When experiencing health issues, going to the doctor should make you feel better. What happens when it makes you feel worse? In
EmpowHERed Health: Reforming a Dismissive Health Care System
, author S. Mayumi "Umi" Grigsby discusses the potential link between negative interactions with health professionals and health inequity with a focus on Black women in the US.
Spurred by her own experience with doctors who, for years, dismissed her pain, Grigsby was finally vindicated by a doctor who was a woman of color. Confirming her suspicion with a diagnosis of a shocking number of uterine fibroids, Grigsby wondered if other women were being treated similarly. Following interviews with numerous women, she was horrified to discover her mistrust was justified. Grigsby shares her story as well as theirs in the hope of helping others navigate through a health care system that seems to shrug them off.
In this book you'll hear from:
Reese, who's story shines a light on the inadequacies in sexual health education in public schools
Lyle who shows us that some doctors are not trained to contextualize
Sheila who did everything right for herself and still didn't receive the care she deserved
EmpowHERed
speaks to not only Black women but also other marginalized individuals who are looking to feel empowHERed and less alone in their fight against the health care system. The title may be gendered but the message is inclusive. Grigsby asks the question(s):
Do you feel empowHERed? If not, would you like to be?