Wow! There were so many great suggestions for the remainder of the semester. I looked at suggestions across the three sections I teach and am trying to figure out the best way to address all of your interests. I’m not sure it will be possible, but I will give it a try.

I am calling this week, “Medical Oppression.” There are two readings and one 25-minute film.

A Birth Story

This piece was written by Dr. Dana-Ain Davis, in collaboration with Leconté J Dill whose story is featured, and Cheyenne Varner who illustrated the piece. Dr. Davis is the director of The Center for the Study of Women and Society at CUNY. I work with her regularly and respect her work on black motherhood and medical anthropology. This piece deals with Obstetric Racism through the focus on stories told through words and/or images.

12 Reasons It Should Be Illegal for Doctors Not to Treat Trans People

This piece was written in response to a new rule proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2019 that could make medical care for transgender people not only worse but potentially protect the denial of health care to trans* people by federal policy. It includes some description of the rule, but more interesting includes 12 comments from people opposed to the rule in which they share their stories.

Period: End of Sentence

Some of you mentioned an interest in discussing period poverty and/or stories from a global perspective. I hope this film does some of that for you. You can watch this film through the linked title or through the embedded video below. This film, which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject, is set in rural India, where the stigma of menstruation persists. In the film, women make low-cost sanitary pads on a new machine and stride toward financial independence.

Due this week:

• Discussion Post 12 & Reading Reflection 11 – Due Wednesday, April 27 at 11:59 pm.
• Comments on at least through Discussion 12 Posts – Due Friday, April 29 at 11:59 pm.