Kiya Jackson- Week 6

In "Sick Woman?," Johanna Hedva, who suffers from chronic illness, discusses that Sick Woman Theory involves the "trauma of not being seen" (142). For instance, the chronic illnesses she suffers from prevents her from participating in activities where she can be heard and seen, such as the Black Lives Matter protest she hoped to participate in. Another example included Kam Brock, a 32-year old black woman born in Jamaica, but lived in New York City. While driving her BMW, she was pulled over, arrested and was sent to a psych ward where she was "diagnosed" as "delusional" all because she was not seen for the truth, but rather an idea: "According to this society, a young black woman can't possibly be that important--and for her to insist that she is must mean she's sick'" (143). The Sick Woman Theory focuses on those who are not seen because of a handful of factor such as race, gender, disabilities, mental illnesses, health, and more. These factors, according to society, are used to justify someone as "sick" or as "different." The purpose of the Sick Woman Theory is to reach out to those who are denied privilege and to say that they do not need to be legitimized and constructed according to those who have power. It proclaims that there is no need to fix the self, but rather the world needs fixing. I agree and empathize with Hedva's arguments. The fact that society has the power to define and shape how we are seen is the issue. This theory relates to everyday life as well as this class because there is no one way to view or perceive the world and its ideas. There is also a form of trauma that is placed when we disregard each other and our different perspectives. For example, what makes Eastern medicine and healing practices less important and less viable than Western medicine? What makes Eastern medicine less deserving of being seen and acknowledged? In all, I think the Sick Woman theory calls for empathy and understanding rather than society's urge to fix and disregard.

Works Cited:
[Blue background; Stone scale balancing two rocks]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
     https://www.roberthalf.com/blog/management-tips/
     the-work-life-balance-to-do-list-for-accounting-and-finance-leaders
Hedva, J. (n.d.). DSM 2: Asian american edition 2019: "Sick woman?"