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Episode 1 | Runtime: ~12 minutes

Before we name the physician history celebrated, let us name the women history tried to erase. Anarcha. Betsey. Lucy. Three teenagers who endured experimental surgeries without anesthesia, and whose suffering became the foundation of modern gynecology.

 

This episode explores:

- The true origins of gynecology and the women medicine forgot to honor

- Why half of medical students in 2016 still believed myths about Black pain

- The maternal mortality crisis affecting Black women today

- What you can say to your doctor when you're not being heard

 

Based on Chapter 2 of "Under the Skin" by Linda Villarosa

Key Takeaways

  • The myth that Black people feel less pain was embedded in medical education for generations, and persists today

  • In 2016, half of white medical students and residents surveyed endorsed at least one false belief about biological differences between Black and white patients

  • Black women die in childbirth at more than three times the rate of white women, and that gap is widening, not shrinking

  • You have the right to say: "Please document in my chart that I reported this symptom and your reason for not investigating."

  • The Mothers of Gynecology monument in Montgomery now towers over observers, artist Michelle Browder said, "Never again would anyone look down on these women."

Brown Textured Surface

Take Action

  • Know Your Rights: Learn the warning signs that should never be dismissed when you or someone you love is pregnant. 
    →CDC HEAR Her Campaign

 

  • Find Pre-and Post-Natal Care That Sees Your Humanity: Rate and find providers who listen
    → Irth App
     

  • Find a doula who understands your experience:
    → Black Doula Locator
     

  • Go Deeper: Read the book that inspired this series.
    → Under the Skin by Linda Villarosa — Available at bookstores and libraries
     

  • Visit the monument honoring Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy.
    → More Up Campus, Montgomery, Alabama
     

  • Get Involved
    → Black Wellness Week 2026: April 13–17

Sources & Citations

We believe in transparency. Here are the sources that informed this episode.

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Primary Source
Villarosa, L. (2022). Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and the Health of Our Nation. Doubleday. Chapter 2: "The Dangerous Myth that Black Bodies Are Different"

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Research Studies
Hoffman, K.M., Trawalter, S., Axt, J.R., & Oliver, M.N. (2016). Racial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations, and false beliefs about biological differences between Blacks and Whites. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(16), 4296–4301.

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Maternal Mortality Data
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025, February). Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2023.

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Monument & Artist

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Policy Information

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Patient Advocacy Resources

CDC HEAR Her Campaign: cdc.gov/hearher

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2021). "Informed Consent and Shared Decision Making in Obstetrics and Gynecology"

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Under the Skin is made possible by supporters who believe wellness is a right, not a privilege. Your gift helps us bring health equity education to communities across Washington State and beyond.
 

Elevate Black Wellness is fiscally sponsored by the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, your contribution is tax-deductible.

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