Recently, Triple M host Marty Sheargold made deeply insensitive comments about endometriosis, claiming the condition was "made up" and that women "just carry on." His remarks not only disregard the lived experiences of countless women but also reinforce harmful stereotypes that have plagued women’s healthcare for centuries. Endometriosis is a serious and often debilitating condition affecting one in nine women, yet it remains widely misunderstood and underdiagnosed due to persistent medical bias.
Sheargold’s statement echoes what many women hear when they seek medical advice—dismissal, disbelief, and accusations of exaggeration. Women’s health issues have long been stigmatized, with doctors historically attributing their pain to hysteria, anxiety, or simply an overreaction. This systemic bias has led to delayed diagnoses, misdiagnoses, and inadequate treatment, forcing many women to suffer in silence. Endometriosis, in particular, takes an average of seven to ten years to diagnose, often because women are told their pain is "normal" or that they are just being overly sensitive.
When public figures dismiss conditions like endometriosis, it fuels the societal belief that women’s pain is not real or not worth addressing. This discourages women from seeking medical help and emboldens healthcare professionals who already minimize their symptoms. The media has a responsibility to challenge these harmful narratives rather than perpetuate them. Instead of dismissing endometriosis, we should be advocating for better research, faster diagnoses, and greater awareness to ensure that women’s health is taken as seriously as it should be.
Article: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-28/endometriosis-sheargold-comments-disappointing/104993576
Sheargold’s statement echoes what many women hear when they seek medical advice—dismissal, disbelief, and accusations of exaggeration. Women’s health issues have long been stigmatized, with doctors historically attributing their pain to hysteria, anxiety, or simply an overreaction. This systemic bias has led to delayed diagnoses, misdiagnoses, and inadequate treatment, forcing many women to suffer in silence. Endometriosis, in particular, takes an average of seven to ten years to diagnose, often because women are told their pain is "normal" or that they are just being overly sensitive.
When public figures dismiss conditions like endometriosis, it fuels the societal belief that women’s pain is not real or not worth addressing. This discourages women from seeking medical help and emboldens healthcare professionals who already minimize their symptoms. The media has a responsibility to challenge these harmful narratives rather than perpetuate them. Instead of dismissing endometriosis, we should be advocating for better research, faster diagnoses, and greater awareness to ensure that women’s health is taken as seriously as it should be.
Article: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-28/endometriosis-sheargold-comments-disappointing/104993576