GoFundMe Profits from People’s Pain w/ Nora Kenworthy
May 30, 2024
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Nora Kenworthy, author and associate professor, discusses the reliance on GoFundMe for healthcare costs, exposing inequalities. They dissect societal reliance on crowdfunding, stigma around public support, and the need for systemic change in healthcare financing.
Healthcare crowdfunding highlights structural inequities in US healthcare system.
Success in campaigns tied to privilege, network strength, perpetuating disparities.
Global healthcare crowdfunding varies based on healthcare system differences and societal support.
Deep dives
Challenges of Relying on Crowdfunding for Healthcare
Turning to crowdfunding for healthcare challenges long-term structural solutions and potentially diverts attention from addressing core systemic issues. Crowdfunding, like GoFundMe, often arises from the inadequacies of the US private healthcare system, leading individuals to seek financial assistance online for hefty medical expenses, even when insured. Research shows that most medical campaigns fall short of their fundraising goals, with campaigns averaging only a modest $265 from five donors, indicating broader inadequacies in addressing the collective healthcare needs of individuals.
Inequities and Moral Complexities of Crowdfunding Success
Success in healthcare crowdfunding campaigns often reflects pre-existing privileges, assets, and network strength rather than actual need, perpetuating inequities. Privileged individuals with large social media followings can leverage their networks to raise significant funds, attributing success to personal virtues rather than structural privilege. On the other hand, less successful campaigns, usually by economically disadvantaged individuals, face significant shame, limited donations, and challenges in appealing to broader audiences, highlighting the disparities in crowdfunding outcomes based on social and economic factors.
Global Perspectives on Healthcare Crowdfunding
Comparing healthcare crowdfunding between countries reveals variations based on healthcare system differences. While countries like the US witness high healthcare crowdfunding due to gaps in the healthcare system, nations with more robust safety nets exhibit minimal crowdfunding reliance. Cultural, social, and racial contexts influence crowdfunding dynamics and public perceptions of digital assistance, as observed across different regions. Crowdfunding thrives in market-driven healthcare systems globally, highlighting the complex interplay between economic structures, societal support, and digital platforms in addressing healthcare needs worldwide.
Crowdfunding Dynamics and Racial Disparities
Crowdfunding campaigns strategically create a core donor network before launch to ensure early traction. The podcast highlights racial disparities in successful medical campaigns on platforms like GoFundMe, revealing a trend of campaigns for white, male cancer patients being most prevalent, underscoring racial discrimination. The discussion delves into the impact of donors contributing more to those similar to them in demographics, showcasing how financial inequality in social networks affects campaign success.
Critical Assessment of GoFundMe Usage
The conversation critically examines the reliance on platforms like GoFundMe for addressing structural societal issues, emphasizing their inability to substitute for broader structural fixes. The podcast unpacks how GoFundMe and similar digital tools focus on downstream interventions, resulting in temporary, resource-intensive aid rather than fundamental, upstream changes. It raises questions about the consequences of technology-centric solutions and advocates for building community relationships and engaging in collective action for meaningful societal transformation.
Paris Marx is joined by Nora Kenworthy to discuss how people rely on GoFundMe to access healthcare and the further inequities that adds to an already deeply unequal healthcare system.
Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.
The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.
Also mentioned in this episode:
Nora is doing an online event with the Debt Collective on June 13.
