Today, we are joined by several of our 2023 expert panelists to discuss the topics of oppression, bias, inclusivity, and becoming allies. As parents it is up to us to have these conversations with our children in order to break the patterns of historic and ongoing oppression. As humans living within a society filled with people different from us, it is essential we dive into this work for ourselves. Today we explore how racism, ableism and other forms of oppression show up in healthcare, education, mental health, and in our own personal lives. We explore issues of advocacy, disparities within larger systems, issues with the diagnostic tools we use, the labels we put on others, exploring our own internal biases, and the role of funding in keeping oppressive systems alive and well.

Our first HER Health Collective Roundtable of 2023 features the following HER Expert panelists:

• Dr. Charryse Johnson – experienced Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor offering over 20 years of experience serving as a counselor, consultant, and educator. She holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology, NCC 2021.

• Erin Baute - background in human development and behavior change and organizational psychology

• LaToshia Rouse - doula and owner of Birth Sisters Doula services. Consultant for healthcare systems on quality improvement. 

• Jessika Shields - founder and CEO of Stronger Mind Stronger Youth and I am a licensed educational psychologist and a school psychologist. 

• Maris Feeley - Full-Spectrum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Co-Owner and Director of Carolina Birth & Wellness 

• Kyrsten Spurrier - owner of the Perinatal Pelvis in Hillsborough, North Carolina, where I provide pelvic floor therapy and maternal wellness. 

To connect with any of our experts, please go to our website directory

Today’s episode includes a discussion of the following topics:

• The need to understand the healthcare system and advocate for self

• Educational disparities due to race in achievement and discipline

• Systemic Issues of racism and the resistance to change

• How labels and making assumptions harm children

• The impacts of subtle racism and microagressions

• The importance of exploring our own internal biases

• Learning to question the tool rather than the person

• Lack of funding for female diagnoses 

• Analyze who you surround yourself with and explore lack of diversity in your personal circle

• The importance of looking at what stories are being told in the books we choose for our children

Episode Resources:

“Social Identities and Systems of Oppression” National Museum of African American History and Culture

https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/topics/social-identities-and-systems-oppression

Harvard Implicit Association Test

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html

Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty by Dorothy Roberts

https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Black-Body-Reproduction-Meaning/dp/0679758690

Kimberlé Crenshaw on Intersectionality

https://www.law.columbia.edu/news/archive/kimberle-crenshaw-intersectionality-more-two-decades-later

Cycle of Socialization

https://depts.washington.edu/fammed/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Cycle_ofSocializationHandout.pdf

Below the Belt Film

https://www.belowthebelt.film/

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Dr. Robin DiAngelo

https://www.amazon.com/White-Fragility-People-About-Racism/dp/0807047414/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1U62EEX6L18Z6&keywords=white+fragility&qid=1679241885&sprefix=white+fragility%2Caps%2C219&sr=8-1

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