Navigating the World of Healthcare: Advocacy for Black Women

always remember that someone else’s discomfort is not more important than your health

With this being my first blog post, I decided to touch on a topic that has been brought to the light (even more so than it was before) since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic. As someone with Chronic illness surrounded by people who work in the healthcare industry, the disparities in the health care industry have never been more apparent, and I am sure I am not the only one aware of this. The relationship between Black women and medicine has included unethical treatment, dismissal, invalidation, and a lot more unacceptable things. Oddly enough, the only time we were the focus of this industry was right before slavery ended, but this was only to make sure we were producing enough children to keep the system of slavery up and running.

The misconceptions surrounding black women who are still being referenced today in medical books (yes, they still believe that we don’t feel pain) are a main reason why history has not advanced as far as we would like. A recent 2022 study done by the American Psychological Association found that a majority of med students and doctors have a negative perspectives of Black patients before they even speak. There have also been studies done that show that a black person with the same ailment as a white person gets less dosage of treatment.

After some good experiences with doctors (all doctors of color) and some horrible experiences, I have compiled a list of ways to make sure we are getting the best care possible and not just becoming another statistic.

Understand Your Symptoms

Making sure you know how to describe your pain is essential before making that call to schedule an appointment at a hospital. This leaves less room for misinterpretation on your end and their end. This also helps to ensure you get the right tests done.

Give it Time

Getting to know your care team

Inform a Trusted Individual

Ask Questions

TRUST YOUR GUT