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Pain and Prejudice
A CALL TO ARMS FOR WOMEN AND THEIR BODIES
Fourteen years after being diagnosed with endometriosis, Gabrielle Jackson couldn't believe how little had changed in the treatment and knowledge of the disease. In 2015, her personal story kick-started a worldwide investigation into the disease by The Guardian; thousands of women got in touch to tell their own stories and many more read and shared the material. What began as one issue led Jackson to explore how women - historically and through to the present day - are under-served by the systems that should keep them happy, healthy and informed about their bodies.
Pain and Prejudice is a vital testament to how social taboos and medical ignorance keep women sick and in anguish. The stark reality is that women's pain is not taken as seriously as men's. Women are more likely to be disbelieved and denied treatment than men, even though women are far more likely to be suffering from chronic pain.
In a potent blend of personal memoir and polemic, Jackson confronts the private concerns and questions women face regarding their health and medical treatment. Pain & Prejudice, finally, explains how we got here, and where we need to go next.
“This book is a brilliant, blood-drenched page turner. Every girl, woman and man — and most particularly every doctor—should read it.” NEW SCIENTIST
‘A major contribution to feminist writing of the 21st century.' CAROLINE DE COSTA, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, James Cook University
‘Gabrielle Jackson deploys facts to tear away the destructive myths that surround women's health.' LENORE TAYLOR, Editor, Guardian Australia
‘This book could not be more timely or important.' KATHARINE VINER, Editor, The Guardian
A TIMELY AND POWERFUL LOOK AT HOW OUR CULTURE TREATS THE PAIN AND SUFFERING OF WOMEN
Fourteen years after being diagnosed with endometriosis, Gabrielle Jackson couldn't believe how little had changed in the treatment and knowledge of the disease. In 2015, her personal story kick-started a worldwide investigation into the disease by The Guardian; thousands of women got in touch to tell their own stories and many more read and shared the material. What began as one issue led Jackson to explore how women - historically and through to the present day - are under-served by the systems that should keep them happy, healthy and informed about their bodies.
Pain and Prejudice is a vital testament to how social taboos and medical ignorance keep women sick and in anguish. The stark reality is that women's pain is not taken as seriously as men's. Women are more likely to be disbelieved and denied treatment than men, even though women are far more likely to be suffering from chronic pain.
In a potent blend of personal memoir and polemic, Jackson confronts the private concerns and questions women face regarding their health and medical treatment. Pain & Prejudice, finally, explains how we got here, and where we need to go next.
“This book is a brilliant, blood-drenched page turner. Every girl, woman and man — and most particularly every doctor—should read it.” NEW SCIENTIST
‘A major contribution to feminist writing of the 21st century.' CAROLINE DE COSTA, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, James Cook University
‘Gabrielle Jackson deploys facts to tear away the destructive myths that surround women's health.' LENORE TAYLOR, Editor, Guardian Australia
‘This book could not be more timely or important.' KATHARINE VINER, Editor, The Guardian
A TIMELY AND POWERFUL LOOK AT HOW OUR CULTURE TREATS THE PAIN AND SUFFERING OF WOMEN
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Published September 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 14, 2024
I loved this - it gave a great introductory grasp of the issues with women's reproductive health, the lack of education, research and advocacy. It even included diagrams that were incredibly useful and that my school should have taken note of when giving us the puberty talk way back when.
This made me rethink the approach that I have taken with my own reproductive health and the sheer agony it took for 2 years to finally get a confirmed diagnosis of PCOS when I was previously told it was 7 other possible things, whilst taking strong hormonal medication and being told that "you just need to lose weight".
The reason I rated it 3 stars was because it was only specific to Australia, which although I did find interesting, I would have liked a comparative analysis or even more of a conversation on topics like period poverty, teenage pregnancy and the approach to sex education. It didn;t need to be on a global scale but even within Australia, that would've been interesting to read about too.
This made me rethink the approach that I have taken with my own reproductive health and the sheer agony it took for 2 years to finally get a confirmed diagnosis of PCOS when I was previously told it was 7 other possible things, whilst taking strong hormonal medication and being told that "you just need to lose weight".
The reason I rated it 3 stars was because it was only specific to Australia, which although I did find interesting, I would have liked a comparative analysis or even more of a conversation on topics like period poverty, teenage pregnancy and the approach to sex education. It didn;t need to be on a global scale but even within Australia, that would've been interesting to read about too.
December 31, 2025
Probably important reading for every 16 year old girl, before she starts going through what many millions of us have been through in the hope that the next generation might get a better outcome and know more about how to fight for women’s care.
This book was really difficult to get through in terms of what it dredged up, but I kept at it since it was so liberating to know that - despite what the doctors typically try to make your believe - ACTUALLY THIS IS NOT ALL IN MY HEAD AND I’M NOT JUST LOOKING FOR DRUGS.
A great step in the mission for humanity to change this entire s***show of a situation that is women’s health.
This book was really difficult to get through in terms of what it dredged up, but I kept at it since it was so liberating to know that - despite what the doctors typically try to make your believe - ACTUALLY THIS IS NOT ALL IN MY HEAD AND I’M NOT JUST LOOKING FOR DRUGS.
A great step in the mission for humanity to change this entire s***show of a situation that is women’s health.
September 15, 2024
Incredible liberating and at times frustrating. A must read for women with endo or complex health conditions
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews