Its like a black womans Charlie Brown moment: An autoethnography of being diagnosed with lupus
Journal of Health Psychology: An Interdisciplinary, International Journal
Published online on August 23, 2016
Abstract
This essay uses autoethnography to relate the experience of being diagnosed with lupus. By using my personal experiences and a discussion of illness and Black women’s health, I critically examine larger critical race issues of race, gender, and the social barriers to health care. Specifically, the essay focuses on the ways in which race impacts my experiences with the healthcare system, from my own insecurities of being stereotyped to the ways that doctors interact with me. The essay is framed by popular quotes from Charlie Brown because they help mediate the very personal experiences I am recounting.