Wow great article thank you!
The history of the medical/ scientific approach to the female reproductive system is appalling.
'Until recently, the medical community has primarily thought of the uterus as just a “baby house,” says Donna Korol, a biologist who studies the neural mechanisms of learning and memory at Syracuse University and who was not involved in the new study. But given the organ’s role in producing and regulating hormones, this is gradually starting to change.'
'“Generally the dogma in the field is the non-pregnant uterus is dormant—some experts have called it ‘useless,’” says study co-author Heather Bimonte-Nelson'
Just so much to say! Of course this is a massive feminist topic.
I suppose it boils down to a male based view of women, going back thousands of years. Chattel/ lesser. Incapable of higher thought- reproductive system both too complicated (just test new drugs on men, women's monthly cycle messes up the results) and over simplified (science can make baby milk better than women. It's only milk. And they're only women)...
The casual removal of the whole lot in surgery in the past. While we're in here might as well get rid of the whole lot. Female reproductive parts are troublesome and prone to disease and malfunction).
Until a few years back who knew the clitoris had a massive internal structure? How many know now? How many women have had bits sliced through in surgery over the years because there was no knowledge it was all even there?
And etc and so on.
So much flows from a deep and fundamental misogyny. We take drugs not tested on us that have different risks/ are not so effective. We struggle to get physical issues recognised and are fobbed off with anti depressants. We have been institutionalised, subject to violence, killed, mutilated etc due to suspicion of having a sex drive....
And on and on.
And still it goes on. We are seen not as whole human bodies but a collection of useful parts/ nice to look at.
Great article thank you :)