Womanist Ethics
Title
Black Lips Don't Turn Blue: A Womanist Critique of Discriminatory Language in Medical Education
Genre
Critical Engagement
Publication Date
Summer 2021
Course
RELG-203: Christian Ethics
Abstract
This paper examines race and gender inequities in healthcare as it pertains to the unequal presentation of descriptors of illness in medical textbooks. The author adopts a womanist perspective to criticize the use of the white male body as the standard for all patients, which causes signs and symptoms in women and people of color to be dismissed as less important. Following an analysis of normalizing language in current medical texts as well as its consequences for patients, the author calls for a system-wide shift to more inclusive, intersectional medical education that not only acknowledges differences among patient groups, but also places diversity in equal conversation with the presumed norm.
A revised version of this paper was posted on 03/09/22.
Recommended Citation
Lawrence, Alison. "Black Lips Don't Turn Blue: A Womanist Critique of Discriminatory Language in Medical Education" (2021). Womanist Ethics.
https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/relgwomanist/21
Included in
African American Studies Commons, Bioethics and Medical Ethics Commons, Christianity Commons, Ethics in Religion Commons, Social Justice Commons, Women's Studies Commons