In this episode of the Pedantic Zebra Book Club, we’re joined by writer and cultural historian Dr 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

If we are clear on what psychologisation is, we can recognise it, argue coherently and also question to see if others understand it

It’s one thing to go for help and not find any medical care. It’s another to be blamed for your child’s disability and illness.