READERS GUIDE

Questions and Topics for Discussion

1. What is your biggest takeaway from this book? Is there something you learned that you didn’t know before?In what ways did it affirm your understanding?

2. What reasons keep women, especially Black women, from seeking medical help? Why is it important tounderstand how history has influenced these reasons?

3. Women’s pain has historically been diminished or discounted; Black women’s pain has practically beenignored. What are some misconceptions surrounding women’s suffering? Are there any you may havebelieved? How can society—and the healthcare industry—change these biases?

4. After reading Grown Woman Talk, do you feel empowered to take care of your own health?What are your next steps?

5. Dr. Sharon asks you to get familiar with the term health span. What does health span mean to you?How does it differ from lifespan?

6. What’s on your wellness wish list?

7. How familiar are you with your family’s health and medical history? How much do you know about your own health history? How does knowing these help you in your health journey?

8. Was there a particular chapter that spoke to you (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, women’s issues, etc.)?Do you feel more informed and empowered after reading it?

9. What does self-care mean to you? How is self-care important to your health?

10. How can stress affect your health? While some stress is systemic and outside your control, some stressors are manageable. What steps can you take to better deal with stress and possibly prevent greater health problems?

11. When it comes to racial disparities in health, why is it important to look deeper than the headlines?What sort of information matters? What stories do the statistics really tell about illness and wellness?

12. Why is a book like this important? How does it differ from other books on health? Who would you give it to?