It seems everywhere I turn lately, a woman I know is having a hysterectomy. This prompted me to research the procedure so I could understand it and be a supportive friend to those who are going through the process. Being a “wordie” (after all, I write novels for a living), I must admit I am having trouble with word’s usage today, based on its origins. Lets break it down, shall we?
Hystera comes from the Greek word meaning “womb.” Ectomy means a “cutting out.”
At first glance, this seems to be no problem. But let’s continue.
Historically, the related term, hysterical, relates to psychological or neurotic disturbances that only occurs to those with a womb. Hysteria (also historically related) was considered a disease for woman; it only happened to them because of disturbances in the uterus.
Okay, it’s no secret that women aren’t the only ones who get hysterical, become neurotic, or have psychological disturbances. Men do too. Don’t believe me? Try taking a man’s wrench from his toolbox and use it to hammer a nail into the wall and see how he reacts.
So my question then is this: Why are we women still calling it a hysterectomy? It isn’t the removal of hysteria, so why do we still say this?
We are talking about the surgical removal of the uterus. So why aren’t we using the term uterectomy more often? An appendectomy is the cutting out of the appendix. A lumpectomy is a cutting out of a lump. And a tonsillectomy is the removal of the tonsils, right? Sure, there are various kinds of hysterectomies (partial, complete, etc.), but at least using uterectomy is a start. But if women keep using the term, hysterectomy, then they are continuing on with the archaic idea that a hysterectomy is a removal of a woman’s hysteria. Believe me, words can be that strong.
A vasectomy isn’t the removal of a vase, it’s the removal of vas deferens. Translated as, “removing away vessel.” (also called a deferenectomy). Very straight forward. Very plain and simple. No emotional origins about removing a guy’s “he-man-aggression,” “chest thumping,” “prowling,” or “prowess,” or “seed planting.” Women should follow suit.
Oh, I’m sure not every “ectomy” procedure is an exact translation of that particular body part or organ. But when it comes to hysterectomy, it’s the ancient stereotypical connotation still attached to the term that I have a hard time with.
Especially when we already know the root cause of all women’s hysteria…men.
–DivaKimbling
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Hippocrates, the so-called father of modern medicine and the inspiration for the Hippocratic Oath, asked, “What is woman?” He answered himself in one word, “Disease,” setting in motion millenia of viewing women as diseased, even though the incidence of cancer in the male and female organs is nearly identical. And we don’t see men having their sex organs removed prophylactically.
Visit http://hersfoundation.org/ to watch the HERS Foundation’s “Female Anatomy” video and empower yourself with information about what women consistently report after hysterectomy.
It’s your right to know,
HERS