Sexual abuse Quote by Eve Ensler
““Somatize: how the body defends itself against too much stress, manifesting psychological distress as physical symptoms in the stomach or nerves or uterus or vagina... women who had suffered physical, emotional, and sexual abuse tended to somatize more. It turns out that somatization is related to hysteria, which stems from the Greek cognate of uterus... Uterus = hysteria. Hysteria -- a word to make women feel insane for knowing what they know. Hysteria is caused by suffering from a huge traume where there is an underlying conflict.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Feminist health commentary, 1995
Trauma can manifest physically, especially in women, linking stress to somatic symptoms and historic gendered pathologizing.
In simple terms: Stress can cause bodily symptoms, often mis‑labeled.
Key Takeaway
Address trauma holistically, not just medically.
Themes
trauma
somatization
gender
health
psychology
Mood
reflective
empathetic
Type
academic
advocacy
When to use this quote
- clinical settings
- therapy
- public health education
Key Concepts
psychosomatic illness
gender bias
historical stigma
Questions to Reflect On
- How does gender bias affect diagnosis?
- What holistic approaches help trauma survivors?
A Different Perspective
Medical focus may overlook social causes.
