"When I initially saw the article circulating, I checked the date of publication. I thought, 'This can't possibly be recent,'" Dr. Odunsi told POPSUGAR. Reading further, she was disturbed that resources were being used on this kind of work when there were so many other healthcare issues in need of solutions. "Black women are three to four times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related death when compared to white women. As an ob-gyn physician, I believe that research on how we can actively lower this significant racial disparity is critical to the medical field."
By standing in solidarity with other women physicians, Dr. Odunsi said she also wanted to set a different baseline. "As Black and Latinx women, our bodies are often scrutinized as being unprofessional because we may have more curves than our counterparts," she said. Dr. Odunsi is the founder of The Mentorship Squad, a community offering mentorship to Black and Latinx women on their way to becoming physicians. "I wanted to empower my mentees and other physicians to be confident in their skin regardless of shape, size, or colour." And what female healthcare professionals wear outside of work "does not change the fact that we are competent, highly trained, and committed to helping our patients achieve optimal wellness."