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FEMINISM HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVOURITE THEMES, WHICH NATURALLY LED ME TO MY PROJECT ON MEDICAL MISOGYNY — THE BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION WOMEN FACE WITHIN HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS. I WANTED TO EXPLORE HOW WOMEN’S PAIN IS OFTEN DISMISSED OR MISDIAGNOSED, AND HOW THIS REFLECTS WIDER SOCIAL ATTITUDES TOWARD GENDER. THROUGH MY RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF WOMEN BEING OVERLOOKED, UNDER-TREATED, OR SIMPLY NOT BELIEVED BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. THIS INCLUDED EVERYTHING FROM MISDIAGNOSED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ISSUES TO THE LACK OF RESEARCH INTO CONDITIONS THAT PRIMARILY AFFECT WOMEN. SEEING HOW DEEPLY ROOTED THESE ISSUES ARE MADE THE PROJECT FEEL EVEN MORE IMPORTANT AND MOTIVATED ME TO REPRESENT THESE EXPERIENCES VISUALLY. I WANTED TO CREATE WORK THAT NOT ONLY INFORMED BUT ALSO EVOKED EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING. THIS PROJECT ALLOWED ME TO COMBINE MY INTEREST IN FEMINIST ISSUES WITH A TOPIC THAT FEELS BOTH URGENT AND DEEPLY PERSONAL, REMINDING ME WHY I USE ILLUSTRATION TO SPARK AWARENESS AND CONVERSATION.