Today was one of the most meaningful and memorable days of this trip because we attended the International Nurses Day Conference at Birmingham City University. My group had the opportunity to present our research project about women’s reproductive education and healthcare disparities in the United States and the United Kingdom, and even though I was extremely nervous at first, it ended up being one of the experiences I am most proud of.
Before our presentation started, I could feel myself getting anxious because there were so many people there and I wanted to do well. Public speaking has always made me nervous, especially when talking about such an important and sensitive topic. However, once I actually began speaking, I realized how passionate I am about women’s healthcare and education, and that passion helped calm my nerves. Instead of focusing on being scared, I focused on the importance of the message we were trying to share. By the end of the presentation, I felt much more confident and proud of myself for stepping outside of my comfort zone.
Our presentation focused on the differences and inequalities in women’s reproductive education and healthcare in both the United States and the United Kingdom. One of the biggest things I learned while researching this topic is how inconsistent reproductive education can be, especially in the United States. We discussed how many schools focus heavily on abstinence and how conversations surrounding sex and reproductive health are often treated as taboo. I was honestly shocked to learn that many women reported never being properly educated about birth control. We also talked about how reproductive education differs from state to state, which creates major inequalities in what young women are taught.
Another topic we discussed was how medical research has historically focused more on male physiology than female physiology. I found it upsetting to learn that women were not even required to be included in medical research trials until 1993. This made me realize how many women’s health conditions may have been misunderstood, underdiagnosed, or ignored for years simply because research was not centered around women’s bodies. Learning this gave me a much deeper understanding of why so many women struggle to have their pain and symptoms taken seriously in healthcare settings.
We also compared reproductive education in the United Kingdom. I learned that schools in England teach mandatory Relationships, Sex, and Health Education, also known as RSHE. I think this is a strong step toward ensuring students receive some level of reproductive education, especially regarding consent, healthy relationships, and sexual health. However, our presentation also highlighted the flaws within the system, such as the lack of education about conditions like endometriosis, infertility, and miscarriage. Before this project, I never realized how little many people truly know about women’s reproductive disorders.
One of the most impactful parts of our presentation was discussing equality versus equity in women’s healthcare. This was probably one of my favorite sections because it made me think more critically about what fairness actually means. Equality means everyone receives the same resources, while equity means giving people the support they specifically need in order to achieve fair outcomes. We discussed how factors such as race, income, geography, and immigration status can all impact healthcare access. It made me realize that simply giving everyone the same healthcare opportunities does not always mean everyone has equal access or equal outcomes.
Another topic that stood out to me was female genital mutilation, also known as FGM. Before coming to Birmingham, I had already attended a lecture about FGM, but researching it further for our presentation helped deepen my understanding. Learning about the physical and psychological harm it causes was heartbreaking. I also found it surprising to learn that forms of female circumcision were once considered acceptable medical procedures in the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries. This topic reinforced the importance of advocating for bodily autonomy and protecting women’s rights worldwide.
I also learned a lot from listening to the other groups present. Everyone chose such meaningful healthcare topics, and it was really inspiring to see how passionate nursing students can be about advocacy, education, and improving patient care. I think conferences like this are so important because they encourage conversations about real healthcare issues that affect people every day.