Invisible
How Young Women with Serious Health Issues Navigate Work, Relationships, and the Pressure to Seem Just Fine
By Michele Lent Hirsch | Publisher: Beacon Press
About the book
Featured in The Advocate, New York Times, Literary Hub, Autostraddle, and New York magazine's The Cut
This is a vital exploration of the ways society overlooks—and fails—young women with disabilities and chronic illnesses
Miriam’s doctor didn’t believe she had breast cancer. She did.
Sophie navigates being the only black scientist in her lab while studying the very disease, HIV, that she hides from her coworkers.
For Victoria, coming out as a transgender woman was less difficult than coming out as bipolar.
Michele Lent Hirsch knew she couldn’t be the only woman who's dealt with serious health issues at a young age, as well as the resulting effects on her career, her relationships, and her sense of self. What she found while researching Invisible was a surprisingly large and overlooked population—and now, with long COVID emerging, one that continues to grow.
Though young women with serious illness tend to be seen as outliers, young female patients are in fact the primary demographic for many illnesses. They are also one of the most ignored groups in our medical system—a system where young women, especially women of color and trans women, are invisible.
And because of expectations about gender and age, young women with health issues must often deal with bias in their careers and personal lives. Not only do they feel pressured to seem perfect and youthful, they also find themselves amid labyrinthine obstacles in a culture that has one narrow idea of womanhood.
Lent Hirsch weaves her own experiences together with stories from other women, perspectives from sociologists on structural inequality and inequity, and insights from neuroscientists on misogyny in health research. She shows how health issues and disabilities amplify what women in general already confront: warped beauty standards, workplace sexism, worries about romantic partners, and mistrust of their own bodies. By shining a light on this hidden demographic, Lent Hirsch explores the challenges that all women face.
Editions of Invisible
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807023952
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807029817
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807023969
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780807092316
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780807093122
Read an Excerpt
Featured in The Advocate, New York Times, Literary Hub, Autostraddle, and New York magazine's The Cut
This is a vital exploration of the ways society overlooks—and fails—young women with disabilities and chronic illnesses
Miriam’s doctor didn’t believe she had breast cancer. She did.
Sophie navigates being the only black scientist in her lab while studying the very disease, HIV, that she hides from her coworkers.
For Victoria, coming out as a transgender woman was less difficult than coming out as bipolar.
Michele Lent Hirsch knew she couldn’t be the only woman who's dealt with serious health issues at a young age, as well as the resulting effects on her career, her relationships, and her sense of self. What she found while researching Invisible was a surprisingly large and overlooked population—and now, with long COVID emerging, one that continues to grow.
Though young women with serious illness tend to be seen as outliers, young female patients are in fact the primary demographic for many illnesses. They are also one of the most ignored groups in our medical system—a system where young women, especially women of color and trans women, are invisible.
And because of expectations about gender and age, young women with health issues must often deal with bias in their careers and personal lives. Not only do they feel pressured to seem perfect and youthful, they also find themselves amid labyrinthine obstacles in a culture that has one narrow idea of womanhood.
Lent Hirsch weaves her own experiences together with stories from other women, perspectives from sociologists on structural inequality and inequity, and insights from neuroscientists on misogyny in health research. She shows how health issues and disabilities amplify what women in general already confront: warped beauty standards, workplace sexism, worries about romantic partners, and mistrust of their own bodies. By shining a light on this hidden demographic, Lent Hirsch explores the challenges that all women face.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Invisible about?
Featured in The Advocate, New York Times, Literary Hub, Autostraddle, and New York magazine's The Cut
This is a vital exploration of the ways society overlooks—and fails—young women with disabilities and chronic illnesses
Miriam’s doctor didn’t believe she had breast cancer. She did.
Sophie navigates being the only black scientist in her lab while studying the very disease, HIV, that she hides from her coworkers.
For Victoria, coming out as a transgender woman was less difficult than coming out as bipolar.
Michele Lent Hirsch knew she couldn’t be the only woman who's dealt with serious health issues at a young age, as well as the resulting effects on her career, her relationships, and her sense of self. What she found while researching Invisible was a surprisingly large and overlooked population—and now, with long COVID emerging, one that continues to grow.
Though young women with serious illness tend to be seen as outliers, young female patients are in fact the primary demographic for many illnesses. They are also one of the most ignored groups in our medical system—a system where young women, especially women of color and trans women, are invisible.
And because of expectations about gender and age, young women with health issues must often deal with bias in their careers and personal lives. Not only do they feel pressured to seem perfect and youthful, they also find themselves amid labyrinthine obstacles in a culture that has one narrow idea of womanhood.
Lent Hirsch weaves her own experiences together with stories from other women, perspectives from sociologists on structural inequality and inequity, and insights from neuroscientists on misogyny in health research. She shows how health issues and disabilities amplify what women in general already confront: warped beauty standards, workplace sexism, worries about romantic partners, and mistrust of their own bodies. By shining a light on this hidden demographic, Lent Hirsch explores the challenges that all women face.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Invisible?
Health, Relationships and Personal development > Family and health > Popular medicine and health > Women’s health
Where can I read a sample of Invisible?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807023952
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Invisible?
Michele Lent Hirsch
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Invisible is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807023952) and paperback(ISBN 9780807029817) and ebook(ISBN 9780807023969) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780807092316) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780807093122)
Where can I buy Invisible online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Invisible from below
Where can I buy Invisible?