Can you do self-insemination at home ?
In December 2017, as I was nearing the end of my pregnancy and finishing up graduate school, I made a legal right turn at a red light. Almost immediately, I noticed the flashing blue lights behind me. I assumed I must have made some minor traffic mistake.
The officer approached, asking for my license and registration. He then began to interrogate me about my presence in the area. I explained that I was on my way to my internship, but he persisted with intrusive questions about my right to be there, particularly given that my license was from a different city.
In that moment, I wanted to respond with sarcasm, perhaps saying that cars are meant for traveling between places. However, the reality was that I felt unsafe. Alone on the roadside, my large pregnant belly clearly visible beneath my dress, the situation felt increasingly threatening.
The officer accused me of being in the area to buy drugs, despite my obvious condition. When I pointed out my pregnancy, he coldly remarked, “Pregnant people smoke crack all the time.” My anger surged. I have never used drugs, nor do I drink. How could someone entrusted with community safety misjudge my situation so badly?
To him, my explanation was merely a cover. In his mind, I was a stereotype, a Black woman presumed to be in a predominantly white area for illicit purposes. He couldn’t fathom that I was there to pursue my education, a truth that was painfully obvious to me.
Ultimately, he had no grounds for detaining me and let me go, though I often wonder if the outcome would have been different had his dashcam not been recording. As I drove to my internship, he followed closely behind, waiting for me to enter the building.
Strangely, I sought to rationalize his behavior, hoping it had nothing to do with race. We all wish for that. If it stemmed from my speech or driving habits, I could adjust those. But my race is unchangeable, so I searched for another explanation.
A kind colleague, who rushed to confront the officer, told me it was because I was Black. I brushed it off, insisting I was fine, but inside I was hurt and felt again like an outsider in a country I called home.
This experience isn’t new for me. Some days, I find the strength to speak up, while other times, it feels safer to stay silent. But it shouldn’t be this way. No one should feel that their safety hinges on their ability to remain quiet or to appease others.
If you’re interested in learning more about pregnancy and home insemination, check out this excellent resource on fertility. You might also find our other blog post helpful regarding personal experiences in similar situations.
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- What to do if you feel racially profiled
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Summary:
In December 2017, while pregnant and on my way to an internship, I was racially profiled by a police officer who made unfounded accusations about my reasons for being in a predominantly white area. Despite my obvious condition and articulate responses, the officer persisted with prejudiced assumptions. This experience left me feeling hurt and marginalized, highlighting the ongoing issue of racial profiling, especially against women of color.