05. On Medical Misogyny with Dr Elinor Cleghorn

In this episode of the Pedantic Zebra Book Club, we’re joined by writer and cultural historian Elinor Cleghorn to discuss her acclaimed book Unwell Women: A Journey Through Medicine and Myth in a Man-Made World.Together we explore the long history of medical misogyny, the cultural myths that shaped women’s healthcare, and the enduring legacy of dismissal, disbelief, and diagnostic inequality. From hysteria and psychosomatic labels to chronic illness and modern medical gaslighting, this conversation examines how historical narratives continue to shape patient experiences today.We also discuss the emotional and political impact of writing Unwell Women and why reclaiming these histories matters now more than ever.If you’re interested in medical humanities, feminist history, chronic illness, disability, healthcare justice, or the politics of medicine, this episode is for you.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell to catch more of our disability and chronic illness-focused literary discussions.Chapters00:00 Introduction & Elinor Cleghorn’s Story02:17 Lupus, Misdiagnosis & Medical Dismissal08:40 The History of “Hysteria” in Medicine15:30 Women’s Pain & Diagnostic Bias21:45 Autoimmune Disease & Gender30:55 Why Chronic Illness Is So Often Disbelieved34:42 Medicine’s Problem With Complexity35:31 Falling Through the Cracks of Specialisms37:52 Medical Education & “It’s Anxiety”39:46 What Medical Misogyny Actually Means41:49 Endometriosis & Systemic Failure43:01 The NHS, Chronic Illness & Structural Problems44:38 Why Doctors Need Time to Sit With Uncertainty46:04 ME/CFS, Incline Village & “Yuppie Flu”49:54 Psychologising ME & “Myalgic Nervosa”51:05 Long Covid, ME & Chronic Illness Stigma53:15 Why Medicine Must Change for Chronic Disease55:14 Exploitation, Blame & “Fairy Tale Diagnoses”56:18 Reimagining Healthcare Around Patients58:10 Elinor’s New Book: A Woman’s Work58:29 Reclaiming the Radical History of Mothering