Women like Jean Purdy have been sidelined in IVF history
- Jean Purdy was instrumental in the development of IVF but received minimal recognition.
- The film 'Joy' explores her life and struggles, emphasizing the need for women's voices in healthcare.
- Purdy's contributions highlight ongoing issues regarding women's representation and autonomy in medical narratives.
In the early development of in vitro fertilization (IVF), Jean Purdy played a crucial role but received little recognition, overshadowed by her male counterparts, Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards. Celebrated in 2015, Purdy's contribution was finally acknowledged with a plaque unveiling 30 years after her death. The narrative of Purdy's journey reveals the broader societal issues around women's roles in medical advancements, illustrating how medical narratives often erase women's stories. Both Thomasin McKenzie and James Norton highlighted crucial moments in Purdy's life, focusing on her challenges and the necessity of women being given a voice in medical decisions that affect their own health. The film 'Joy', available on Netflix, seeks to rekindle these discussions by centering on Purdy's perspective and advocating for women's autonomy over their bodies, which remains an ongoing struggle beyond the initial breakthroughs of IVF. The film not only commemorates Purdy's achievements but also critiques the existing power imbalances in women's health, showing that the medical world still largely operates under male dominance. Purdy's story is one of perseverance against societal and institutional pressures, making it a relevant narrative today as women continue to fight for their rights and recognition in various fields, including healthcare.