Cross-disciplinary collaboration is an effort to illuminate the burdens of racism during birth. LeConté, Cheyenne Varner, and I have collaborated to share a birth story of obstetric racism, accompanied by illustrations and poetry, in order to recover the pieces of Black women’s lives lost as a result of obstetric racism. LeConté, Cheyenne, and I have collectively moved one Black woman’s experience of her medical encounter from the margin to the center. This collaboration is an effort in disobedience against the “typical” academic form. Cheyenne VannerLeConté is a 40-year-old Black professional who had IVF and developed a birth support team that included two doulas, one of whom was me. The nurse midwives at the hospital where LeConté planned to give birth were Black and possessed the most politically informed analysis of Black women’s birthing experiences. LeConté and her husband engaged in radical caring projects, such as creating a vision board, writing letters to their baby, and gifting each other aromatherapy scents. When LeConté went for a prenatal check-up, her blood pressure reading was 147/81, leading to a diagnosis of severe preeclampsia. The next day, her OB-GYN team instructed her to go to the hospital for admission and induce labor. LeConté arrived at the hospital with her support team, including her husband, mother, and two doulas. Her doctors were committed to her having a vaginal birth and monitored her blood pressure and liver enzymes. Over two days, LeConté’s labor was induced with a fetal monitor and a supportive team of nurse midwives. However, there were some issues along the way, such as a nurse who was unable to find a vein, a nurse who lost one of the vials of blood, and an anesthesiologist who administered too much epidural. LeConté felt invisible and disrespected, and the quality improvement person on duty wanted her to have a C-section.

The film is very powerful and inspirational portrayal of the challenges that women face in obtaining an education and being understood. Millions of women are forced to endure an unfair existence due to the lack of understanding surrounding menstruation, coupled with myths and shaming. This is particularly true in countries where obtaining basic necessities is already a struggle. The film highlights the pervasive lack of education surrounding menstruation and the patriarchal structures that control women’s lives, leaving little room for escape from oppression. The documentary poignantly reminds us that the lack of access to sanitary pads can prevent women from attending school, limiting their opportunities and perpetuating inequality. It is frustrating to see how a small change can make such a significant impact, especially when men could provide more support in these communities. The contrast between progress and societal ignorance is stark and disturbing. The struggle, mistrust, and rejection faced by individuals due to their authenticity, life experience, and circumstance while striving to discover a sense of belonging is a connection I observe between the film and reading. The Indian community depicts a perception of unfairness concerning the treatment one receives and the disparities and injustice in the health system, based on personal differences and race. It is unacceptable that transgender individuals receive insufficient care, and no one should face neglect regardless of their identity. The effectiveness of identity politics as a tool for marginalized individuals to combat inequality and injustice is something I now acknowledge. It is not necessary to experience prejudice or hatred personally to speak out against it. People attempt to strip others of their identity, which is both immoral and violent. It is difficult to accept being shamed for lack of medical treatment, especially when one pays taxes and works hard. This is brutal discrimination. Medical professionals take the Hippocratic Oath, swearing to aid others. The scientific and biological perspective suggests that it is unnatural not to discuss menstruation, how women feel, how to assist them, and how to reform the system to improve their lives. However, men often emphasize the importance of sex and pornography due to its perceived naturalness and its endorsement by the state.

I get mad when I  imagine that if men had periods, they would build rules for themselves to make a big deal out of this.

A bleeding cut on your hand, a broken leg, or bleeding teeth problem is widely accepted because it happens to everyone. But menstruation is shameful because that part of our body is meant for men to get pleasure. Not to bleed or deliver babies. We very recently changed the fact that public breastfeeding is normal. You could hear years ago, “Not in the restaurant, I am eating here!!” from men, or a manager would ask you to go outside. Breasts are sexy and visible in small T-shirts-and thats ok to see them, BUt a newborn can’t eat in a restaurant because a woman is showing her breast in an unnatural scene !?!? What !!! Dogs can eat in restaurants! I like to see a famous woman – Rihanna, recently performing pregnant! Beyonce before! That’s a good sign.

All the rules of women’s physicality, the female body’s role, and her place in society are often emotionally painful. It is oppression, and silence can be harmful too. I am glad men have cancer because perhaps women would have fewer treatments, and not everything would be covered by insurance. Or cervical cancer would not be treated because pro-life organizations would consider this harmful for the future of possible pregnancy! 

When I was reading more about “Identity politics,and there was a quote that states ““Identity politics” is a very vague phrase, but it generally refers to the discussion of and politicking around issues pertaining to one’s, well, identity. The focus typically falls on women, racial minorities, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and religious minorities, such as Muslim Americans. All the social issues you may have heard of in the past several years — same-sex marriage, police shootings of unarmed black men, trans people in bathrooms, the fluidity of gender, discussions about rape culture, campus battles about safe spaces and trigger warnings — are typically the kinds of issues people mean when they refer to identity politics.” (By German Lopez) it made me realized that what we be showing in the tv are totally wrong, there are things that you can only believe when you experience it or see it yourself, I know that all country have their own problem but I think the richest of America had blinded lot of country because whenever I say explain something to my friend back in country they always have a weird reaction saying what can go wrong you are in AMERICA! The richest country and everyone dream I be like sure but nit lot of people have that privileged and I don’t really blame them because I have that same mindset until I came here and experience the racism and discrimination especially as a muslim women, people will always make you feel that you don’t belong. 

“A Birth Story” is an essay by a woman describing her experience of giving birth and her difficulties with the medical system. She discusses her medical team’s lack of support, communication, and understanding and its impact on her mental and emotional health. The article emphasizes the importance of more patient-centered treatment and a shift away from the medicalization of delivery. 

“12 Reasons It Should Be Illegal for Doctors Not to Treat Trans People” is an opinion article that argues for legal protections for transgender individuals in healthcare settings. The author points out twelve reasons why denying trans persons medical care is discriminatory, hurtful, and a violation of their human rights. The essay emphasizes the significance of providing inclusive and welcoming care to all people, regardless of their gender identification.

 Both texts address critical issues in healthcare, including patient-centered care, empathy, and diversity. They also discuss the need for medical structural improvements to guarantee that everyone obtains equitable and high-quality treatment. 

These works provide significant views and perspectives on healthcare issues.

“The Power of Identity Politics” by Garza analyzes why people are so wrong!!! Why a white person can talk, explaining their little narrow views is full of absurdity because the knowledge they have is out of reality. They aren’t engaged in black history, don’t read accurate literature, but probably listen to their white friends talking about the experience of non-white people. What a small spectrum of understanding in Identity Politics. America does not have a long history, so the identity of people who work here and pay taxes has an even higher value for interpretation. Everyone needs representation, and the law should help people and societies. 

I always thought that difficult life makes you stronger and wiser. I see this is Aleichia’s Williams blog article. I feel for her, and many others, especially young people, living in microaggressive situations. My first husband is a Haitian Dominican born in America. He often told me how in his school latin peers with lighter skin tones pushed him away and that he didn’t feel Haitian or African much since he loved Spanish culture and Dominican Republic most. It was difficult for him, and because we spent almost fifteen years I had to watch him discovering himself in everything he was! He experienced a lot of racism in his job and Identity Politisc at a workplace were very tough in union. He worked in construction his entire life with mostly Italian groups of people. Identity politics had a gang laws encrypted in that world.

Relations between racial and ethnic groups have historically been characterized by hostility, inequity, and violence. In the complex and fast-paced society of today, historians, social theorists, and anthropologists have been known to spend a lot of time investigating and challenging not only the internal dynamics of the institutions that mold people’s behavior and personalities, but also the interactions between race and culture. The idea that racism has been defeated in America is tough to accept. Although many claim that America is a “color blind nation,” racism and racial conflict are nonetheless pervasive in American institutions’ social fabric. According to the HHS, White Americans have much better health than minority groups like Hispanics, Asian Americans, African Americans, and African Americans. For instance, hypertension, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney failure, is 16% more common in African American women than in white women (“Health”). Discussions over the causes of this health divide, including whether or not race should be taken into account when prescribing medications, have arisen. When it comes to healthcare access, transgender people frequently encounter the most difficult obstacles. Transgender patients frequently have to go through a lot of hoops or hide their identities in order to acquire the healthcare they need, whether they are looking for access to hormones, therapy, general health services, reproductive healthcare, or specialty healthcare. This is especially true in situations where a person has multiple intersecting identities, such as being both transgender and being a person of color, disabled, LGBT, indigenous, undocumented, impoverished, etc. Inaccessibility based on racism, transphobia, homophobia, stigmatization of mental illness, etc., insurance requirements, and doctors’ general unwillingness to help are just a few of the ways that these intersecting identities interact to create even more barriers for trans people seeking healthcare. The fact that the majority of healthcare professionals are unfamiliar with treating transgender patients may be the biggest factor in the subpar treatment provided to transgender patients.

“Identity politics,” in my opinion, emanate from individual experiences, depending on the group, race, social class, culture, or nationality with which you identify. However, it is essential to be intentional about the change one wishes to see implemented, in the sense that “identity politics” should look beyond oneself or a specific group and allow for an expansion that benefits all, striking a balance between the privileged and the marginalized, and forming a political alliance that is not exclusive.

Additionally, we must start with self, and home, educate boys and girls of the same values, raise the standards of a girl child, and be deliberate in our intentions if we want to create a healthy society, make feminism work, and support the movement of women.

As I think about this week’s article, I consider the ways that I can be more objective and inclusive such as the ways that I approach situations in my environment and the way that I approach some of my thoughts.