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10 tweets,
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Male doctors throughout history have claimed that high sex drive in a man is 'normal' whereas in a women its 'abnormal' or less likely.
Dr Thomas Sydenham, who lived from the mid- to late-1600s claimed that continuous sexual desire in women was a mental illness.
Dr Thomas Sydenham, who lived from the mid- to late-1600s claimed that continuous sexual desire in women was a mental illness.
Weirdly his orginal paper in 1600 was no unlike the threads that male doctors put together today.
However, it was far more destructive to women then.
However, it was far more destructive to women then.
Women with symptoms like 'excessive vaginal lubrication and erotic fantasizing' were diagnosed with a mental illness called hysteria
Hysteria was 'cured' by going to the doctors office on a periodic basis for manual vaginal manipulation i.e the doctor would basically assault the women, to 'cure' then of excess sexual desire.
When the doctors hands started getting too tired from administering this 'treatment' to multiple women per day, they invented a vibrator-like device to do the work for them.
This might sound funny right?? Yes. Till Isaac Baker-Brown, a one-time president of the Medical Society of London decided that the current treatment wasnt effective enough
He felt that professional manipulation of the clitoris to induce paroxysms was no cure for hysteria.
In his view, it only made the problem worse by feeding the patient's lust for gratification.
In his view, it only made the problem worse by feeding the patient's lust for gratification.
The only effective solution, he insisted, was a permanent one: the surgical removal of the clitoral glans.
Many women died/contracted infections and suffered from long lasting psychological damage due to this procedure.
Many women died/contracted infections and suffered from long lasting psychological damage due to this procedure.
Women were locked up in asylums in the 1800s for being 'hysterical'.
Many were even forced to have a hysterectomy (removal of the womb). Of course many died from the procedure.
Many were even forced to have a hysterectomy (removal of the womb). Of course many died from the procedure.
Basically, the medicalisation of female sexual desire and the normalisation of male sexual desire didn't start today. Male doctors have been doing this for centuries.
But at least today its just twitter comments. No women are being killed because of their sex drive.
But at least today its just twitter comments. No women are being killed because of their sex drive.
