Define zero-sum in the context you’re using.

While it shouldn't be, it is. The first example that springs to mind is women and people of color being perceived as low pain tolerant or outright disbelieved.

I’m a white male, in the United States, and I’ve had sleep apnea since 2019.

Every doctor I’ve visited in-state has told me I didn’t have it. 3 sleep studies: “You don’t have sleep apnea.” I told them about heart palpitations, and was asked, “what does that have to do with sleep apnea.” I told them about nightmares and waking up in the middle of the night, gasping for air. Migraines. Excessive sleeping during daytime hours.

I finally went out of state, because all the doctors in my state operate under the same big umbrella corporation. First test they ran. . . excessive sleep apnea.

Now, my original sleep tests from 2019 are missing. So. . . Yeah, let’s think of things in terms of power dynamics.