Lecture: Perspectives on pain, illness and gender from the perspectives of history, philosophy and literature

Research has shown that women suffer more than men from certain illnesses and painful conditions. E.g. autoimmune diseases, chronic pain, migraine, arthritis and various pains in the joints are listed among these. At the same time many women feel that their pain and illness are belittled and questioned by other people and by health care professionals. The experiences of pain related to both migraine and endometriosis have been historically misunderstood and are so still today. What significance can gender have when we assess another person’s pain or illness? Åsa Slotte talks about feminist perspectives on women’s health and bodies through perspectives of history, philosophy and literature.

Ph.D. Åsa Slotte is a researcher at Åbo Akademi and her research looks at questions of philosophy, medicine and ethics. Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation has funded her research. Slotte is also a writer and her book Ur mammas mörker. Essäer om sjukdom, diagnoser, omsorg och hur jag blev filosof was released in 2022.

The lecture is in Swedish.
Duration c. 45-60 min.
Included in the entrance ticket (12/10 €, the Museum Card).
No pre-bookings, c. 50 seats.

Picture: Johanna Naukkarinen, Causes of Hysteria, 2019, mixed media, owned by the artist.
Photo: Jussi Tiainen.