APRIMERONGENDERANDHEALTH

Kira Zizzo

and biases, leading to a lack of recognition or understanding of health conditions and physical characteristics in individuals from underrepresented groups. Students may unconsciously associate specific conditions, symptoms, or treatment responses with certain races or ethnicities, leading to biased decision-making and potentially poorer patient care. The lack of inclusive medical illustrations can also perpetuate research and innovation gaps in the medical field. Without representation in research studies, medical textbooks, and illustrations, the specific health needs and conditions experienced by marginalized communities may be overlooked or not thoroughly studied. This can hinder advancements in healthcare and exacerbate health disparities.

Maternal health is particularly impacted, as women of color receive less adequate treatment in comparison to white patients. According to the CDC, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to white women in the US.

This is a disparity that persists across socioeconomic levels and state lines, blatantly signifying that this has racial causes.

Implicit biases held by healthcare providers contribute to inadequate assessment and management of pain, leading to disparities in maternal health outcomes, according to the American Journal of Public Health.

Disparities in healthcare are not singular. They mutate and exist along multiple intersections of identity. We here at the 11 Seconds Magazine hope to change this, first through story, and first through women's health.

Gender is deeply wrapped up in social, psychological, cultural, and behavioral conceptions, despite its often misattribution to sexual identity. As such, we approach gender in a curious way. It is meant to define us, define our habits, our proclivities, and even our place in the world. While more people are questioning the true value of "gender roles," we still have a long way to go.

Botticelli, when painting the Birth of Venus, most likely as a commission for the Medici family in Italy, suspends belief beyond just the depiction of the Greek myth where Venus emerges fully grown from Zeus' sperm. Though her body is not anatomically realistic, her body in this painting represents more than the physical existence of a woman; it represents rebirth, rhythm, and hope anew.

Does gender really mean something specific? Does it really mean pink, subservience, an inability to say no? Writers Amanda Sheehan and Neha Ali both attempt to answer this, first through a story about realization, and next, through a story about how even the rebirth of the US, as a country where "all men are created equal" decided to leave out the other half of the equation.

AMANDA SHEEHAN

I saw him in the corner and I thought he was handsome but I'm safe with my friends so why was I looking? Maybe for attention or, better yet, to fall into the big arms and the blue eyes he was looking back at me with - oh, shit. I was looking too long. He noticed and approached me while I'm stuck in the corner of the room.

Hours go by, we get progressively more drunk and high on wine and weed and each others laugh but I don't want to leave my friends, so why was I still there? Maybe because I couldn't help but fall into the trance of safety he made me feel for the first time in a long time - oh, shit. I was feeling too much. He noticed and invited me back to his dorm.

I remember hearing that he was the nicest guy at the party and there's no reason to say no except that I don't want to leave my friends so why would I say yes? Maybe because I couldn't help but fall into the routine I couldn't seem to break where I sleep with men who think I’m pretty - oh, shit. He realizes I can't find my friends and need a safe place to crash so he holds my hand on the way.

Oh, shit.

I was crying before during and after and there were so many reasons to say no except that I'm stoned and drunk and confused and hateful towards myself because I didn't want to leave my friends so why didn't I stop him from falling into me? Maybe because I was stuck - oh, shit. He knows I can't say no and keeps going.

I saw myself in the mirror the morning after, shocked and horrified that I was never really safe even though I was with my friends so how did this happen to me? Maybe .... wait. I suddenly realize that I couldn't remember if he'd been safe - oh, shit.

AMANDA SHEEHAN

I was thinking aloud and he thought for a moment and said no.

Oh, shit.

Oh, shit because how did I let this happen? Oh, shit because my friends felt safe to leave me with the nicest guy at the party? Oh, shit because I thought I was safe with the nicest guy at the party. Oh, shit because how could he have not been safe? Oh, shit because it's positive. Oh, shit because I'm broke and in college and have my whole life ahead of me. Oh, shit because no one cares because I didn't say no. Oh, shit because we live in a state where I can't get help even if someone did. Oh, shit because I'm stuck. In a dorm. And the nicest guy at the party knew that I couldn't say no. Oh, shit because we're stuck. In a state. Where a guy in a different kind of party decided we can't say no to what happened after we couldn't.

Oh, shit.

About The Author

Amanda Sheehan is a rising second year student at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. Her personal journey as a queer woman has allowed her to blossom academically, mentally, and socially. Through her identity, she has found her niche in public health and focuses her studies on Sexuality, Sexual, and Reproductive Health Her research on bisexual women ’ s experiences after sexual assault and her own life experiences continue to inspire her creativity as she dabbles in fiction and poetry writing.