Inside the old Greece it actually was believed that a wandering and discontented Womb try blamed regarding dreadful lady issue regarding way too much feelings, hysteria. The latest disease’s episodes was indeed considered determined by the where from inside the the body brand new offensive organ roamed. It wasn’t religious belief but a social religion.
Brand new ancient greek language doctor Hippocrates is actually one of the primary in order to select this problem. He seen hysteria try common in females and you may envision it was because of a great displaced otherwise “drifting uterus”. As there try very little comprehension of women’s biology the phrase “Hysteria” was applied to describe every physical and you may psychological girls afflictions.
The individuals away from Greece believed that the newest uterus is the supply regarding diseases of women
In my opinion, it is important to make a connection between the ideas about women’s biology and their social status during this time period. This correlation is important because for Aristotle, women were not factored into his philosophical teachings because of their “bad biology”. In his book Nicomachean Ethics, he regards women to be unfit to participate in political justice because during their menstruation they experience many hormonal and emotional changes. According to Aristotle these changes directly effect their character, and thus they should not be able to participate in the polis since they are unable to hold their character, or keep it under control (as my philosophy teacher so nicely put it.) Aristotle uses this theory of “hysteria” for proof as to why women shouldn’t be educated or allowed to partake in politics. Continue reading “The expression hysteria arises from the newest Greek keyword hysterika, meaning Womb”