On behalf of women
Most books allow the reader different possibilities of reading them and Women’s body, women’s wisdom is not the exception. Dr. Northrup (1999) wrote what can be accepted as a complete guide to physical and emotional health or as an autobiographical account which leads the reader to deep reflexion on lifestyles, health, cultural inheritance, holistic medicine, alternative therapies, femininity and other relevant topics in a woman’s life. This nine hundred and forty two-pages-long book is an invaluable source of testimonies and scientific data which make of it an easy reading book aimed at women.
Paradoxical though it may seem, this highly scientific text could be easily accessible to a standard reader. This complex-to achieve quality of the text has been achieved due to the fact that the author combines scientific explanations and academic jargon from medicine together with personal anecdotes, illustrations, stories and other resources which reduce the otherwise inaccessible information. The simplicity of her writing style remains from the first to the last page and this makes from the reading a pleasurable experience.
Such a pleasure is reinforced by the content of the book. Patriarchal myth, addictive system, feminine intelligence, inner guide, feminine energetic system, the anatomy of women’s wisdom, steps to heal and the power of movement are some of the topics which Dr. Northrup (1999) develops in a complete and complex, though not difficult fashion. Through these themes she makes explicit the idea that the well-being of women cannot be disassociated from their everyday lives and the role they fulfil in society. By providing endless anecdotes from her professional experience or from colleagues, the author proves that when women with any health problem change some basic harmful living conditions, those problems can be generally overcome in a more complete way with less medical interventions.
This book also offers complete and detailed information about the rich and most frequently disregarded women’s wisdom. It combines the last scientific techniques in medicine with alternative therapies which benefit not only the body but also the mind of women. From a holistic perspective which takes into consideration personal development, emotions and spiritual life, the writer unmasks the patriarchal stance in the medical profession and she also reveals the dark sides of many culturally inherited misbelieves.
The sincerity of the experiences narrated, together with the acute and brave reflexions by Northrup (1999) shed some light on the deepest needs, strongest qualities and the most intimate conflicts of women, in which ambivalence of feelings, maternal instinct and the creative impulse make of them a complete, complex and at the same time delicate gender.
After reading the book, one can finally conclude understanding and feeling, as Northrup (1999) stated that:
There are people who believe that it is possible to live a full life independent of our present and past circumstances.
There are people who recognise the daily existence of mystery, uncertainty and hope in life.
There are people who crave welfare and they know that heal goes beyond pills and medical techniques.
There are people who accept how much we ignore.
There are people who know that our heal will not be complete as far as we do not regain the sacred aspect of our daily lives.
There are people who already dare look after sincere faith, hope and joy in spite of the depressing effects of conventional thinking. (Northrup, 1999, p.7)
In case you are, or want to be this kind of women you cannot miss the chance to read this book. Even though it may not be usual to find serious book dealing with topics connected with body, mental and spiritual health, this type of literature is sometimes benefited with serious and complete works, and Northrup (1999) is one of the writers who benefit this genre. She writes on behalf of women.
References
Northrup, C. (1999). Women’s body, women’s wisdom. New York , NY
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