Neither G nor Spot: Eponyms on the Female Anatomy as a Topic of Gender History and Feminist Art

Eponyms on the Female Anatomy as a Topic of Gender History and Feminist Art

Abstract

Abstract Eponyms have a long tradition in medicine. Eponyms for diseases such as ʻAlzheimer'sʼ and ʻAsperger's syndromeʼ are already part of everyday language, and eponyms for anatomy, such as ʻAchilles' tendonʼ or ʻG-spotʼ, are found beyond the language of medical science. The heyday of eponyms was in the last third of the 19th century. This coincided with the period of medical professionalization. Eponyms are artifacts of a male-dominated science that also traces a patriarchal as well as a colonial-racist scientific history. While contemporary discussions on eponyms for female anatomy exist within the anatomical community, they have received limited attention in the realms of scientific history, gender history, and cultural anthropology. The aim of the paper is to provide insights that stimulate further research on the subject and highlight pertinent questions. This essay addresses the issue from two perspectives: a historical and an artistic one. Anna von Villiez places the topic in the context of medical history and feminist debates. Christine Achtermann-Jones introduces her art project “Who the fuck is James Douglas”, delving into the motivations and the art-historical context in which the work was created and can be interpreted.