Episode 119: #SurvivorStories Series with "Sophia" on navigating the intersection of gender and race in healthcare

en(gender)ed

On this en(gender)ed #SurvivorStories series episode, our guest is Sophia, an African-American woman and public school teacher. Sofia shares with us today her experiences as a woman of color navigating the health care industry (one which we discussed in Episode 117 with Jennifer Block), one which through inadequate diagnoses, treats the symptoms of illness, rather than focusing on prevention and long-term patient wellness. Our conversation explores the ways in which these systemic forces have shaped Sofia’s medical choices, the harms that have resulted, and the ways in which systemic racism and sexism have played a role in Sophia’s healthcare journey.

During our conversation, Sophia and I referenced the following resources and topics:

• The racist history of women's health in this country with J. Marion Sims
• How J. Marion Sims' statues were removed in 2018 in NYC
• The Alabama case of Caroline Malatesta whose baby’s head was forced back into her vagina to prevent her from delivering
• The cultural history of the gendered term, "hysteria"

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