This week’s readings and film were not necessarily surprising, rather eye opening. I say this because of how intimate I felt reading about the experiences of women of color. I did find myself feeling melancholy because of the accounts of women of color and trans women not being treated appropriately due to the inappropriate stigma. As per “12 Reasons It Should Be Illegal for Doctors Not to Treat Trans People,” we were exposed to the firsthand experiences of trans people in regard to their health and it was not only devastating, it was entirely unfair and corrupt. There is not one scenario I can think of in which anyone should be denied treatment, when it is a basic human right to have access to doctors and external help overall.

            Some connections that I came across in the readings and film was how the standpoint (in regard to their position in society), affected the quality of lives of the individuals we read about. One example is that all of these individuals facing discrimination and marginalization, were not coming from environments meant for them to thrive, rather the communities lacked proper resources. This is something that I thought about immediately after reading “12 Reasons It Should Be Illegal for Doctors Not to Treat Trans People,” mainly because of the medical neglect I was learning about. Another connection I made was the fact that there seemed to be a pattern of disconnect between these groups of people and a proper quality of life, all seemingly due to their gender, which I find absolutely disturbing. 

            The format in which the stories are shared impacts my understanding of medical oppression and/or other aspects of gender we have discussed this semester because it all boils down to one thing: the importance of the feminist movement. Learning about the oppression and exploitation that women, specifically women of color deal with is obscene. All of the topics we have discussed have had an impact on how I view proper education, because the first step to creating a better tomorrow is understanding what the core of the problem is. I can truthfully say that learning about how the females in the Period. End of Sentence, have to work together was breathtaking because it goes to show how when we stand together, all is possible. There is strengths in numbers and I feel proud to be a woman of color because through it all, we are here standing and working to deconstruct the system that was created with the intention of breaking us.

Not much surprised me when reading these stories or about the film. These are things I’ve learned about or seen. I know of many activists in India who fought hard to earn fundamental rights in India. But I did like what the women were doing in making their own sanitary products and trying to get their own financial independence instead of being forced to marry and live off their husbands. When it came to A Birth Story, I read a lot of experiences where most Black women were being neglected by medical staff and were put in many uncomfortable scenarios. In “12 Reasons It Should Be Illegal for Doctors Not to Treat Trans People”, it’s not surprising, but it’s highly disappointing that people go through these experiences and have to witness it. 

Throughout the readings and the film there are a lot of connections. The main connection is that the people are either people of color, a part of the LGBTQ+, and/or they come from a low-income community. All of these descriptions fall under the main influence of what medical abuse affects. What I noticed was that, in “Period. End of Sentence.”, the girls were usually taught to be disgusted by their period. Men are usually uncomfortable when bringing up the talk of female menstruation and don’t think of the impact it has on the women. This connects to those who are transgender and those who give birth, most people find those ideas to be disgusting or weird, when it really isn’t any of that at all. The ones who think that are just ignorant and negligent.

I know that these readings have definitely enlightened me into learning a lot more about people’s experiences and how they share those experiences. I like watching the film because they actually grab realistic views and moments as the women move through. “I could be denied critical, necessary, and immediate medical care that could leave me permanently injured or even dead.” (Tourjée) Anyone prohibited from being treated adequately by medical care should be highly illegal. In places like India, most people from outside ignore the medical inequity unless they are personally impacted or witness it with their own eyes. It was amazing that these moments were recorded for these women and shared with the public. People who are seen “as out of the ordinary” by the public will witness this medical unfairness. The good thing is that this is all coming to light.

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

In our two readings for this week, I noticed a commonality. People begging for their voices to be heard, and to be treated with a general respect. I was surprised to learn that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, black women are more likely than any other group to have C-Sections when giving birth. It is still a question of why is that? Why is it almost normal for black women to not have a natural birth? Or for Doctors to assume that this is the only way? And if the C-Section is off the table, why must labor be induced? I also was shocked by the comments trans people wrote in response against the proposal to legally deny trans people health care. For a trans person, there should not be an ultimatum. To be cared for professionally and respectfully, or die. Many of these people also included their line of work, who they are as a person in society, almost begging for their presence to be seen as valid. Even someone who was in the USA Military is asking for the right to healthcare. So you let trans people fight for your country, but deny them the right to proper medical attention?
It was difficult to watch the film Period. End of Sentence, because of how none of these girls or boys know what a period is. Some relate it to god, or an illness that women endure, calling it “bad blood”. They continuously relate menstruation to religion, that they cant pray during their period because they are seen as dirty. It is very controlling and these woman have little to no freedom. I think that control is a big factor around women’s fertility, independence, transgender bodies, and obstetric racism. Women are penalized and judged for having a period, which is inevitable, normal, and healthy. Trans people are treated poorly regarding medical attention and health care. Black women and people are blatantly disrespected and neglected in birthing sessions, forcing them to make rash decisions towards their pregnancy and birth. The list goes on and on. I finally got a breath of fresh air when the man who created the low cost napkin machine appeared in the film. Seeing the women learn and understand what pads are, and making them hands on was a big sigh of relief, they deserve to have basic tools to care for themselves during their time of the month, and to know what it is rather than see it as something bad.

I wanted to learn more about the injustices women and trans people endure in healthcare and in terms of fertility- Prof. Waychoff provided us with just that. In the two readings and the film, we get to hear real stories from real people- taking these injustices outside of the USA and showing us that there is a real lack of education among these topics. Trans people must be recognized and respected in health care. Black women should not be scared of doctors and hospitals. People all around the world should receive a legitimate education on menstruation.

Among the readings, it is sad to see women of color and trans people facing unfair medical treatment experience even they are living in a first world countries.In the film, I was surprised that one of the girls had to drop off school because she had to go far away to change clothes during her period.

Through the readings and film, we can see women from developing countries and women of color and trans people in developed countries all facing unfair medical treatment because of their identities. Also they can not have enough rights to live as a normal being due to their identities.

Watching the girl had to drop off school because she couldn’t have solution during her period time makes me sad. What was worse, menstruation is a taboo in India. Which means, she probably can’t even explain to other people around her or even just in her family that why she had to drop off school. This girl is one of the girls and women who could have to give up chances of education, career due to their normal bodies’ conditions. Her stories meant there are more girls and women would have the similar experiences in India. They have to give up what they want, what they expect in the future. I believe in other countries would happen similar things. It also reminds me of when I was in middle school, our school uniform pants is white, which could be problematic for girls who were having period. Because without a good sex education, people still treat menstruation as a taboo not just in India. It also makes girls/women feel shameful for their bodies even it is something normal. Something normal becomes taboo or a shame that depends on the standard. Among the readings and the film, what we can see is only straight men can be survived in this medical oppression. There was a joke, said if men would have menstruation one day, they would make it become something proud-which I can see that in the patriarchy system.

Even though, I do like the documentary Period. End of Sentence. It makes me proud while watching how hard that the girls and women in the village working together making pads, earning money also solving the problem cause by period, which putting women in an inconvenient situation. They use their women power, setting other women free, help them to “Fly”.

In the end I would like to point out that sanitary products in the states or other countries could be very pricy-that is another pink tax women are paying. In this case, menstrual cup is wonderful product-you can use it multiple times, it is environment friendly also save your pennies!