Listen to Black Women: Do Black Feminist and Womanist Health Policy Analyses

In 1851, during the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio, Sojourner Truth, 1992Truth S. Truth: Ain't I a woman?. Scholastic, New York1992Google Scholar to explain how her Blackness resulted differential treatment as woman United States. famous speech at 1964 Democratic National Convention, Fannie Lou Hamer heavily sighed “I'm sick and tired of being tired” (2011) when she described violence targeting Black communities voter suppression. Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometi reminded us that #Black Lives Matter, 2015Black Matter B.L.M. States.www.loc.gov/item/lcwaN0016241/Date: 2015Date accessed: June 1, 2020Google Trayvon Martin was murdered 2012, subsequently building grassroots movement combat police communities. #SayHerName (Crenshaw et al., 2015Crenshaw K. Ritchie A. Anspach R. Gilmer Harris L. Say name: Resisting brutality against black women. African American Policy Forum, York2015Google Scholar) highlights intersectionality exists even within violence, noted by killing Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor, so many other women killed police. When use their experiences theorize organize, movements begin. girls' women's health is pathologized way rarely addresses structural determinants health, such gendered racism, which can influence care interactions, delivery, access, care. With more than 40% teen girls 80% diagnosed with overweight or obesity, they make up largest percentage children adults dealing this epidemic, respectively (Winkler 2016Winkler M.R. Bennett G.G. Brandon D.H. Factors related obesity among adolescent States.Women & Health. 2016; 57: 208-248Crossref PubMed Scopus (4) Google Scholar). Accumulating evidence suggests strongly associated prolonged excessive activation stress system (Cortese 2013Cortese Comencini E. Vincenzi B. Speranza M. Angriman Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder impairment executive functions: A barrier weight loss individuals obesity?.BMC Psychiatry. 2013; 13: 286Crossref (31) you experience racism part your daily lived experience, are constant state danger; thus, becomes social exposure. Cumulative may contribute increased levels cortisol. High cortisol increase risk for cardiovascular disease high blood pressure (Whitworth 2005Whitworth J.A. Williamson P.M. Mangos G. Kelly J.J. Cardiovascular consequences excess.Vascular Health Risk Management. 2005; 1: 291-299Crossref (211) Scholar), hypertensive disorders pregnancy—namely, preeclampsia eclampsia—are two leading causes maternal death (Centers Disease Control Prevention, 2018Centers PreventionHealth States, 2017. Table 46.www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus17.pdfDate: 2018Date October 20, Scholar; Gupte Wagh, 2014Gupte Wagh Preeclampsia-eclampsia.Journal Obstetrics Gynaecology India. 2014; 64: 4-13Crossref (28) These not only 60% common women, but also severe (Fingar 2017Fingar K.R. Mabry-Hernandez I. Ngo-Metzger Q. Wolff T. Steiner C.A. Elixhauser Delivery hospitalizations involving eclampsia, 2005–2014. HCUP Statistical Brief #222. Agency Healthcare Research Quality, Rockville, MD2017https://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb222-Preeclampsia-Eclampsia-Delivery-Trends.pdfDate November 10, have persevered education civic participation despite systems oppression, vulnerability, adverse violence. citizen voting-age population 31% between 2000 2017, approximately 3.5 million voters (Solomon Maxwell, 2019Solomon D. Maxwell C. Women color: collective powerhouse U.S. electorate. Center Progress, 2019www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/reports/2019/11/19/477309/women-color-collective-powerhouse-u-s-electorate/Date Most growth has occurred Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, where votes been integral transforming racial/ethnic, gender, political landscape. represent “largest most consistently engaged demographic groups politics” likely support government expansion affordable uphold comprehensive reproductive As we counter COVID-19 pandemic, continue inequities ever before, especially around mental gender-based cardiometabolic diseases, breast cancer. Living while detrimental weathering process (Geronimus 2006Geronimus A.T. Hicken Keene Bound J. “Weathering” age patterns allostatic load scores blacks whites States.American Journal Public 2006; 96: 826-833Crossref (1118) contributes several (Barlow Smith, 2019Barlow J.N. Smith G.P. What The (WTH)? Theorising Southern Feminisms US South.2019: 1-15Google experience. Organizations like Women’s Imperative, ndBlack ImperativeBlack Vote: Agenda.https://bwhi.org/publications/Date asking (Blount, 2018Blount L.G. secret health: Ask, listen, do.Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism. 2018; 16: 253-259Google about listening doing. tools data science informing approaches address health. This commentary uses Feminism Womanism epistemologies (Bowleg, 2017Bowleg Towards critical equity research stance: Why epistemology methodology matter qualitative methods.Health Education Behavior. 2017; 44: 677-684Crossref (43) critically policy. historically built voice interlocking domination politics disposability. move from singular toward telling one's own story critiquing larger structures hand. include issues fall under what Feminist bell hooks calls “imperialist-white-supremacist-capitalist-patriarchy” (hooks, 2005hooks b. cultural criticism transformation. Media Foundation.www.mediaed.org/transcripts/Bell-Hooks-Transcript.pdfDate: 1997Date phrase speaks consistent theme resisting single-issue conceptions solutions because simply do live lives. analysis be traced early 1892, Anna Julia Cooper put forth call action requiring Americans depiction life “negro standpoint,” an incredible intervention would later taken come. work for. Womanism, “imagined Zora Neale Hurston, 1937Hurston Z. Their eyes were watching God. University Illinois Press, Champaign1937Google Scholar, rediscovered Alice Walker, 1983/2005Walker search our mothers’ gardens: Womanist prose. Phoenix, London1983/2005Google characterised Layli (Phillips) Maparyan” (Barlow, 2020Barlow forgotten survivors sexual assault. Psychological Association Interest [Newsletter].www.apa.org/pi/about/newsletter/2020/02/black-women-sexual-assaultDate: 2020Date “a change perspective rooted color's everyday methods problem solving spaces, extended ending all forms oppression people, restoring balance people environment/nature reconciling human spiritual dimension” (Phillips, 2006Phillips reader. Routledge, York2006Crossref Jordan, Toni Morrison, Cade Bambara, Ella Baker, Audre Lorde, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Patricia Hill Collins, others used frameworks illuminate perspectives. Pat Parker, Bambara died some form cancer, before devoted lives developing thought standpoint theories. same extensively wrote circumstances contributed outcomes. usually stages receive inadequate care, die disproportionate numbers. “Collectively, [B]lack highest rate shortest survival any racial/ethnic group cancers” (American Cancer Society, 2019American SocietyCancer facts figures Americans, 2019-2021. Inc, Atlanta2019Google (BFW) analytical path merges these provide strongest it builds on legacy experiences, theories, knowledge production. Widely accepted cited approach policy analysis, Bardach EightFold Path (Bardach Patashnik, 2019Bardach Patashnik E.M. practical guide analysis: eightfold effective solving. CQ Washington, DC2019Google deficit-based power differentials inherent biases negatively impact successful implementation Other (Chow Austin, 2008Chow J.C.C. Austin M.J. culturally responsive service agency: application evolving definition case study.Administration Social Work. 2008; 32: 39-64Crossref (13) Hankivsky, 2012Hankivsky O. An intersectionality-based framework. Institute Intersectionality Policy, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC2012Google Lejano, 2006Lejano R.P. Frameworks Merging text context. Moser’s gender implementation. Abingdon, UK2006Google McPhail, 2003McPhail B.A. feminist framework: Through lens.The Journal. 2003; 2: 39-61Crossref (27) Moser, 2012Moser Gender planning development: Theory, practice training. York2012Crossref Ross, 2015Ross “I am free [anyone] unfree”: proposal framework enmarginalized analysis. Virginia Commonwealth School Work, 2015https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/socialwork_student/1/Date: Schiele, 1996Schiele J.H. Afrocentricity: emerging paradigm practice.Social 1996; 41: 284-294PubMed subverted marginalized populations. To knowledge, no existing focuses exclusively BFW Analytical Equity (Figure 1) balances decision-making one side analyst other. should begin focus community informed (step take strength-based 2) issue. Next, role assessed 3) intention 4) addressing must center reflect considering alternatives 5). recommendations refined 6), agency over bodies centered. Recommendations augment decisions engage regularly, another. following examples demonstrate utility Equity. illuminating fragmented public home essential workers often rates housing insecurity, unemployment, syndrome. messages encouraging stay discuss do. Many reported employers failed hazard pay personal protective equipment and, cases, prohibited bringing homemade masks (Portnoy, 2020Portnoy Inova bans hospital wearing PPE bring home. Washington Post.www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/inova-bans-hospital-workers-from-wearing-ppe-they-bring-from-home/2020/04/16/6a4d55e6-7f2d-11ea-a3ee-13e1ae0a3571_story.htmlDate: Solutions experiencing outcomes could co-created (steps 1 6). Breast cancer mammography screening 40 years above. Although White diagnosed, (Richardson 2016Richardson L.C. Henley Miller Massetti Thomas C.C. Patterns trends black-white differences incidence mortality—United 1999–2013.MMWR. 65: 1093-1098PubMed younger median 2017American SocietyBreast 2017-2018. Atlanta2017Google diagnosis triple negative better understand potential areas additional inquiry 4). District Columbia overshadowed having mortality country. Local leaders attribute food medical deserts (Perez, 2017Perez M.Z. maternity desert threatens lower income D.C. Colorlines: Race Forward.www.colorlines.com/articles/maternity-care-desert-threatens-lower-income-women-washington-dcDate: 2017Date well insufficient availability “centering” networks technologies (Schmidt, 2018Schmidt How solve D.C.’s crisis? advocacy proposes ideas. Post.www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2018/09/12/how-solve-dcs-maternal-health-crisis-health-advocacy-group-has-proposed-some-ideas/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.eb9d480f3486Date: 7, 2018Google specifically first trimester. three four times owing childbirth Maternal (Curtin Hoyert, 2017Curtin S.C. Hoyert D.L. morbidity mortality: Exploring using new birth certificates.in: Hoque Pecotte McGehee Applied Demography 21st Century. Series. 8. Springer, York2017Crossref pregnancy-related outcomes, low infant rates, across incomes (Jackson 2001Jackson F.M. Phillips M.T. Hogue C.J.R. Curry-Owens T.Y. Examining burdens racism: Implications pregnancy college-educated women.Maternal Child 2001; 5: 95-107Crossref (75) suggest direct relationship exposures share basis: institutionalized racism. Any exploring issue narratives 1). If centered appropriate policies levels—from workplaces institutions federal agencies—can developed. decision makers committed real sustainable consider decoloniality multiple affecting accomplish this, challenge decolonize defund invest under-resourced communities, reparations uncompensated historical psychological trauma distress, fund women-led assess gaps relate inform agendas, 5) mobilize party, 6) listen clinical making, without rationale, cardiology, cardiac surgery, nephrology, obstetrics, urology, oncology, surveillance risk, endocrinology, pulmonology (Vyas 2020Vyas D.A. Eisenstein Jones D.S. Hidden plain sight—reconsidering race correction algorithms.New England Medicine. 2020; 383: 874-882Crossref (272) For example, diagnostic formulas estimated glomerular filtration rate, measures kidney function level determine stage, potentially problematic patient's estimated, measured, based average assumptions muscle mass creatinine (Eneanya 2019Eneanya N.D. Yang W. Reese P.P. Reconsidering estimate function.JAMA. 2019; 322: 113-114Crossref (104) vast biases, misjudgments, practices We out professional associations guideline ameliorate systemic racist practices. Decolonizing includes interrogation research, practices, and/or transform “Defund Police” abolitionist strategy seizing subverting away back into community-based inequities. Possible creating centers clinics seeing hospitals leave areas; installing wards (as advocated DC activist Nene Tay, Chapter, heard co-author Defense March 19, 2020), led locally trained workers, midwives, herbalists, doulas, nontraditional professionals, pregnant throughout pregnancy; expanding programs interpersonal, community, those affected trans color, including active elimination sexually coercive occur developments (Wenger, 2016Wenger Y. Tenants $8 settlement sex-for-repairs lawsuit. Baltimore Sun.www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-settlement-amount-20160108-story.htmlDate: 2016Date partnering businesses faith-based trauma, well-being. One example nationwide training, implementation, dissemination interventions PsychoHairapy (Mbilishaka, 2018Mbilishaka PsychoHairapy: Using hair entry point women’s health.Meridians. 382-392Crossref Transforming dilapidated buildings urban gardens gardening educate intergenerationally apartheid (Reese, 2019Reese A.M. geographies: self-reliance, access in. UNC Press Books, DC2019Crossref create jobs opportunities members, reinforce support, drives Last, implementing recidivism prevention training ensure returning prison find barriers after serving time eliminating cash bond jail detained pretrial another viable solution. justice ways capital enslavement demands girls, femmes full bodily autonomy. Reproductive rights, practitioners called repeal Hyde amendment end counseling laws forced delays. radical reproduction. There immediate review every company organization States benefited reproduction, creation funding task force organizations monitor oversee process. recommend organizations: Afiya Center, Wellness, Voices Justice, Sisterlove, SisterReach, Spark Justice Now, Vision, SisterSong Color Collective, Mamas Alliance, Birth Collective. practice/praxis improving care—if concerns adequately funded intimately aware issues, stands reason addressed providing if Black. convene force, organized composed researchers guidelines medical, specialist, organizations. loyal offer seat table welcome co-laborers. optimistic current platform candidates, crisis. However, there require super committee garner influence. Shirley Chisholm said, “If don't give table, folding chair” (Carr, 2017Carr Unbought unbossed, timely lesson claiming table. Huffington Post.www.huffpost.com/entry/unbought-and-unbossed-shirley-chisholm-stands-as-a_b_5a200c23e4b02edd56c6d71dDate: did let stop running president 1972. Similarly, chair, co-laborers work. wait them; keeps families surviving capitalized off wombs continues capitalize community's industrial complex. persistence propel exceed expectations. Vice President Kamala very familiar persistence. (and person Asian heritage) nominated vice major party's ticket, recognizes persistence, ambition, motivates “firsts.” celebrate herstories, recognize extends beyond elections. attack seen rolling dismantling Affordable Care Act, legacies removing participants country, policies, laws, reports necessary. benefits just groups. Ida Wells Barnett, Recy Hamer, already told us. Listen means ensuring tables spaces allies, co-conspirators join them tables. It past America, bought wombs. insist debt. done waiting.