자궁의 의료문화적 위상: 여성 연구자와 남성 연구자의 협력적 자문화기술지 방법으로

Medical and cultural status of the uterus: A collaborative Autoethnography

초록

This paper critically approaches the strong relationship between women and the uterus in Korean society, discussing it in the context of uterine vaccines, menstruation, and cervical cancer. The two authors, each of different genders, explored the meaning of the uterus based on their personal experiences. The female author examined the process of deciding to undergo a hysterectomy due to a uterine condition, while the male author observed his mother, who chose not to have her uterus removed despite having uterine cancer. The direct and indirect experiences with the uterus of the two authors of different genders enabled a 'collaborative autoethnography'. This paper examines the medical and cultural status of the uterus through 1) whether naturalness and side effects can be a basis for opposing hysterectomy, 2) menstruation as a substitute for femininity, and 3) the discourse on 'artificial uteri' and the significance of 'cervical cancer vaccines'. Through these discussions, it criticizes the perspective of assessing women's normality based on the presence or absence of a uterus. The paper argues that the discourse on the uterus should extend beyond its connection to women and femininity, including future discussions on issues such as the rights of disabled people, the removal of uteri from disabled women without their consent, pregnancy and reproduction in transgender men, uterine transplants, and artificial uteri in future societies.

키워드

자궁; 생리; 여성; 남성; 협력적 자문화기술지; Uterus; menstruation; women; men; collaborative Autoethnography
제목
자궁의 의료문화적 위상: 여성 연구자와 남성 연구자의 협력적 자문화기술지 방법으로
제목 (타언어)
Medical and cultural status of the uterus: A collaborative Autoethnography
저자
오덕열; 심지원
DOI
10.37305/JKBA.2023.12.24.2.1
발행일
2023-12
저널명
생명윤리
권
24
호
2
페이지
1 ~ 18