You know you are Republican when...
...you are counting how many patients pay a co-pay and how many are billing Medicaid. Bastards! Today, I sat at my gynecologist's office completely annoyed and uncomfortable. Why you ask? Well, true I and the girl next to me were the only white people in the place. I know that it shouldn't bother me. I feel pretty well educated on muti-cultural issues, but I learned today even I have limitations.
It all started when I walked in the door. After signing in I was told to sit. The problem was there were no chairs available. Instead, I saw 40 or 50 Hispanic women, mostly prego with at least one toddler at their feet. (This wasn't really a problem. However, it was a bit ackward as they were staring--or maybe I as the minority felt that they were staring--at the only white girl in the place.) I suddenly wished I didn't have my Coach purse on my arm, my nice clothes, and the book The End of Faith in my hand. I felt really out of place. I was directed behind "the door" and told to wait in chair that was 5 feet from what would later be my exam room. FUCKING WEIRD.
I should probably back up and tell you my gyn. that I really like is no longer on my insurance so I made an appointment with a totally random doc in a really old and seedy part of town, known as "The Hood."
Anyway, after getting comfortable my name was called. The receptionist handed me paperwork and asked for my driver's license. Then she paused and looked at me. Do you have insurance? WTF--of course I do. Well, that must be unsual in this office by the look I got from the receptionist and waiting patients. I sat down to complete my paperwork and realized all my paperwork was in Spanish. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I traded it for English paperwork. An hour and a half later I was called in to see the doc. Do you have insurance? This question was asked a few more times as it determines what kind of care I will receive. FRUSTRATING. At the end of my visit I paid my co-pay, but I was a little annoyed about the whole thing. Driving home I was counting how many women paid co-pays and how many billed Medicaid and I realized how pissed off I was. All those evil feelings of racism that I thought didn't exist I now realize, do. Here's the thing, I think it is part of human nature to possess these feelings. We seem to all have limitations at some point depending on how far we have been pushed. I guess I discovered a little more about my breaking point.
It all started when I walked in the door. After signing in I was told to sit. The problem was there were no chairs available. Instead, I saw 40 or 50 Hispanic women, mostly prego with at least one toddler at their feet. (This wasn't really a problem. However, it was a bit ackward as they were staring--or maybe I as the minority felt that they were staring--at the only white girl in the place.) I suddenly wished I didn't have my Coach purse on my arm, my nice clothes, and the book The End of Faith in my hand. I felt really out of place. I was directed behind "the door" and told to wait in chair that was 5 feet from what would later be my exam room. FUCKING WEIRD.
I should probably back up and tell you my gyn. that I really like is no longer on my insurance so I made an appointment with a totally random doc in a really old and seedy part of town, known as "The Hood."
Anyway, after getting comfortable my name was called. The receptionist handed me paperwork and asked for my driver's license. Then she paused and looked at me. Do you have insurance? WTF--of course I do. Well, that must be unsual in this office by the look I got from the receptionist and waiting patients. I sat down to complete my paperwork and realized all my paperwork was in Spanish. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I traded it for English paperwork. An hour and a half later I was called in to see the doc. Do you have insurance? This question was asked a few more times as it determines what kind of care I will receive. FRUSTRATING. At the end of my visit I paid my co-pay, but I was a little annoyed about the whole thing. Driving home I was counting how many women paid co-pays and how many billed Medicaid and I realized how pissed off I was. All those evil feelings of racism that I thought didn't exist I now realize, do. Here's the thing, I think it is part of human nature to possess these feelings. We seem to all have limitations at some point depending on how far we have been pushed. I guess I discovered a little more about my breaking point.
posted by Bethany at 7:57 PM
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