HomeHealth Care NewsWokeness Enters the Exam Room

Wokeness Enters the Exam Room

Michigan is already offering physicians and clinicians woke training.

In a May 11 workshop entitled “Intersectionality: Examining Concepts of Privilege,” participants were given readings and videos to review. One such reading was a book entitled, “Racism Literally Makes You Sick.” In the book, author Mary-Frances Winters offers a “narrative reframing” of how Black people should view “racism” in health care. Some examples include the following:

  • Instead of saying “being Black is exhausting,” Winters suggests rephrasing that as “racism is exhausting.”
  • Instead of saying, “Black people are more prone to certain diseases. It is inevitable,” Winters suggest it is better to think “systemic racism affects my health. I need to understand the influence of white supremacy on my well-being and not internalize it.”
  • Instead of saying “I do not go to doctors because I do not trust them,” Winters tells readers to think, “I will seek out a Black doctor who I might feel more comfortable with.”

In summary, Winters states “racism is a significant factor contributing to health disparities that affect Black people.”

The workshop also had participants take an “Anonymous Qualtrics Privilege Activity Survey.” The survey then listed seven different identities:  ability, class, gender, nationality, race, religion, and sexuality. Participants were then asked to review a set of statements to identify “privilege” within each of the groups. For example, one privilege listed was traveling with family outside of the country as a child.

 

-Staff reports

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