In the story “Birth Story” by Dana-Ain Davis. It is related about LeConté’s birth story that she is a woman of dark skin color. She argues in the poem that she made to show her experience was “getting up every two hours to feed
to take a new test night nurses not good nurses Press my breasts hard press my arms hard begging for my milk and my blood such a sacrifice I want to go home I want to go make a home Hospitals are not homes.” This illustrates how LeConté she had to be induced and her daughter was born four weeks early, which is something risky for both her and the baby, who must be more careful because anything can happen, but in the hospital they did not treat her as they should because they had to be more delicate and pay more attention to both of them, I assure you that if it were a white woman, they put her in a wheelchair, they put a nurse for her alone and they are helping her with the care of the baby more often, but since she was black, the doctors would say that she she can do it alone.
The video for “Period, the End of Sentence”. It shows how a girl had to drop out of school because she couldn’t find a way during her period and it was something very complicated in terms of her religion because she was from India and they don’t talk about those issues because they see it as something bad, very intimate and like a taboo. She had to give up what she wanted because of social oppression. However, I feel very good for them because despite everything they get ahead, they do creative things so that women can progress
Hi Merichel,
“Birth Story” really stood out to me because I’ve read many articles on women who have experienced this medical abuse and how many black women have unfortunately died because of this negligence. I also agree that the “period talk” was overlooked as taboo, and people feared talking about it. But I’m glad people are being more open about these problems.
Hello Merichel,
I found “Birth Story” to be quite eye-opening because of the numerous women who mentioned the neglect they have felt due to the discrimination that their doctors have had towards them. I have heard of women of color being distrusting of medical professionals and this all stems from their seemingly internalized racism. As you mentioned yourself, the females in “Period, the End of Sentence” were truly creative for the means by which they were able to push forward, regardless of their situation and lack of resources.
Thank you for sharing.
Hi Merichel,
Birth Story really frustrated me because you’re right, if it were a white woman she wouldn’t be treated the way LeConté was. Being pregnant is a challenge on it’s own, a woman should be offered assistance especially after giving birth regardless of complications. The fact she did in fact give birth early was even more of a reason that she needed assistance when moving rooms. This kind of discrimination can quite literally cost people of color their lives.