Our Project

Scholarship in critical social sciences, gender studies and medical humanities have, in the last decades, pointed to the need for further studies and theorization of the marginalization, medicalization, stigma and silence that, historically and in the present, adhere to many aspects of women’s embodiment and health. For example, such work has demonstrated how societal and cultural processes render certain individuals and bodies to be considered “normal” and “abnormal”, thus shaping illness experiences and care encounters (Guntram, 2013; Heinämaa, 1997; Käll and Zeiler, 2014; Young, 2005). More specifically, it has also theorized women’s experiences of embodiment and medical practices as situated in broader social contexts (de Boer et al., 2019; Johnson, 2020; Lindén, 2016, 2021; Lock, 1995; Salad et al., 2015). Such work has, for example, conceptualized how menstruation, reproduction, pregnancy, and menopause have become medical concerns while suffering as a result from them has been considered “natural” aspects of life. As such, it has underscored the dismissal and neglect of women’s embodiment in health and demonstrated the normative force of medical frameworks and practic (Cuijpers et al., 2022; Kvernflaten et al., 2022; Lupton, 1994; Martin, 2001; Yoeli et al., 2021). However, more research is needed on the complexities of aspects of women’s embodiment and health that are taboo, that are surrounded by social silence, that are mislabeled, and/or wherein women are stereotyped, unjustly treated, or not taken seriously. Examples of such aspects include but are not limited to: endometriosis, menopause, pregnancy, birth and -post-partum related complaints, vulva- and ovarian cancer, breast cancer, chronic complaints, sexual violence, experiences of motherhood, depression and mental well-being, transgender health, vaginismus, gynecological issues, and infertility.

While the marginalization of women’s embodiment and health have been core concerns at the nexus of critical social sciences, gender studies and medical humanities there are few networks that particularly bring together scholars with an interest in advancing knowledge at this nexus. In light of the academic and more recent public attention that has been given to the marginalization of women’s embodiment and health it is thus urgent to facilitate and build research collaborations which contributes to unpack the complexities of these issues.

Our Aims

1. Initiate and contribute to the development of interdisciplinary innovative research to meet the challenges of the marginalization of women’s embodiment and health.
2. Enable dialogues and collaboration between early career and senior scholars in the field of critical social sciences and humanities with regards to the topic of women’s health.
3. Identify persistent knowledge gaps and research needs with regards to the critical appraisal women’s health and initiate research that responds to such gaps and needs.
4. Establish a durable network for research on women’s marginalized health – WoMaHN: Women’s Marginalized Health Network.