Writings
Medical Ownership Over the Body (2023)
Belief in the objectivity of medical research is increasingly challenged by evidence that so-called biological facts are shaped by social and historical conditions. This paper argues that medical knowledge, often presented as neutral, is influenced by biased presumptions and frequently lacks intersectional perspectives. Tracing its roots to the Enlightenment, it examines how universalist ideas developed alongside racialized scientific research that categorized human populations, positioning the white cisgender male body as the ideal. Drawing on Donna Haraway’s concept of the “god trick,” the paper critiques claims of objectivity in the medical field, highlighting their reliance on a racialized and gendered construction of truth rooted in colonial research. These assumptions continue to shape contemporary medical practices and treatment, reflecting the persistence of historical biases.
I grew up listening to stories of doctors about the “adventures” they encountered. Both my parents are doctors, and at the dinner table they would tell stories about their encounters with patients, the challenges they faced, and the procedures they performed. As a child I would retell these stories with admiration and fascination. My perception of the medical world was heroic— individuals who saved lives, and were “doing the work of God.” While I still have admiration for medical professionals, my perception has become more complicated. As I grew older, the faults to the medical system became more apparent. I began to recognize that the medical field has been shaped by systems of authority, which are shaped by social norms and exclusion.
Reading The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde[1] influenced this shift in perspective even further. She recounts her personal hardships with breast cancer, and relates these to medical and cultural expectations imposed upon women’s bodies. Her book reveals medical practices to be intertwined with societal norms, particularly concerning gender and race.
In addition, contemporary critiques of medical research highlights its focus on white, cisgender, able-bodies. As a trans individual who has experienced having to wait three years for the medical care I needed, I became more aware of how the medical systems can fail people who do not fit the norm. These experiences and perspectives have made me examine the authority within the medical system critically.
Although, medicine presents itself as objective—to be based on “biological” facts—the knowledge has been shaped under which it is generated. Medical practices and education often reflect social biases, resulting in gaps of knowledge. For example, women respond differently to a heart attack, however this is often overlooked as there is a lack of knowledge within society.[2] In addition, dermatological conditions are often missed on darker skin tones, as most images in medical books are of skin conditions on white skin.[3] This paper argues that the medical field has an active role in the construction and regulation of bodies, based on biased presumptions. It exercises a form of power which is socially structured and subjective— and not objective.
[2] Sinan Altuntas, “Vrouwenharten kloppen anders deel 2: Hartinfarct bij vrouwen.” Hartkliniek.com, 2022.
[3] Mauricio Mota de Avelar Alchorne, et all., “Dermatology in Black Skin.” Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia (2024)