In the middle of the flanks of women lies the womb, a female viscus, closely resembling an animal; for it is moved of itself hither and thither in the flanks, also upwards in a direct line to below the cartilage of the thorax, and also obliquely to the right or to the left, either to the liver or the spleen, and it likewise is subject to prolapsus downwards, and in a word, it is altogether erratic.

Arateus of Cappadocia

This session will explore one of the strangest theories in western medical history; ‘The Wandering Uterus Theory’, its almost unbelievable origins, and its ongoing complicity in the subjugated status of the female body in Western Medicine.* In this session we will be using the word female inclusively, to represent all self identifying women, femmes and thems who own a uterus, and those who don’t too. ❤

As the above quote might suggest, the Wandering Uterus Theory was an ancient medical belief that suggested that the female Uterus was capable of moving freely about the body at will. For over a thousand years it was believed that the ‘wandering uterus’ could cause hundreds of symptoms in women, from excessive anger to a cough or a sore throat! Hilarious as it sounds, this cover-all theory was used as a crutch for an overwhelmingly male medical workforce to dismiss women’s ailments wholesale.

Beginning with a brief tour of misogyny in ancient medicine, this session will explore the history of the Wandering Uterus theory in the ancient world, tracing its sinister evolution through the middle ages, the era of victorian medical men, and through to our own time.

The second part of the session will explore how the Wandering Uterus Theory evolved over time to become synonymous with ‘Hysteria’ (from the greek Hystera: Womb); another sex-selective disorder, this time associated with mental illness. This part of the session will explore the concept of hysteria, and the danger of yet another cover-all diagnosis which at one point consisted over 67 pages of symptoms - most of which are synonymous with the perfectly normal functioning of the female body.

In the final part of the session, we will explore the ongoing legacy of millennia of medical oppression, exploring how these theories linger under the surface of modern medicine. By scrutinising historical medical treatments for hysteria and acknowledging the gradual recognition of the mind-body connection, attendees will gain insights into the persistent gender biases in medicine and the ongoing challenges in achieving gender-inclusive healthcare.

The Director of The Feminist Lecture Program, Luisa-Maria MacCormack studied Textiles Design at London College of Fashion before turning to Fine Art and studying at the Royal Drawing School in 2014. A practicing artist as well as lecturer, Luisa has recently completed her MA at City and Guilds of London Art School. A founding member of the London Drawing Group since its inception in 2016, Luisa teaches drawing, and Feminist Art History classes across London, as well as exhibiting regularly in solo and group shows across the country.

You can follow more of Luisa's work on Instagram at @luisamariamfineart or visit her website at http://www.luisamariamaccormack.co.uk/

This is a recording of a live session hosted by The Feminist Lecture Program in January 2024. The reading list for the class can be found alongside this rental.

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Happy watching!
FLP x