Black feminist theory in maternal health research: A review of concepts and future directions

Abstract

Black maternal health and well-being has become a necessary focal point for health researchers due to higher rates of maternal mortality and morbidity for Black women.However, what is often absent from this scholarship within medical sociology is Black Feminist Theory as a framework for understanding Black women's health and well-being. Drawing on Black feminist and maternal health scholarship, I argue that integrating Black feminist approaches in maternal health research expands our understandings of what processes and mechanisms are impacting the health and well-being of Black mothers, while also highlighting the importance of maternal health research that solely centers Black women. Specifically, I focus on three concepts of Black Feminist Theory as it relates to Black maternal health research: (1) examining Black women's standpoint as credible, (2) acknowledging the historical context of multiple systems of oppression against Black women, and (3) incorporating a perspective that acknowledges both disadvantages, as well as empowerment, in the lives of Black women. I end this review with a discussion of future directions for sociological research in maternal health, including the importance of acknowledging how Black mothers are both impacted by, and resisting, social structures that may add nuance to our current understandings of Black maternal health and well-being.

Why Causation Matters

“…4 Throughout this article we use the term "Black women" to highlight the multiplicative, interactional effects of interlocking systems of power and discrimination that specifically and adversely affect Black women-historically and continuing into the present day-both outside of and within medical institutions. [5][6][7][8] This terminology is inclusive of all people who may birth and identify as Black (ie, cis, trans, nonbinary, queer, and gender nonconforming). 9 In this article, we highlight two important pathways-chronic stress and implicit bias-that link anti-Black racism to poor birth outcomes and that, as we argue, are fully revealed only by eliminating the use of Black "race" as a risk factor.…”

“…Throughout this article we use the term “Black women” to highlight the multiplicative, interactional effects of interlocking systems of power and discrimination that specifically and adversely affect Black women—historically and continuing into the present day—both outside of and within medical institutions. 5–8 This terminology is inclusive of all people who may birth and identify as Black (ie, cis, trans, nonbinary, queer, and gender nonconforming). 9…”

Understanding the Relationship Between Gender Representation in County Government and Perinatal Outcomes to Black, White, and Hispanic Birthing People in Georgia

“… 35 Second, black women and other black birthing people enter pregnancy with a lifetime of exposure to overlapping systems of oppression, including national and state-level political contexts with few black women in elected office. 17 , 36 , 37 The potential positive impact of female representation may be blunted within this historic and continued adverse context.…”

The impact of devaluing Women of Color: stress, reproduction, and justice

“…Throughout this article, we use the terms Black women and Women of Color to highlight the multiplicative, interactional effects of various levels and systems of power and discrimination that adversely affect non-White women living in a racialized, White dominant culture-historically and continuing into the present day-both outside and within medical institutions. [34][35][36][37][38] Furthermore, we use the term "women" to highlight the gendered racism 39 and violence that are disproportionately enacted against individuals born of the female sex. 40 This terminology is inclusive of all people who may birth and identify as non-White (i.e., cis, trans, nonbinary, queer, and gender expansive).…”