Black Women And Adequate Access To Birth Control
The recent overturn of Roe V. Wade has created more barriers to women’s adequate access to birth control. Black women historically do not receive the same access to birth control and proper healthcare as other women. Generally, driven by discrimination, stigma, and underfunding of free birth control access. The recent supreme court decision now threatens a women’s right to birth control and will disproportionately affect Black women.
Planned Parenthood
Adequate access to healthcare professionals is costly and time-sensitive. Planned Parenthood serves those who cannot fund their birth control services individually. Planned Parenthood provides reproductive healthcare to 4,665,000 individuals each year. States who ban abortion will also look at the possibility of banning contraceptives like the IUD and Plan B. These contraceptives prevent abortions and if banned will disproportionately affect Black women. Black women are more likely to experience healthcare-related issues like fibroids and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. So, taking away their access to these services puts their health at a higher risk.
For instance, in red states, the contraceptive gap persists more widely. Access to free birth control is far and few in between. Moreover, some women are forced to drive hours to a free clinic to receive birth control. This solution is not viable leaving many women unable to access free services. Moreover, the CDC reports that Black women face a threefold higher risk of maternal mortality.Additionally, Black women recall negative healthcare experiences possibly fueled by discrimination.
According to NBC, “The hardest burden is going to largely fall on Black women who already have insurmountable challenges just getting health care in this country.” Said Jennifer Driver, senior director of reproductive rights for the State Innovation Exchange.
According to NBC, “The hardest burden is going to largely fall on Black women who already have insurmountable challenges just getting health care in this country.” Said Jennifer Driver, senior director of reproductive rights for the State Innovation Exchange.
The Relationship between Contraceptives and Eugenics
The relationship between eugenics and contraceptives shows the many ways in which birth control previously controlled minorities. Eugenics proposes the possibility of controlling the races with the use of birth control. Under the “fit” and “unfit” model, Eugenics classifies minorities as unfit to reproduce. Margaret Sanger’s birth control movement centered around eugenics. Along with this, the dark history of birth control persists today. Black women today do not receive the same resources to fairly access and choose birth control. Consequently, the dark history of birth control now affects modern-day women, especially minorities.
All things considered, the Overturn of Roe V. Wade will continue to affect the lives of all women. The more we can understand and create safe spaces for Black women in healthcare, the more we can develop proper solutions. Nonetheless, discrimination toward Black women in healthcare persists through unchecked policies, laws, and racial bias. Above all, addressing these issues and taking action to resolve them will help create a safer space for Black women and their healthcare needs.
