Life changing

This book should be compulsory reading for everyone. It has totally changed my whole outlook of how my body and my friend’s bodies have been treated by the medical establishment. I found myself having profound moments of deeply disturbing realisation.

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An important book!

An enlightening book to listen to, for women who are experiencing the lack of support in their medical needs it explains why they are struggling. For the rest (including the men in our lives) it shows just how women have been ignored, belittled or treated as small men for centuries.

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Essential reading for women

I thoroughly enjoyed this intelligent, entertaining and highly informative book. Beautifully written and performed. The extensively researched history of the treatment of women’s health and well-being through the ages, which sadly shows that attitudes by male doctors to ‘difficult‘ women’s problems has not changed much over the centuries. A must read for anyone with a female body wishing to be more enlightened as to why we are so dismissed in our health concerns by the establishment, and should be prescribed reading for all the others!

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3 people found this helpful

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Brilliant

This book is fantastic!
A must for all women suffering.
Educational and inspiring.
Recommend to anyone looking for answer or hope.

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