The Rhetoric of Women's Pain: Gendered Experiences and Insights of College-Aged Persons Within Clinical Settings

Abstract

This study examines gendered experiences of pain management within clinical settings through the narratives of six college-aged interlocutors. Their testimonies reveal patterns of dismissal and minimization of women's pain reports, highlighting the intersection of gender identity, sociocultural influences, and institutional barriers to adequate healthcare in these contexts. Common themes include difficulty in articulating pain in ways that elicit effective provider responses, the psychological toll of persistent pain, and the necessity of self-advocacy. These findings underscore the urgent need for structural reforms in medical education and clinical practice to ensure equitable pain management. By analyzing these lived experiences, this study contributes to a broader discourse on gender disparities in healthcare and the rhetorical framing of women's pain in medical settings. Through a combination of content analysis of the interviews conducted and review of relevant literature, this paper sheds light on current realities surrounding women's illness experiences and provides insights for effecting meaningful change in pain care and management for women.

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