From Evictions to Shame: Exploring Hysterectomy Through Metaphor

The present study analyzes metaphorical expressions related to hysterectomy in a diverse corpus comprising scientific texts, Reddit forums, and patient-authored articles and blogs. The research aims to understand how hysterectomy is discursively constructed and experienced by women. The corpus reveals a range of metaphors from clinical descriptions to personal and creative expressions. The analysis shows that metaphors not only reflect but also influence women's perceptions of their bodies and the procedure. The study identifies metaphors including the uterus as a 'tenant' or 'kidnapper,' and the procedure as an 'eviction' or a 'robbery', highlighting the emotional and psychological aspects of hysterectomy. Limitations include the corpus size, lack of metadata to establish more correlations, and its Western-centric perspective, suggesting the need for more inclusive research. The study contributes to the discourse on women's health, emphasizing the role of language in shaping medical experiences. It underscores the need for understanding metaphorical language to improve communication and support for women undergoing hysterectomy.