Emerald Vang - Week 6

In "Sick Woman?," Johanna Hedva talks about the realities of being ignored because of one's race, gender, and mental illness. The main example that stuck to me was Kam Brock. She was pulled over for reasons of DUI and when she went to pick up her car she was arrested because they said she was too "emotional" and put her in a psych ward. When she claimed that Obama followed her on Twitter, they deemed her mentally unstable with a bi-polar disorder. What's shocking is that it was true. Obama did follow her and she wasn't crazy. From this example, Hedva says that the reason Brock was treated that way was that "a young black woman can't possibly be that important" and if she claims she is, it's because she is "sick." This is the perfect example of the Sick Woman Theory. Women and especially of color are being wrongly accused of having mental health issues because of what they look like. Their skin color and gender define who they are in society, which is that they are insignificant and can't possibly have the means of power. There has always been this idea that women have mental issues. Even in the past, when women wanted to work instead of doing domestic chores they were deemed ill and were treated by doctors. How did it come to this point where society has done so wrong to women that this theory exists? This reading helps bring awareness of how society mistreats and overlooks others because of their differences. This relates to how society overlooks the spiritual world and how its practices can heal and help people. I'm lucky to live in a home and be in a community where spiritual healing IS an option. I think society needs to start opening their minds because the way society is now is only the top layer of life. Reality is layers of different worlds and possibilities, but we are so closed-minded that we ignore what can be. How can we bring ourselves to the top again and become equals to the standards of today's society? How do we innovate women and people of color and the ways of spiritual healing without getting cast out?