In December of 2021, Chidiebere Ibe’s illustration of a black parent with a black fetus went viral on social media. It is simply a drawing that could be found in any medical textbook on pregnancy and childbirth. The key difference is that it is an illustration of a black fetus in the womb.

Many people on social media stated that they had never seen a black or brown pregnant woman let alone a fetus depicted in their school or university books before. Instagram users even began to thank Ibe for this significant representation. There is a serious lack of racial diversity in medical textbooks, with images predominantly portraying white parents, fetuses and children. Ibe’s illustration is intended for patients who are not used to seeing themselves and their skin tone represented in images like these. Doctor Momon-Nelson, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, stated that these illustrations also ‘humanize’ people of colour and help make them ​​feel a part of the discussion.

Ibe told NBC news that he was surprised by the overwhelming response and that he was simply sticking up for what he believes in – ‘advocation for equality in health through medical illustrations’. He continued by stating that he made a ‘deliberate action to constantly advocate that there be inclusion of Black people in medical literature’. Besides fetuses, he also draws other medical illustrations, like wombs, lung conditions and eczema of black patients.

Racial diversity in medical textbooks

Medical illustrations in textbooks have been used as a way to ‘record and communicate procedures, pathologies’ and other aspects of medical knowledge. This combination of science and art can help translate complex medical texts into simple visuals in order to teach these concepts to students and practitioners.

The Association of Medical Illustrations has acknowledged how in the past their most used and circulated illustrations included depictions of mainly ‘white, male, able-bodied figures’. This lack of racial diversity in medical textbooks, showcasing primarily white bodies, links to a wider social issue around whiteness being seen as the default which also impacts how the healthcare system views and treats its patients of colour.

Conditions such as chickenpox and eczema look and present differently on black and brown bodies. As a result, this lack of diverse medical illustrations affects medical training and the approach of medical practitioners. Without this diversity, medical professionals are unable to accurately diagnose and treat patients of colour. This becomes a safety issue for black and minority ethnic patients, especially in regard to skin conditions, as doctors might not diagnose them as efficiently on non-white skin.

A study published by the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery-Global Open in 2019 found that the images of plastic surgery journals represented primarily white patients which has likely had an influence on the care of non-white patients. Furthermore, with less representation in textbooks, medical professionals may potentially feel less empathy for marginalised groups who are not represented. Researchers have also demonstrated that for decades medical images and illustrations have inadequately portrayed ‘the diversity in demographics of patients affected by particular diseases’. White medical students and practitioners can hold ‘false notions about biological differences between Black and White people’, influenced by racial biases, that impact how they engage with patients of colour. Seeing racially diverse illustrations in medical textbooks would be beneficial for patients and medical professionals alike.

The Association of Medical Illustrators has now created #AMIdiversity as a way to highlight and promote diversity and awareness in medical textbooks and illustrations. However, the white body is still viewed as universal, with everyone, no matter what their race, having to see themselves through the lens of whiteness. Adults and children of colour can rarely see themselves represented not only in media but also in literature.

Diversity in the school curriculum

The UK’s school curriculum has been criticised for not including literature written by, about and for black and other minority ethnic people, as the books and issues studied in schools and universities are primarily by and about white people. Furthermore, besides lacking literature written by and about people of colour, the images in children’s books also rarely depict non-white bodies. Hundreds of schools in England have decided to reform their curriculum in order to reflect more accurately the achievements of people of colour. Over 660 schools have also ‘signed up to a diverse and anti-racist curriculum’, which would help address the history of colonialism in this country. This curriculum, titled the Diverse Curriculum – the Black Contribution, provides students from the ages of five to 14 with two months of lessons on subjects such as ‘the Windrush generation, activism, British identity, and diversity in the arts and science’.

With more racial diversity in school curriculums and medical textbooks, people of colour have the opportunity to see themselves represented on the page. As a result of this, medical practitioners will be able to deliver better care to patients of colour and begin to tackle racial discrimination in the healthcare system.

About the author: Giulia Castagnaro is a contributing Features writer with a Master’s degree in ‘Gender, Society and Representation’ and an interest in social and cultural politics, and healthcare.