Hoe vrouwen de overgang politiek maakten

The personal is political

In 1970, American feminist Carol Hanisch published her famous article "The personal is political," a title that became an important motto in the "second feminist wave. In it she defended talking groups against the idea that the personal nature of the topics of conversation meant that the groups were not political, but rather therapeutic. In the talking groups, through the sharing of personal stories, women could see that the problems they were experiencing were not caused by personal failure, but by the collective oppression of women. In this, the talking groups had a therapeutic effect. And it also gave them a space to find the words for the oppression they had only felt until then.

Women in transition

Talking groups also became popular in the Netherlands. During the "second wave," groups on specific topics began to emerge. In 1974, the first Vrouwen In De Overgang (VIDO) discussion group was held in Uithoorn. Until then, menopause had been a mysterious phenomenon about which there was much prejudice and shame. There were few clear terms to describe the symptoms and experiences. There was intermittent talk about "the switch" or "the change. But exactly what it meant, and what symptoms fell outside the transition, was unclear.

Women stepped out of their social isolation and began to talk openly and honestly with each other about how they felt. It was not only about the physical symptoms of menopause, but also about loneliness. Often complaints were denied or dismissed by doctors and loved ones.

Doctors at the time had little knowledge about, or interest in, gender-specific care. Female patients were quickly labeled hysterical. In addition, it was common for women, without being informed in advance, to receive invasive procedures, with traumatic consequences. An example of this was the uterine surgery popular at the time. Within the discussion groups, women were able to tell their stories. And, just as importantly, see themselves reflected in others' shared experiences. The support group was often described as "a feast of recognition.

Finding words for the pain

Often the transition occurred simultaneously with the children leaving the parental home. The loneliness, traumatic experiences from doctor's visits and denial of their discomfort caused many women to suffer from psychological symptoms.

So in the discussion groups, the psychosomatic nature of menopause was also discussed at length. One question that emerged, for example, was: is our problem due to menopause itself or to the socio-political position of middle-aged women in society, or are the causes intertwined?

Activism in the archives

However, the personal experiences of menopausal women also played an important role outside of the discussion groups in the struggle for better care for female patients. Three sources from Atria's archives show how personal accounts of menopause were used as a means of resistance.

How I aged 10 years in a month - in Vrouwenmantel

Atria's archive contains many local women's newspapers, for example Vrouwenmantel: a 1978 women's newspaper for Helmond and the surrounding area.The theme issue on health contains informative pieces on the use and abuse of tranquilizers, a stenciled interview from the Volkskrant with a feminist general practitioner from Rotterdam, and several personal stories of women who had unpleasant acceptances in medical care.

An anonymous woman talks about how at the age of 30, as a mother of two children, she goes to the hospital for her pill check-up, where eventually her uterus is removed. This causes her to go into early menopause. From her story, it does not sound like she was ever informed about this. The way she formulates the experience reads like a friend hanging out with you on the phone. The story flows out. The woman tells how she is reassured over and over again, and "not to worry so much." The next day, medical complications occur that require her to have surgery again. This repeats itself several times. She feels increasingly alienated from her body, about which she cannot make decisions and is not given clear information.

For example, an anonymous woman talks about how at the age of 30, as a mother of two children, she goes to the hospital for her pill check-up, and eventually her uterus is taken out. This causes her to go into early menopause. But from her story, it doesn't sound like she was ever informed about this. The way she formulates the experience reads like a friend hanging out with you on the phone. The story flows out. The woman tells how she is reassured over and over again that she shouldn't worry so much. But the next day, all sorts of things are wrong that require her to have surgery. This repeats itself a few times. She feels increasingly alienated from her body, about which she cannot make decisions and about which she does not get clear information.

The surgeries, humiliating experiences in the hospital and gloomy thoughts are all named in Women's Mantle. Women who have not yet participated in a support group themselves could still recognize themselves in this story.

Photo report 'The course of uterine surgery' by Marlies Bosch for Women Without Wombs

Women Without Wombs (VZB) was originally a VIDO working group. It later developed into an independent foundation to provide support to women who had undergone (unnecessary) uterine and/or ovarian surgery. They provided information to women being considered or recommended for surgery and advocated for a more careful approach from medical practice. At the time, gynecologists considered surgery for a wide range of symptoms, especially if the patient was over 40 and already had children. Women were often not well informed about the consequences of such an intervention.

Marlies Bosch was one of many women in whom the uterus was removed. As a photographer, she decided to capture this process. From shaving the hair around the vulva to the operation itself, captured photographically by a friend of Bosch. The photo-reportage "The course of a uterus operation" was eventually published as a leaflet with a detailed description of the operation, in simple language. This deviated from the often inaccessible language used by many doctors. Bosch had been informed by VZB (Women Without Wombs) after her doctor's initial advice about the surgery. She decided that by recording her surgery, she would contribute to informing other menopausal women.

Gynecological Practices Black Book

The Black Book of Gynecological Practices is a publication documenting abuses within gynecology. In 1980, a tribunal (an often temporarily established judicial body in the form of a court) was organized at the Women's House Amsterdam. The self-organized tribunal came about after a male gynecologist had "experimented" during the sterilization of a female patient, but got off too lightly at the Medical Disciplinary Tribunal. The Black Book is full of stories of medical negligence and unacceptable patient-physician interactions, which also name and shame the gynecologists and general practitioners involved. Making these experiences public allowed other women to find out which gynecologists to avoid.

The book calls for the dismantling of a system in which women had no control over their bodies.

Conclusion

The shame and stigma that women in the 1960s had to overcome to talk about a topic such as menopause - at a time when it was only addressed with euphemisms - called for an intimate space, such as a support group, to discuss pain and oppression for the first time. There came the realization that personal problems were carried on many shoulders. Women could then organize themselves into a collective movement.

The celebration of recognition in support groups gave women the confidence to share personal stories of transition beyond the intimate sphere of the group. Thus, personal stories could be used to mobilize others in the fight for better care and empowerment for middle-aged women.

Read more:

• Women's Relief Services 1975-2000

• I am not alone

• Black Book of Gynecological Practices

• Will I have my uterus removed?

• Reinterpreting Menopause

• 'Tis like... you're at a crossroads in your life