Oct 15 2024 67 mins 1
Season 7 Episode 6!
Dr Annabel Sowemimo is a doctor, academic, activist, and writer of Nigerian heritage. She is a London based Consultant in Community Sexual & Reproductive Health in the NHS, and founder of charity the Reproductive Justice Initiative (RJI) (formerly Decolonising Contraception), which aims to address health inequalities and racial disparities. Annabel won the inaugural award for Health Equity Champion at the Curah-H Awards in 2024.
Within her specialty, she is interested in tackling Gender Based Violence and improving access for marginalised groups. Annabel was a regular columnist for gal-dem, and is a freelance writer for numerous publications, also authoring several academic publications in leading medical journals including the Lancet and British Medical Journal. She is frequently in demand for TV and radio, and was recently featured in the ITV1 documentary Our NHS with Dr Zoe Williams.
Annabel is a part-time PhD candidate and Harold Moody Scholar at King’s College London, with her research focusing on the experiences of Black women in Britain with fertility control methods. She is a regular lecturer at a number of institutions including the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UCL and King's College London. Her first, now arad winning book Divided: Racism, Medicine and Decolonising Healthcare was published by Profile Books/Wellcome Collection in April 2023.
We sat down to discuss:
> Scoliosis and her introduction to the power of medical institutions
> the origins of medical racism
> the serious impact racial weathering on modern Black bodies,
> the importance of reclaiming joy.
and much more!
SHOW NOTES
Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society by Professor Arline T. Geronimus
Black Skin White Masks by Frantz Fanon
CONNECT
Dr Annabel Sowemimo on Instagram
If you love this podcast please support us by following Menopause Whilst Black on Facebook and Instagram, leaving a glowing wordy review on any platform and like, subscribe and comment on YouTube.
Please keep talking about menopause amongst your family, friends and work colleagues of all genders. Together we will break this taboo and ensure that every person gets the menopause care they need.
Jiggle your bits to our Spotify playlist.
Email the show: [email protected]
New website! menopausewhilstblack.com
Karen Arthur is a broadcaster, artist, author and menopause activist. She is host of bi-weekly weekend radio show on Golddust radio 'Can We Talk'.
Karen hosts The Joy Retreat Barbados, the worlds first retreat for Black women in any stage of menopause, 28th April - 5th May 2025.
Karens first childrens book, 'Grandmas Locs', illustrated by Camilla Ru, on celebrating natural Black hair through the relationship between a grandmother and her grandson, will be published by Tate publishing on 24th October 2024. Preorders open.
New episodes drop every Wednesday thanks to the invaluable work of @beyongolia and @yaa___studio who are bloody amazing.
*we recognise that inclusive language is important in ensuring that ALL who experience menopause are seen and heard. The term women is used whilst mindful of this.
