1. Dear Dorothee, thank you for introducing yourself to our community as part of our FemalExperts Role Model series. Was there a specific trigger for you to write this non-fiction book – a personal experience or a specific impulse?
Time and again, I experience in sometimes almost dramatic situations how great our need for good information on women’s issues is – with my patients, my friends, but also with myself. At the same time, I noticed that we only approach the great topic of “women” from a problematic point of view. I wanted to change that and show how fantastic women’s bodies are, how great they function throughout our lives and how much we can enjoy them.
2. the title “We superheroines” is very encouraging and already hints at the “superpowers” that work in us women. Is there anything here that particularly impresses you in your daily practice?
Certainly the ability of women to deal productively with the most diverse living conditions and to make something out of every situation. And, of course, their inimitable ability to have children anywhere in the world.
3. which research or conversations had a particular influence on you while working on the novel?
I found it particularly exciting to deal with the current state of knowledge on anatomy and female diseases. There is still a lot that has not been finally clarified and understood, e.g. is there a G-spot or not? I also found it particularly great to understand how wonderfully different systems in our body work together.
4. which gaps or taboos in the social debate on women’s health become visible in the book?
In fact, there are still huge gaps in our knowledge about women, both in general terms with regard to body and soul, as well as in relation to specific processes such as the menstrual cycle, menopausal changes, etc. Unfortunately, a complete lack of knowledge or fearful half-knowledge makes it much easier for taboos to persist. Gaps in knowledge and taboos thus promote each other.
Important taboos that should no longer be taboos are, for example, female arousal, sex and orgasm, female incontinence after childbirth, but also in the course of life, as well as physical and emotional changes in various phases of a woman’s life, e.g. during reproduction (desire to have children, pregnancy) or during the menopause (perimenopause).
5. how can we create more “awareness” here so that terms such as breast, vulva, clitoris, vagina, uterus, ovaries, hormones or menstrual cycle can be discussed and reflected upon in a completely normal way in future?
On the one hand, by courageously using the right terms and daring to say them out loud. Secondly, by communicating them to our children in a positive way and openly sharing our positive knowledge with those around us.
6 In your non-fiction book, you place a special focus on the particularities of women’s bodies in the individual phases of a woman’s life. Can you give our readers an example of the particular challenges that arise here?
Puberty is primarily about identity and finding your own role – both socially and in your own body. Gynaecological problems and challenges here often have to do with the menstrual cycle and periods (regularity, complaints), as well as physical characteristics. In the smooth transition to young adulthood, the topic of sexuality takes on a central role. Who do I want to be and can I be, what do I want to live in my sexuality, who am I?
This is followed by a phase that deals with reproduction in all its facets. Do I want to have children, and if so, with whom and when? Will I get pregnant just like that or do I need support, and if so, what kind?
From the age of 40, the first symptoms of the menopause can appear, which accompany us until the menopause (in medical terms, the menopause is the time when the last menstrual period was 1 year ago). After that, a new phase in a woman’s life begins again, with lots of opportunities and possibilities.
As you can see, you never get bored as a woman 🙂
7 You also address the topic of female sexuality in your book. You might think that a lot has happened in this area in recent years and that we have already made progress in terms of education and awareness. However, to what extent do you see a particular need for action or education in order to address this important topic?
It’s true that a lot has changed in recent decades – if only because of the pill (first launched in 1957), which allowed women to decide for themselves if and when they wanted to get pregnant. We still benefit from this effect today, even though we now have a much wider range of contraceptive methods to choose from.
But despite this freedom, I have the feeling that there are still many myths about pleasure, female arousal and orgasm that make it harder for women to enjoy their sexuality freely. These include a lack of knowledge about female sexual organs such as the clitoris and how they work. This includes the strong sexual role model in our society, which still assigns women a passive role in sex and makes it difficult or even impossible for women to actively perceive themselves and be active, which is very important for a fulfilling sexuality. This often includes very emphatic ideas, e.g. on social media, about what a woman should look like in terms of her pubic hair, the length of her labia, the color of her genital area, the size of her breasts, etc. This puts a lot of pressure on women. This puts women under massive pressure and makes many feel deeply insecure. This is where we need to start and make more emancipation possible in the best sense of the word with good information, the right knowledge and empowerment.
8) In “We Superheroines”, you address the most persistent myths about the female body in a very impressive way. Can you give us an example that was particularly interesting for you?
A widespread myth is that only women with a flawless body can be truly happy. It’s actually absurd when you think about it, but the myth leads to women constantly striving for an unattainable ideal and constantly feeling inadequate. Yet our body is a true marvel in every phase of our lives, doing great work every day. Happiness does not depend on outward appearance, but on how we perceive and accept ourselves.
9. are there any topics that are particularly important to you personally as a gynecologist and as a non-fiction author (also in the future)?
I would very much like to take another detailed look at the subject of pregnancy and birth, and in particular at the knowledge that is not generally known, but which can have a positive effect on the life of every single woman.
About the author
Kinga Bartczak advises, coaches and writes on female empowerment, new work culture, organizational development, systemic coaching and personal branding. She is also the managing director of UnternehmerRebellen GmbH and publisher of the FemalExperts magazine .
