It's Not Hysteria by Karen Tang Summary
Overview of It's Not Hysteria
In "It's Not Hysteria," Dr. Karen Tang dismantles centuries of medical gaslighting with razor-sharp precision. Sharon Stone calls her "a literal godsend to women" - but what if the most dangerous diagnosis in healthcare isn't a disease at all, but society's dismissal of women's pain?
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Key takeaways
The Medical Gaslighting That Shapes Women's Healthcare
Imagine experiencing debilitating pain that disrupts your daily life, yet doctor after doctor dismisses it as "just stress" or "all in your head." This isn't rare-it's reality for millions. The ancient Greek concept of the "wandering womb" continues to haunt modern gynecology, with women's health concerns consistently dismissed throughout history. The term "hysteria"-derived from the Greek word for uterus-contains all the judgments about female bodies that have persisted for thousands of years. While no modern doctor believes wombs literally wander, echoes persist when endometriosis patients are told to get pregnant as treatment or when women seeking sterilization are told they'll regret it. From medieval witch trials to 19th century surgical removals of clitorises and ovaries, women's symptoms have been consistently misattributed and mistreated. By the late 1800s, Charcot and Freud moved hysteria from a disease of the body to one of the mind, leading to the modern perception that unexplained physical symptoms must be psychological. Despite medicine's claims of being evidence-based, gender inequality permeates research. Until 1993, major clinical trials routinely excluded women entirely. Funding disparities remain troubling-in 2022, the NIH allocated $37 million for smallpox (eradicated since 1949) compared to just $27 million for endometriosis (affecting 10% of women).
The Anatomy Revolution and Finding Your Voice
Fibroids: The Silent Epidemic in Women's Bodies
The Invisible Pain of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis
Beyond Irregular Periods: Understanding PCOS
Sexual Health and Breaking the Silence
Reclaiming Women's Health: The Path Forward
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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