Wandering Womb: A Cultural History of Outrageous Beliefs About Women

by Lana Thompson

Female anatomy, especially the womb, has for centuries been shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding, defining the social place of women in male dominated cultures. Even with advances in medicine, some in today's society believe they can control women's sexual identity.The Wandering Womb is a provocative tour through religious, medical, and social histories, pinpointing humorous, outrageous, and hair-raising beliefs, practices, and longstanding falsehoods that permeate human cultures. In Egyptian times, it was believed that the womb was an entity unto itself capable of "wandering" in the body, and also into the world beyond in search of nourishment! This idea, and many others were entwined in medical ignorance and religious superstition, which have often labeled women as incomplete, inferior, imperfect, and even inherently evil.Sexual myths have viewed menstruation as dirty, designing outrageous rituals around this natural process, from strange diets and prescriptions to mandated isolation and violent practices. Sexuality and desire in women has been viewed as taboo and dangerous, while child rearing is considered the highest calling. In Western history, women's health problems were often written off simply as an "unsatisfied uterus," or "hysteria" of their weak and demon possessed bodies, while physical characteristics were used to label women as witches.This fascinating, often maddening romp through the bedrooms and birthing rooms of time illustrates why women have been sexually "enslaved," and reminds us that we've come a long way from the mythical virgin birth to women's liberation and beyond.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Feminism, Gender

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Bookewyfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this subject for a while and so a lot of the content was already familiar to me, but no less hilarious and at times, angering. The worst part is, that in 2021, many still believe these ridiculous ideas and even come up with new ones that are even more extreme! The amount of stigma and lies still surrounding womxn’s bodies today is ridiculous.
I would recommend reading this book and if you’re fascinated, then pick up texts that are more in depth.

[Victoria Blacke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ladies!!! Read this book! Fascinating doesn't begin to cover it! Let's just say man's confusion over our "lady parts" goes way back. It is outrageous what was done to women in the name of medical science. As to the title, it was thought the womb "wandered" throughout our bodies and caused ill-humor. They would burn incense between a women's legs to entice the womb back into position and improve her mood. And that is just one tiny fact out of a book filled with interesting details and facts! I count this one of the coolest, most enlightening books I have ever read.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a bit dry in places but overall is readable by a lay audience. There are a lot of pictures with well written explanation to illustrate the text. Ms Thompson lays out the religious and general misogynistic opinions of the male doctors of the past as well as the prejudices of modern (male) doctors clearly and does so without any pearl clutching or need to beat the reader over the head with anti religious rhetoric.

[Nat Mathews · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I remain skeptical about some of the interpretations the author has of history, the fact is that women's bodies have a fascinating and horrifying history in the European (and European diaspora) culture group. Suspend disbelief enough to get through the book and do a little research yourself. You will find that even if the author overstated some of her points, that the truth is unfortunate enough.