In America, the concerns and pains of black women are ignored.
The history of black women’s pain being ignored can be traced back to slavery; in that span of 400 years, black women were used as sexual chattel and became the first (unwilling) patients of gynecology. The experimental reproductive surgeries being conducted on enslaved black women are documented, the most well-known case was from J. Marion Simmons- the ‘father of gynecology’. In his autobiography, he notes that the experimental surgeries he conducted on enslaved black women, in the 1840s, were done without any anesthesia and were extremely painful-to the point of death.
The absurd assumption that black women could withstand more pain than white women, led many physicians to believe that black women should receive little-to-no pain relief when complaining about pain.
Let’s fast forward to 2018, we can see that this sentiment has not been extinguished-but kept alive. The same assumption of black women has caused an epidemic, which has led to the deaths of many black mothers. In the most recent study done by the CDC, 40 percent of black mothers die from pregnancy-related issues. If you are thinking, ‘that’s really not that many black women dying from pregnancy-related issues.’ The death of black mothers in the United States overshadowed the deaths of all mothers in countries like Mexico and Uzbekistan.
How is this possible? Why is this happening?
In many articles, from NPR to CNN, the culprits can be narrowed down to a few red flags: the lack of insurance prior to pregnancy, possible chronic illnesses; the biggest red flags are the quality of delivery facilities and embedded assumptions about black women.
In the NPR article, it articulates the feeling that many black mothers face when going to a non-black physician; ‘… that they equate Black with being poor, uneducated, noncompliant and unworthy.’
If we couple the assumption that black women’s pain is little-to-none and that the healthcare field equates ‘black’ with poor, uneducated, noncompliant and unworthy; you can see where the death toll of black mothers are increasing and that it causes stress on black women.
What is the solution?
In the last 6 months, Representative Robin L. Kelly of Illinois crafted the ‘Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness Act' (MOMMA Act) and has presented it to Congress. The MOMMA Act tackles extend healthcare access for the full postpartum period, establishing and enforcing National Emergency Obstetric Protocols, and Improving access to culturally-competent care-just to name a few target solutions.
I believe another slight solution could be to use more birthing center or midwives to give postnatal care. The stress from feeling unheard, invisible and frustrated could be relieved by sending mothers to birthing center. In birthing centers or offices of midwives, a new mother or first time mother can have personal time with her caregiver and customized care.
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