The two-day workshop explored the ways in which chronic health conditions such as endometriosis, migraine and neurasthenia have been gendered. Papers presented at the workshop touched on a range of themes including fatness, pain and trauma, encounters between clinicians and patients in severe chronic pain, endometriosis activism, histories of colonialism, as well as motherhood and chronic pain. We heard about the history of gender, race, class and illness as well as the use of fiction in medical training. Speakers included Ina Hallström from Stockholm University, Soile Ylivuori, Mona Mannevuo and Elina Helosvuori from the University of Helsinki and Anna Ovaska and the GenDis researchers Maria Temmes, Lilli Aini Rokkonen and Venla Oikkonen from Tampere University. Thank you to the speakers and audience for the lively discussion!
Image: Ina Hallström from Stockholm University discusses endometriosis activism