It’s not a headache! It’s a migraine: Exploring women’s experiences of medical gaslighting in Ontario, Canada

This study explores the experiences of women seeking diagnosis and treatment for migraine symptoms in Ontario, Canada, and contributes to the growing literature on the concept of medical gaslighting. Migraine patients, particularly women, often report feeling disempowered within medical settings, where their symptoms and concerns may be minimized or dismissed. In recent years, the term medical gaslighting has increasingly been used by patients and in the media to describe these types of experiences. Guided by a critical ethnographic approach, this study seeks to illuminate how gaslighting is experienced within clinical interactions and traces the connections between women’s lived experiences and the broader social, political, and cultural contexts that shape them. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 women in Ontario, Canada who had received a diagnosis and/or treatment for migraine. Analysis of participants’ narratives revealed three key themes: questioning realities, narratives of diminishment, and shifting responsibility. Participants’ accounts highlight how deeply embedded cultural norms and dominant discourses can shape healthcare experiences, reinforcing oppressive assumptions related to sex, ability, and what constitutes “good care.” By foregrounding these experiences, this study adds depth to emerging scholarship seeking to define what medical gaslighting is and identifies strategies to address these concerns within clinical environments.