Invisible pain- the normalization of trouble in women’s lives

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Shola Muzaffarli is a 20-year-old medical student from Shabran, Azerbaijan. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

It is 2025, and there is still gender discrimination.

In many parts of the world, gender bias is so deeply rooted that people often fail to even notice it. This has created problems for women in many areas throughout history (women’s inability to access education, lack of voting rights, etc.). Although many changes have been made in terms of discrimination due to various revolutions, according to statistics prepared by the UN in 2020, 90% of men hold biases against women. As a result, these issues still remain relevant. 

Biases in the healthcare sector are at the heart of these problems. The reason for this is the historical labeling of women as being more emotional. This also creates a gap between the genders. The creation of this gap is not only influenced by the “emotional” label placed on women but also by the “toughness” label placed on men. An article published in 2021 confirms that emotionality is not related to being a woman or a man. Although this is an individual matter for each person, it creates an obstacle to diagnosing more women. Problems often considered as “things every woman experiences” can sometimes be signs of serious illnesses. Some of these problems include:

Nausea and pregnancy – Although it may indicate a serious issue during pregnancy, it is often considered a “normal pregnancy symptom”.

Menstrual pain – Although it is a commonly experienced complaint, it is believed to be overstated by women or regarded as a “normal women’s issue”. 

Pelvic pain – Although it can be a symptom of serious conditions like PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) or endometriosis, it is considered “normal women’s pain”.

Cardiovascular problems – unlike men, a heart attack presents itself with less pain in women. The more mild pain that arises is often dismissed as hysterical symptoms in women and is not taken seriously. 

Psychological complaints – complaints related to stress, depression, and anxiety are often associated with women’s “emotional weakness” and the “pressure of the maternal role” while serious psychological problems are overlooked.

The mentioned problems are only a part of the discrimination that occurs and have a serious impact on the quality of life for women. Bias against women is also reflected in scientific research, and the fact that some serious diseases present different symptoms for gender is overlooked.

This issue is one of the 17 goals adopted by the UN. The goal of humanity is to achieve gender equality (SDG 5). Therefore, biological differences should not be confused with gender discrimination between women and men. To prevent this confusion, every person must first be aware of this distinction and stand against it. 

The result of discrimination is the disregard of women’s potential, emotions, and needs, leading to an increase in their pain. In a world where women are silent, remaining silent against their pain is not just the loss of a woman, but the loss of the future. Perhaps women express their protests by remaining silent. 

About the author

Shola Muzaffarli is a 20-year-old medical student from Shabran, Azerbaijan. She is currently studying in her 3rd year at the Faculty of General Medicine (I MPF) of Azerbaijan Medical University (AMU). She has been working as an active member and project manager in the AzerMDS SCOME (Standing Committee On Medical Education) since 2024. In addition to her studies, she is interested in playing table tennis and cooking.