Our second episode takes the RCN's 2018 exhibition The Wandering Womb as a starting point. Please be aware, we touch on some difficult issues in this one, including eugenics and baby loss.

Frances chats to historian Professor Tracey Loughran about her research into women's psychological, emotional and bodily health in Britain. Tracey tells us about women's magazines and how much they can tell us about women in the late twentieth century.

Nurse Consultant Debby Holloway and Senior Lecturer Dr Wendy Norton bring us up to present day women's health. Frances asks them what misunderstandings they still see in their practice, and how we can all talk more openly about sensitive gynae issues.

Finally, Frances chats to historian and curator Subhadra Das about difficult histories in women's health, including the darker side of pioneer Marie Stopes.

Producer: Natalie Steed

Links:

Read more about Tracey's project 'Body, Self, Family' here: https://bodyselffamily.org/

Hear more from Subhadra on Marie Stopes and eugenics in the Bricks + Mortals podcast: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/play/podcasts/bricks-mortals/bricks-mortals-marie-stopes-and-how-eugenics-was-going-make-world-better

You can view an online version of the RCN's Wandering Womb exhibition: https://www.rcn.org.uk/library-exhibitions/womens-health-wandering-womb

The paper 'Promoting menstrual wellbeing' co-authored by Debby and Wendy is available here: https://www.rcn.org.uk/professional-development/publications/pub-007856

The RCN also publishes women's health pocket guides: https://www.rcn.org.uk/professional-development/publications/rcn-womens-health-cards-uk-pub-009289

#internationalwomensday #IWD #IWD2021