CLASS DESCRIPTION
 
Endometriosis is a chronic illness which is estimated to affect one in ten biological women. It’s an inflammatory systemic illness which has been recognized by the NHS as one of the world’s twenty most painful conditions. Affecting around 200 million biological women worldwide, with symptoms ranging from debilitating menstrual cramps to respiratory issues and neuropathy, dubbed the “silent epidemic”, it’s an illness that you would think is getting a lot of attention, with the hunt for a cure being ongoing and urgent. You would be wrong to think that. Endometriosis is instead an extremely under-researched condition, with severe neglect visible both in the mistreatment of patients and the lack of education provided to the doctors. How is this possible? Well, the illness is… “a female problem”.
 
In this class, we will take a look at the barriers to endometriosis research and care and distinguish between medical and cultural roadblocks. We will tackle concepts such as medical gaslighting, the gender pain gap, and gender bias in medicine. As we dismantle each issue, what will become apparent is that endometriosis lends itself as a case study for gender-based medical injustice: by understanding how endometriosis treatment, care, and research have come to be a poster child for medical neglect and medical misogyny, you will begin to understand the deeply rooted sexism which is at the core of the medical system, affecting you whether you realize it or not. A fight for endometriosis care is a fight for equal care. Medical misogyny is a feminist issue. Whether you have endometriosis or not, this class will provide you with the tools to navigate the healthcare system with more awareness and better ability to fight for your rights to be seen, heard, believed, and taken seriously by your healthcare provider independent of your sex or gender.

ABOUT OUR LECTURER
 
Alekszandra Rokvity (she/her) is a PhD candidate working on her doctoral dissertation in the field of medical humanities with a focus on endometriosis. Alekszandra’s academic work was born out of a passion for patient advocacy, as she herself suffers from endometriosis. An avid endo activist in her free time, Alekszandra is currently leading the In/Visible Endometriosis: Menstruation, Menopause, and Narrative Medicine project at the University of Graz, Austria. A former teacher, she uses every opportunity to educate and organize around feminist issues both in her local and online communities.
 
INSTAGRAM: @rokvity and @sick_storiez

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This is a recording of a live session hosted by The Feminist Lecture Program in February 2025. The reading list for the class can be found alongside this rental.

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