Free Woman: An Autotheoretical and Feminist Disability Analysis of Endometriosis Pain in Medicine and Culture
Restricted (Penn State Only)
Author:
Rovito, Maria
Graduate Program:
American Studies
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
February 16, 2024
Committee Members:
Anthony Bak Buccitelli, Professor in Charge/Director of Graduate Studies Michael Bérubé, Outside Unit & Field Member John Haddad, Chair & Dissertation Advisor Mary Zaborskis, Major Field Member Ellen Stockstill, Major Field Member Mariah Kupfner, Major Field Member
This dissertation examines the history of endometriosis—a chronic pain disorder impacting roughly 11% of those with a uterus—to reveal its stigmatization and misrepresentation as primarily an infertility issue, particularly since the early-20th century. I analyze medical misconceptions, rooted in gender bias, that prioritize reproductive roles over patient well-being. Utilizing autotheory and feminist disability studies, and archival resources from notable institutions, this research delves into endometriosis' overlooked aspects in gynecology and its portrayal in media and literature. I argue that historical views have perpetuated mistreatment in healthcare, especially towards women of color and women from lower socio-economic backgrounds. I ask how scholars within the medical field can reexamine endometriosis as a chronic pain disorder rather than a form of infertility. I trace how this illness was constructed as a “career woman’s disease” by the medical profession in the 1940s and 1950s, a framing that demonized women’s reproductive choices and set the stage for treatment to focus on getting women to properly inhabit gender roles rather than their pain, experience, and agency. This work advocates for a shift towards recognizing endometriosis as a chronic pain condition, urging for a patient-centered approach to healing and acceptance.
