History Lunch Lecture Series: Jadwiga Pieper Mooney

Following a doctor's journey in 20th-century Chile, I explore the gendered dimensions of medical practice. What were the patriarchal roots of medical professionalization? How did shifting forms of patriarchy confer status and political authority on medical men who advanced reformist agendas while controlling women’s health and reproduction? How did the overwhelming dominance of men in these roles shape the design and implementation of public health systems and family planning initiatives? And under what circumstances could women claim new spaces and rights?  I will share and discuss the introduction to my book manuscript, which outlines the project's history, theoretical considerations, oral history methodology, and individual chapters.