“Married To Medicine” is a new docu-series, set to be on Bravo, following the lives of six female doctors/doctor’s wives in Atlanta. The series encompasses the daily lives of six women in Atlanta who are related to doctors. Some of the women are doctors themselves while others are married to one. It shows the women as they balance the social scene and their careers
At first glance, this seems like a positive spin on the ever-fighting, drink-throwing, name-slandering reality TV shows with an all-woman cast. However, a group of Howard University College of Medicine students are petitioning on Change.org for the show to be shut down. The students think the show will present an unsavory look at Black women doctors and before bravo can do that, they want to stop it!
Here is the petitition:
“Black female physicians only compose 1% of the American workforce of physicians. Due to our small numbers, the depiction of Black female doctors in media, on any scale, highly affects the public’s view on the character of all future and current African American female doctors. Bravo’s “Married to Medicine” not only exploits the 6 lives of its Black female cast members, but, through its advertisements and commercials, heavily associates Black females in medicine with materialism, “cat fights”, and unprofessionalism.
In a time when doctors are being held to very high standards by the public and each other, it is unfathomable for such a depiction of medicine and black women to be broadcast on tv where it will be inevitably available for years to come, on the internet and through other media outlets.”
Additionally, as residency positions are becoming increasingly more competitive (particularly for Black women) and contingent upon social behavior of graduating medical students, this depiction will only hinder black female physicians from attaining competitive residencies. Hence, for the sake of integrity and character of black female physicians, we must ask that Bravo immediately remove and cancel “Married To Medicine” from its channel, website, and any other media.”
Do you agree with the Howard medical students?
Click here for the show’s trailer.
Click here to see the petition.
I cringed when I saw previews for this show. Doctors are targeted for being over paid, over compensated as it is. To see a a very miniscule group representing being “married to medicine”, I am terrified about how America’s already skewed perception of physicians will change. As a female pre-medical student, I would have preferred a show about how to balance it all. But then again, reality doesn’t bring in the ratings, fantasy does. Perhaps I am jumping the gun a little too early, but I know Bravo too well ( it is my guilty pleasure away from the books.) Good luck to the Howard University students. I am on your side.