Becoming with Endo: Embodied Experiences of Endometriosis in Visual Narratives (Photovoice)

This thesis responds to the growing public and medical attention that has been focused in recent years on endometriosis (endo), a chronic multisystem inflammatory disease associated with chronic pain and exhaustion. The aim of this thesis is to contribute to the Czech academic discussion with an interdisciplinary analysis that approaches endometriosis as a physically and socially experienced condition. The empirical part is based on the participatory visual method of photovoice and individual interviews with seven participants. The first part of the analysis focuses on the diagnostic process and uses the concept of endo episteme, which points to epistemic injustice, gendered trivialization of symptoms, and insufficient recognition of patients' bodily knowledge in Czech healthcare. The second part focuses on the temporalities of endometriosis and, using the concept of crip time, identifies ways in which the pain and fatigue associated with endometriosis disrupt chrononormative notions of productivity, functionality, and linear "healing." The work aims to contribute to locally anchored research on endometriosis, politicize it through feminist and crip/queer frameworks, and offer analytical and visual outputs that can be used for the education of healthcare professionals. Key words endometriosis,...