Barbara Ehrenreich

Deirdre English

In this sequel to their underground bestseller Witches, Midwives, and Nurses, Ehrenreich and English document the tradition of American sexism in medicine before and after the turn of the century. Citing numerous 'treatments' and 'rest cures' perpetrated on women through the decades, they analyze the biomedical rationales used to justify sex discrimination.

The Sexual Politics of Sickness

Complaints and Disorders

In the follow-up to the perennially classic study Witches, Midwives and Nurses (Feminist Press, 2010 - also available from Turnaround), Barbara Ehrenreich and Dierdre English explore the evolution of the medical view of the female sex and how it has been used to reinforce the social view of women. Beginning in the late 19th century, women's inferiority was 'proven' through medical science. Today, the medical establishment still serves to give 'scientific justifications' for the sexist values of society.

Complaints and Disorders The Sexual Politics of Sickness