Have you ever been told that your pain is imaginary? That feeling better just takes yoga, CBD oil and the blood of a unicorn on a full moon?
Medical gaslighting and discrimination are the reality of many of the 190 million people around the world suffering from endometriosis.
Journalist Tracey Lindeman knows it all too well. Decades of suffering from endo propelled the creation of BLEED—part memoir, part investigative journalism and all scathing indictment of how the medical system fails patients.
Through extensive interviews and research, BLEED tracks the modern endo experience to the origins of medicine and how the system gained its power by marginalizing women.
Using an intersectional lens, BLEED dives into how the system perpetuates misogyny, racism, classism, ageism, transphobia, fatphobia and other prejudices to this day.
Out March 21, 2023 on ECW Press.
BLEED isn’t a
self-help book
It’s an evidence file and an eye-opening, enraging read. It will validate those who have been gaslit, mistreated or ignored by medicine and spur readers to fight for nothing short of revolution.
Photo by Benjamin Cruz, 2022
Author
Tracey Lindeman is a longtime freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Guardian, The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, Maclean’s, The Walrus, the Globe and Mail and many other publications.
When she isn't writing or fighting with the medical system, she can often be found gardening, learning languages, trying out new arts and crafts mediums and techniques, thinking up tattoo ideas, listening to loud music or planning her next trip. She speaks English, French, Spanish and a bit of German (so far).
BLEED is her first book. She is from Montreal and is currently based in western Quebec.
For more about Tracey Lindeman and her work, visit traceylindeman.com
PRAISE FOR BLEED
Heather O’Neill, author of When We Lost Our Heads
“A brilliant, blistering read. BLEED is a memoir of Tracey Lindeman's decades-long attempt to be effectively treated for endometriosis, which caused her chronic, excruciating pain.
“It is also a masterful work of investigative journalism and an expansive history of women having agency taken away in their own health care. From forced experimentation on marginalized bodies to paternalistic clinic visits, Lindeman offers incontrovertible proof of a history of neglect and deceit. Each page was filled with information I needed to know, wanted to know.
“Grisly and informative, BLEED made me cry aloud in frustration and anger and wonder. I could not put this book down.”
Julie S. Lalonde, author of Resilience Is Futile: The Life and Death and Life of Julie S. Lalonde
“Tracey Lindeman expertly weaves her own experience searching for endo relief with in-depth interviews and research proving her struggle was far from unique.
“Full of righteous rage and calls to action, BLEED is the book you need to be reading right now."
READER REVIEWS
As someone that also suffers from some of the most debilitating chronic pains and symptoms, it was refreshing in a way to know that it isn’t just a figment of my imagination, yet, on the other hand, it’s frustrating to live in a world where so many individuals are still being gaslit and dismissed not only by men, but women as well.
- Yolanda
Bleed has shined a light on systemic misogyny in gynecological and endometriosis care. This book is an “evidence file” for medical trauma and systemic misogyny in healthcare. This book is for those who identify as cisgender, non-binary, and transgender.
- Katie M.
WOW.
Dare I say the best book I have read about life with endometriosis? This book is hard hitting and doesn't shy away from the tough facts or questions when it comes to endometriosis […]
I have read a decent amount of this book before from other books and my own readings but never in such detail. The information on the awful way in which women of colour are treated by medical professionals was truly shocking. I also really appreciate how inclusive this book it as it talks about and has case studies from many different types of peoples that struggle with endo. Lindeman covers all different races, she covers the struggles of the trans community as well as both young and older women. It is truly inclusive.
- Tilly
…an extensive discussion of medical gaslighting, discrimination and misogyny in healthcare, and the pitiable lack of research and treatments for diseases that affect mostly women.
I loved how [Tracey] incorporated intersectionality as well; though endo is thought of as a female disease, it also affects trans people and occasionally men.
Endo can also be experienced by people of different races and ethnicities differently, which I hadn't thought of much and appreciated the discourse.
- Jordan F.
PRESS
Click the thumbnails below to see reviews and interviews
EVENTS
PAST EVENTS
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Ottawa launch
Monday, March 20, 2023 | 7–8:30 p.m.
St John the Evangelist | 154 Somerset Street West, Ottawa, ON K2P 0H8
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Montreal launch
Tuesday, March 21, 2023 | 5–8 p.m.
Turbo Haus - 2040 Saint Denis St, Montreal, Quebec H2X 1E7
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Orlando, FL: The Endometriosis Summit
March 24–26, 2023
Nicholson Center | 404 Celebration Place, Celebration, Florida
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Austin, TX
Monday, March 27, 2023 | 6:30 p.m. CDT
BookWoman @ 5501 N Lamar Blvd A-105, Austin, TX 78751
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Houston, TX
Saturday, April 1, 2023 | 10 a.m. (doors open 9:30 a.m.)
Walking Stick Brewing Company @ 956 Judiway St, Houston, TX 77018
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Lafayette, LA
Sunday, April 2, 2023 | 12 p.m.
Beausoleil Books @ 302 A Jefferson St, Lafayette, Louisiana 70501
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New Orleans, LA
Thursday, April 6, 2023 | 6–7:30 p.m. CDT
Windowsill Pies @ 4714 Freret Street, New Orleans, LA 70115
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Tuscaloosa, AL
Saturday, April 8, 2023 | 12–1:30 p.m. CDT
Earnest & Hadley Booksellers @ 1928 7th St, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
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Atlanta, GA
Monday, April 10, 2023 | 6–7:30 p.m.
Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine @ 371 East Paces Ferry Rd NE, Suite 730, Atlanta, GA 30305
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Toronto, ON
Wednesday, April 12, 2023 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
TYPE Books @ 883 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1G5
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Ottawa, ON
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 | 6:30 p.m.
National Arts Centre @ 1 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K1P5W1
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Almonte, ON
Saturday, May 6, 2023 | 9 a.m.
Conference: Imagine – Learn/Inspire/Act
Co-presentation with Julie S. Lalonde
Almonte Civitan Hall @ 500 Almonte St, Almonte, ON K0A 1A0
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Montreal, QC
Monday, May 8, 2023 | 5 p.m.
Conference: Perspectives interdisciplinaires sur les violences obstétricales, gynécologiques et reproductives
Université de Montréal
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New York, NY
Thursday, July 13, 2023 | 7:30 p.m.
KGB Bar @ 85 E 4th St, New York, NY 10003
CONTACT
Photo by Benjamin Cruz, 2022
Tracey is available for media interviews, appearances and article commissions. Use the form below to get in touch.
Invite Tracey to your event, school, literary festival or other speaking engagement using the same contact form.
If you are interested in translation rights, please contact literary agent Marilyn Biderman at marilyn@transatlanticagency.com