Science is Subjective

Shresta Nibhanupudi (she/her)

Editorial Team Member

Everyone has their own favorite subjects. For example, I typically gravitate towards history and English classes. I don’t really enjoy math, but I don’t hate it either. However, I especially don’t enjoy science. I don’t enjoy the abstract nature nor even the math incorporated. But many who do enjoy math and science usually have a couple reasons as to why. And their reasons are that science and math are emotionless: they’re black and white. They usually have a set solution or a set process. Science and math are procedural. They don’t change based on the person that focuses on that craft. But, I think that this thinking is completely false. I believe that science shouldn’t be devoid of partiality. In fact, that deficit negatively impacts many today, especially in the psychological fields. 

Cultural context is a necessity in the medical field. The medical field often gets praise for its impartial nature. But the impartiality is what leads to people not feeling quite understood. As someone who is Indian, I have so many personal encounters with family members and family friends who have refused to meet with a specialist simply because they won’t understand them. They don’t feel as though their care will be implementable. In psychological spaces, it is incredibly difficult for ethnic people to feel understood because the treatments given weren’t catered to them. 

Also this basis of impartiality is contingent on Western ideologies. For example, most dieticians recommend western food, which doesn’t work for the many people that eat and cook ethnic meals. It is impossible for therapy to be truly helpful if the cultural environment and complexities are not understood by the professional, which they often aren’t. And, ethnic people just accept this to be the norm. They don’t attempt to change this system, they just quietly understand that they are not thought of and regarded. 

Culture is usually associated with themes of tradition and comfort. But we don’t weave in how those traditions and comforts affect our health. These intersectional conversations between topics that normally aren’t discussed in tandem are incredibly important. Science, especially medical sciences, can’t be black and white. They must be subjective, and in that subjectivity we must include how ethnic culture ties in. If we are to progress in the medical field, we have to discuss how to change this ignorance.