Buried in History, Silenced in Texts: The Erasure of Women Healers From Memory
Authors :Lina Mandal
Abstract
Abstract: The systematic erasure of the memory of female medical practitioners from history and literature is not a coincidence but a deliberate act of patriarchal suppression. This paper examines the historical and literary exclusion of female healers, arguing that their knowledge was either diminished, attributed to male counterparts, or demonised as sorcery. Using case studies of figures such as Hildegard of Bingen and Morgan le Fay, this research highlights how institutional biases marginalised women in medicine, both in medieval Europe and in contemporary times. The paper further explores how the victimisation of modern female doctors—such as the tragic cases of Dr Tilottoma and Dr
Priyanka Reddy—demonstrates the continuation of this suppression. By tracing these patterns from history to modern society, this study advocates for reclaiming lost narratives and ensuring the recognition and safety of women in medicine today.
Keywords: Memory suppression, female healers, gender bias in medicine, medical history, patriarchal erasure, women in literature.
