Medical Entanglements: Rethinking Feminist Debates about Healthcare

The author argues that because of systemic inequality, many mainstream medical interventions reinforce social inequality while also relieving some individual suffering. She contends that feminist and other activist energies should be directed at addressing the broader sociopolitical structures that place medical interventions in terms of normalization, as well as working for inclusive access to basic resources. She proposes that instead of taking a position for or against interventions, activists should abandon the framework of disease and medical necessity to justify interventions. She uses case studies of transition-related care, sexuopharmaceuticals like Viagra and drug treatments for female sexual dissatisfaction, and weight-loss interventions like bariatric surgery to explore the role of social norms and the production of emotional, relational, and bodily distress, in addition to the appropriateness of medical interventions, showing that it is often ethically appropriate to accept accommodations at the individual level while focusing on societal-level reform. She also discusses feminist critiques of medicine and argues for the replacement of the language of medical necessity and pathology with livability, fulfillment, and flourishing and supporting individual decision making, establishing feminist democratic processes for determining funding for medical interventions, and creating a more just society. Annotation ©2019 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
Medical Entanglements uses intersectional feminist, queer, and crip theory to move beyond &;for or against&; approaches to medical intervention. Using a series of case studies &; sex-confirmation surgery, pharmaceutical treatments for sexual dissatisfaction, and weight loss interventions &; the book argues that, because of systemic inequality, most mainstream medical interventions will simultaneously reinforce social inequality and alleviate some individual suffering. The book demonstrates that there is no way to think ourselves out of this conundrum as the contradictions are a product of unjust systems. Thus, Gupta argues that feminist activists and theorists should allow individuals to choose whether to use a particular intervention, while directing their social justice efforts at dismantling systems of oppression and at ensuring that all people, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, class, or ability, have access to the basic resources required to flourish.
Medical Entanglements uses intersectional feminist, queer, and crip theory to move beyond &;for or against&; approaches to medicine. Drawing on case studies, the book argues that most medical interventions will simultaneously reinforce inequality and alleviate individual suffering. Thus, the book argues that feminists should allow individuals choice in regards to medical intervention, while working to dismantle systems of oppression.