So, on one hand, in the film Period: End of Sentence, we see women’s lives being extremely effected by lack of tools. The tool being technology to make a pad, something so simple that can give such a huge impact and return. The women can now continue school, get an education, work, make money, help others. As a result they start to have agency in life, feel a part of, feel useful and be useful. The lack thereof was simply before of the negligence of them as a lesser equal. Because of their anatomy and menstruation as well as class structure and money, these women are unable to take part in life. Of course patriarchy plays a huge role in this, the technology to make pads has existed for a very long time. The overall oppressed systems have kept women in extremely paralyzed situations, all because of a function of their bodies.

Additionally, they do explain that the way they are treated when they have their periods kept them from taking part in life regardless of having a pad that would hide the period. Without a pad they could clean and bath cloths regularly and still manage through life. What is amazing is that the technology of the pad has given them a chance to have the power to change their situation without have to change the system.

In the readings, A Birth Story and 12 Reasons It Should Be Illegal for Doctors to Not treat Trans People, you have a similar reflection of the use of technology in the status of a people’s freedom. In this case, the technology that is available to help us is held hostage and kept from people due to their gender identity and color of skin. Even when the technology is available, our rights to it can be completely out of our control. In these cases it is really important to see two views, one is how the fight against the bigger systems is undeniably a priority and work arounds are necessary but not a replacement.

My thoughts on medical oppression are that there is an overview of discrimination and inequality in health care. Some of it is classism, ageism, racism, non-English speakers, homophobia, sexism, and non-compliant patients. As I was reading the article, 12 reasons it should be illegal for doctors not to treat trans people, I was a bit shocked at the new rule that was proposed by the department of health and human service that could make medical care for transgender people. I mean I feel like no matter how you classify yourself or whatsoever everyone should seek medical attention. people who are non-binary and transgender people should deserve access to healthcare without the fear of discrimination. Once again we are all humans we should deserve the rights that all humans have. Nobody should ever live with this fear. Transgender people are people. A lot of those who are transgender are having a hard time obtaining life-saving care.

Both readings and the documentary really opened my eyes up to how good I have it here in the United States simply with all the access to resources regarding anything women related or anything about my body like my period. The documentary made me think of Planned Parenthood which is a non profit organization that provides reproductive health care in the United States and globally. If the women in India had a resource like Planned Parenthood I know it would do them so much justice just having the ability to go somewhere to talk to women, get more information about women’s bodies, becoming more informed on your reproductive system, and getting other resources like – pads, birth control, and even abortions. I think overall, women and the control on what to do with our bodies and when to do it has constantly been ruled by people in power who are not even women! Isn’t that insane? I definitely think it is not only insane but incredibly wrong. Both the readings also taught me a lot regarding obsterstic racism and medical oppression; both of which I knew of but never really knew about. The idea that black women are more likely to get c-sections instead of any other race is appalling to me; any woman who gets pregnant has an idea of how they want their birth to be so, walking into a hospital on the most special day of your life and getting treated differently because the color of your skin or your race is sickening and goes to show how much work we still have to do throughout society and overall the continued written history we are living through today.

I was really taken in this weeks readings by how terrible it is to be at your most vulnerable, looking for help, and then face that kind of degradation and humiliation. Not only to feel that way, but to be questioned, or ignored, or invalidated in regards to your health can only compound that feeling of vulnerability. And to face that in seeking the help of a professional who has taken a vow to do no harm. But obviously it goes beyond all of that to a feeling of degradation. To feeling that your care, or even your life, is of less importance to the person with whom you’ve entrusted it in that moment, it has to be such a scary feeling. Not that medical care is easy, or the body is simple, but caring for the body should be straightforward. Listen to a patient, identify an issue, treat that issue. I guess I’d like to say that doctors should approach every patient with an unbiased scientific mind, but that sounds cold and clinical. People deserve to be seen as themselves. Also saying that implies that the foundations of their knowledge are unbiased, but in truth medical science is incredibly biased. One need only look at the history of eugenics in some of our most esteemed universities to see how the foundations of our medical knowledge were built upon prejudicial ideas. I guess it’s just disheartening that a scientific mind, a doctor, a person who should be equipped to see things as they are, can’t move beyond bias.

This week’s articles made me think about a Seinfeld episode I watched years ago. One of the main characters, Elaine, went to the doctor, and she read in her chart that a previous doctor complained about her because she refused to put on a gown. Throughout the episode, we see her visit multiple doctors to see the mole that she was concerned about, but she was turned away. all while they wrote new things about her in the chart. While the episode was hilarious, it’s a very real problem in the healthcare industry. I think it’s ridiculous that all the doctors in the city could just turn you away because of one little thing written on a chart. Doctors have way too many liberties. This is someone’s life that they are messing around with. This reminds me of when I was in 4th grade. We were talking about possible careers. The usual “what do you want to be when you grow up?” question. Many kids said they wanted to be doctors or nurses. My teacher had a very serious conversation with us after that. I didn’t think that much of it, but as I grew older, I realized how right she was. She told us that if we wanted to be doctors, we couldn’t be biased. Being a doctor, you have another person’s life in your hand. You could even come across those who have wronged you or people you just don’t like. Then you’re faced with the decision of whether to help them or not. Doctors and nurses are faced with these problems every day. So she told us that if we aren’t capable of letting things go and we would consider letting someone we don’t like die, then we shouldn’t pursue a career in healthcare. A lot of kids changed their minds after that class. Hatred, pettiness, and vengeance have no place in a hospital, she said. If you think about how much power doctors have, it makes you wonder why they aren’t checking to see if these future nurses and doctors are biased.

In this week’s readings, we are exposed to the reality of how brutal society can be in a hospital setting; where it suppose to be a place where you can come in and be well taken care of, it can turn into a nightmare. When reading “A Birth Story,” we are introduced to the experience of LeConte. She was longing for a baby, and when we finally became pregnant with her first child through IVF, she wanted to have a vaginal birth. She was mistreated in the hospital, being treated with no empathy. Nurses in the hospital suggested she have a C-section because it was known that black women are more prone to have a C-section. They didn’t look at LeConte as an individual that could decide what she wanted. The hospital staff wanted to take that power from her. LeConte luckily had no complications and was able to have a vaginal birth. It’s an unsettling feeling to have to feel like no one cares or is listening to you. When you are pregnant, you become more vulnerable. You want people around you to listen to you. LeConte was neglected and degraded, and the nurses caused her physical pain. She was identifying this as obstetric racism. This society needs to be better and do better.

I really enjoyed this weeks material, theses are some of the things I am passionate about. First Black women are the true gifts to this world. Leconte’s story was truly heart breaking and one i have hear of before. I was not surprised at all to know that she experienced Obstetric racism. Black women usually mostly feel marginalized,that is in medical spaces.

Transgender people should have access to health care and other medical services. The fact that the health departement is enteraining this new rule is beyond scary and disappointing however not surprising. I am starting to believe that the government is just against anyone who does not fall in to the standards/beliefs.

Period. End of sentence. made me realize why I love my major so much and this class. You learn something new everyday. Women are strong and deserve proper menstrual care. This should be a universal problem and not just for the women in third world countries.

The readings this week mad me think about things I usually do not like how basic healthcare can be denied for a personal choice when we claim liberty and justice for all there is no fine print that says except for …… Therefore I cannot really understand why a law could even be considered that would deny healthcare based on sexuality preference. Another way they want to try and force the world to conform like we are living in the past. The documentary was the best part of the assignment this week for me I was shocked that some of the girls had no clue what a period was or how nervous they looked to discuss it at all even dropping out of school because they do not know how to properly handle a period or lack the materials needed to maintain or normal day with a period. It was almost like they think a period is punishment do not talk to god he cannot hear you when you bleed don’t speak to your mom etc. Their beliefs are oppressive as well and untrue. No one informed them adequately it was just shocking to see because over here we come from a more progressive background. However,  even as progressive as we are we still lack empathy and compassion in this nation we call “home”.

This week’s reads were a little emotional for me, but I was not surprised about the abuse, neglect, and disrespect of the healthcare system and some of the negative workers getting away with the disgraceful treatment they give to others. People need to be more active when it comes to the proper health care, they want to receive from the healthcare system. When it comes to the well-being of anyone regardless of their race, gender, or sexuality they should be treated with dignity, respect, and fair care. Everyone deserves great health care. In the film “Period End of Sentence ” for me to see India woman creating their own pads I am sure made them feel good because at the same time they are learning something and sharing and educating others. make pads for women in need, one scene that I made me smile was when a man was asked what the woman were doing, and his words were that the women are making “diapers” for their monthly cycle. I realized in this film that the women do not have any kind of conversations regarding their menses. They said they do not even talk amongst themselves.