For centuries, the Western World has assumed a patriarchal framework, under which all facets of life exist.

The Western medical establishment, in particular, exemplifies the corrupting force that such a framework exerts upon even the most necessary of social institutions. Medicine has long been weaponized against women; from accusations of madness to ignorance, medicine has frequently been employed as a justification to subjugate women.

Photo: A patient lies on a chaise-longue, while a nurse brings her some refreshment. Wood engraving by J.C. Griffiths after G.G. Kilburne.. Credit: Wellcome Collection. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)