Watching the film from this week was a bit shocking to me. I never knew that talking about menstruation was considered taboo in India. The fact that many women were ashamed to talk about it is a big issue since a lot of problems can occur during the menstruation period. I’m glad that women along with men have found a solution to their problems by manufacturing their own form of pads and selling them within their community. They also are selling them for a cheaper price than the ones on the market. 

After reading both articles I found it interesting that there was a lot of discrimination between patients and doctors within the medical community. It’s awful how they tend to misdiagnose or simply get treated differently because of their race and sexual orientation. 

What would cause doctors who work on pregnant people to make them discomforted ? many things . What hospital could have she went to in Brooklyn to feel this way and leave her with this memory. If LeConte felt like she wanted to do this at home with a team of women She trust their was no need for the hospital to hold her against her will. Was there some kind of camera in the hallway she was in when she had to “ walk to another room, pushing her newborn in the mobile crib and her IV, with her husband trailing behind her, carrying all of their belongings”. That unbelievable . I hope she sued or was offered Compensation . I would hate to have someone love like my wife or loved ones to go thru something like this. 

The second article on vice by Diana Tourjee opened up a discussion about the passage of a rule to legalize discrimination against trans people in health care would harm & effect the lives of trans people in the United States. To me I don’t think it’s right to take.. health care rights from anybody. trans straight gay or whatever. I think some doctors maybe should have a right to not want to work with someone who puts harmful things in their body that might not be even FDA approved. If it something like a common cold and blood test, seeing the dentist their should be no restrictions. 

The documentary period the end a of sentence was short, interesting documentary and bizarre. I liked it though. I wonder why they feel that way about menstruation. They found it being shameful and a time of being impure. I find it odd that they don’t have access to good pads. I feel like that’s a necessity at this point of life. Most women shouldn’t be walking around bleeding and it being visible/ leaving spots on their clothes & men making them uncomfortable while they do it. I think the women their should also continue seeing it as a more natural thing.

REFLECTION 11

A very normal and natural thing about women is considered taboo in other countries. I am very upset knowing that Indian girls had to face all kinds of environmental problems by having their period every month. The movie “Period: End of Sentence” opened an image of how there are families who can’t even afford pads which shows how the country is being poorly treated. Women need not only financial support but education also. The movie shows how women do their best to be financially independent by affording pads and helping other families too.

Obstetric racism is a form of violence that women of color and transgender people are dealing with in hospitals and clinics. The story of LeConte which is written by Dr.Dana-Ain Davis is a very emotional story that describes how racist doctors and nurses can be in the most sensitive situation in life: Giving birth. She didn’t have to go through all this pain by herself just because she is black. No women deserve to be treated less than the other one. Transgender people are also part of this type of racism where they face discrimination and rude service. They are also human beings and deserve to have access to all health sources.

Heylee Soto

Since the start of the 20th Century, gender roles have been redefined interchangeably depending on the societal dictates at the time. In other words, masculinity and feminism have been among the most contested issues over time. Public institutions, non-governmental organizations, social activists, and others on the social front; they slowly built powerful momentums on gender equality issues. The continuous differentiation between genders based on physical and mental capabilities only fanned a culture of discrimination. Therefore, the power and identity politics strived at striking a balance between the two genders of the human species. In fact, there was a time when gender roles were so distinct that it was indisputable on what a man should do and shouldn’t do; however, the evolving society dictated otherwise.  In “Too Latina to be Black and Too Black to be Latina,” Aleichia Williams discusses how geography has played a huge role in the shaping of her identity as an Afrolatina. She states, “I feel like it is more of a ‘Southern’ phenomenon that our blackness is more prominent than our Latinidad. It’s not that we don’t want to be Latinas; it’s just that people always remind us that we are black first (Williams).” This shows how geography is able to teach us about ourselves and how we see ourselves. The way people react to you or what they say about you can have a huge impact on how you see yourself. Often times, when people from other countries see someone who is half white and half black, they will assume that person is fully white because those were the people that would have been in power over them for so long. However, people from the U.S. are more likely to assume a half-black person is fully black because of the race relations history of this country with regards to slavery and segregation. When Aleichia Williams was five, her family moved to Puerto Rico. This experience shaped her understanding of who she is—both in terms of her physical body and her cultural identity.

Watching Period: End of Sentence was very eye-opening. The readings were as well but there’s something about watching a film and seeing the people and their experience first-hand that is very impactful. Something specific that stood out to me in the documentary was when one of the women mentions the patriarchy and how it effects the discussion of women’s issues. Things related to women, like periods, are considered taboo and not talked about at all. It was shocking to learn from this film that most men didn’t know what a period was and that a lot of women didn’t know why they have periods. Women are made to feel ashamed of their periods and not worthy to do things like practice their religion because they are “dirty”. This is part of establishing the patriarchy, instilling into women that they are less than men because of things like having a period. 

Both “A Birth Story” and “12 Reasons It Should Be Illegal for Doctors Not to Treat Trans People” give impactful first hand accounts as well. Hearing emotional re-telling of their experience when seeing medical care makes you empathize with them and imagine yourself in their shoes. I think this highlights the seriousness of theses issues and the harm that is done to the people effected.

Watching the film, while it was both shocking to find out both some of the men and older women in the village didn’t know the scientific reasons for why women menstruate or what a period is, it was also relieving to see someone explain it to them. It felt very progressive to watch the pads be created and watch the village become educated as a whole throughout the short film, but it still initially gave me a bit of a culture shock because it was seen as taboo. I feel like that sort of thing would’ve been less shocking if they were asking children and they didn’t know, but it was grown adults who had no idea. Both periods and the act of menstruating are completely natural things that a woman experiences and it should be seen as such, not some top secret thing.

As for the article regarding obstetric racism, I ended up asking my mother about her childbirth experience when she had me, and am still currently debating on whether or not she was also a victim of obstetric racism. Since it happened twenty years ago I honestly don’t think I should dote on it too much, but it also always feels like this sort of thing is overlooked. I’m not saying I would try and hunt down the nurse or anything because I don’t think it was that serious in the grand scope of things, but honestly my mother didn’t seem upset when I asked her about it, however it could’ve just been that her emotions were prioritized on other things (such as my arrival). I think the last article regarding the debate abotu whether or not transgender people should basically be denied help from medical professionals based on their own decision is beyond ridiculous. It honestly feels like one of those false answers on a multiple choice tests because that’s just how outlandish it sounds to me.

Both readings alongside the video has greatly widened my understanding in consideration to Stigma, it’s prejudice, and discrimination towards people with mental illnesses can be subtle or overt, but they all have the potential to cause harm. People with mental illnesses are marginalized and discriminated against in a variety of ways, but understanding what that looks like and how to address and eliminate it can be beneficial. Stigma is frequently caused by a lack of knowledge or fear. Learning about the neglect doctors give their African American female patients was upsetting because it derives primarily from racism and internalized anger. This explains why so many women of color are scared to seek help and distrust doctors. Wouldn’t you expect someone who took a promise to follow only ethical standards to actually live up to this priceless oath and safeguard you. Which unfortunately, may not be your reality if you are a woman of color having these said things happen to you.

Watching the film Period End of Sentence was fascinating because it demonstrated how much power we have when we collaborate. Despite our awful circumstances, when we choose to assist one another, we can begin to take the first steps toward meaningful change. Even though we are informed that certain natural aspects of life are prohibited, we know deep down that we have nothing to be ashamed of.

In A Birth Story, written by Dr. Dana-Ain Davis, we learn about Leconté J Dill and her birth story. When she was admitted early for complications, she experienced obstetric racism at a time when a woman deserves nothing but support and be cared for. She experienced neglect, dismissiveness, and disrespect from the anesthesiologist, who paid no mind to the pain they were causing Leconté, making it seem intentional. She also was not offered a wheelchair and had to walk to the postpartum unit just hours after having her baby. She not only had to walk but had to push her newborn and her IV, which seemed like a way to humiliate her. “Obstetric racism sits at the intersection of obstetric violence and medical racism.

In 12 Reasons It Should Be Illegal For Doctors Not To Treat Trans People written by Diana Tourjée goes over a new (outrageous) rule that was proposed to deny Trans people medical attention. Jessica Charlton writes, “I am a 29-year-old non-binary person who is an extremely hard worker as a manager at an animal shelter. I support a family and uplift my community. I deserve access to healthcare without fear of discrimination”. Jessica deserves medical attention just like anyone else, regardless of how they identify. Simon Chartrand writes, “I am a transgender person with a disability, and the proposed rule will compromise my unalienable rights. … I need constant access to healthcare, and I have experienced discrimination many times in the past”. Why should any rules deny someone with a disability the medical help they need? The discrimination against transgender persons is cruel. The fact this could legally allow someone to deny life-saving services because of the patient’s gender or the way they identify is inhumane.

In Period: End Of Sentence, the documentary focuses on the stigma of menstruation in rural India. So many women featured in this film are very embarrassed and shy when talking about their periods, not just on camera but in general. It is not uncommon for these women to give up their education because of the challenges their menstruation brought them and not having access to pads. Arunachalam Muruganantham, the man who invented the low-cost sanitary napkin machine, said, “menstruation is the biggest taboo in my country.” He has created something for women to continue their everyday lives comfortably, something that shouldn’t be considered a luxury. Another quote that stood out to me was said by one of the women, “The thing is when there is patriarchy, it takes time to talk about something related to women.”

The development of this documentary from beginning to end is worth praising. Initially, the reactions and concept towards menstruation was said and a bit infuriating. When asked about period and pads, the females both young and old were shy or embarrassed to give a response. When the men were asked, its either they did not know or had some absurd idea or stigma relating to it, that it was an illness mostly associated with females, and so many other inaccurate information about it. It is obvious in ancient days; women were not taught of its acknowledgement. They did not what it, why it came and how to go about it. Ad one lady stated she kept changing clothes because of it and because of the constant stress, she stopped schooling as a result. If you access this situation with your heart and not your mind, you will get infuriated by the circumstance. However, let’s look at it this way, in India, technology has not or did not advance as compared to nations like the United States or Europe. In times like those, to prevent confusion and discomfort, people regarded to things that were not of their knowledge as taboo. Nevertheless, as seen, progressing things begin to waver and change. People, especially the women begin to be curious, women learn how to make pads and educate others on how to use them, instead of the usual unsanitary cotton clothes. This is also enacted the will to learn something whilst earning money. “A lot needs to change”, indeed it does but it does not occur overnight. It happens through consistency and I am glad some individuals are taking steps towards that change.  

Reading A Birth Story by Dr. Dana-Ain Davis gave me a real perspective on the experience of Black women in medical settings such as Hospitals. It made me really sad to go through Leconté J Dill’s birthing story through her eyes and through the animations. I felt privileged in reading about her experience because although I know the battle with health insurance in this country, I don’t imagine being treated in this manner if and when I’ve needed medical attention. Then in reading the 12 Reasons it Should be Illegal for Doctors Not to Treat Trans People, my entire mentality and feelings on the matter were completely exacerbated. I felt so guilty and yet again in disbelief that anyone else has to deal with another civil right stripped away from them due to ridiculous rules set in place to separate us. As someone who wants to go into the medical field, I vowed right then and there that when I do reach my educational goals, I want to make sure to remain someone who will do no harm and help others on my part at all costs. The fact that this new rule has even been proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services is preposterous and shows no sign of progression in our society. How can we just ignore the lives of human beings?! Watching Period: End of Sentence made me proud of the Indian women who are standing up for themselves and actively educating others to the powerful knowledge they’re gaining in opening up about womanhood.