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This commentary is in response to the Call for Papers put forth by the Critical Midwifery Studies Collective (June 2022). We argue that due to a long and ongoing history of gendered racism, Women of Color are devalued in U.S. society. Devaluing Women of Color leads maternal healthcare practitioners to miss and even dismiss distress in Women of Color. The result is systematic underdiagnosis, undertreatment, and the delivery of poorer care to Women of Color, which negatively affects reproductive outcomes generally and birth outcomes specifically. These compounding effects exacerbate distress in Women of Color leading to greater distress. Stress physiology is ancient and intricately interwoven with healthy pregnancy physiology, and this relationship is a highly conserved reproductive strategy. Thus, where there is disproportionate or excess stress (distress), unsurprisingly, there are disproportionate and excess rates of poorer reproductive outcomes. Stress physiology and reproductive physiology collide with social injustices (i.e., racism, discrimination, and anti‐Blackness), resulting in pernicious racialized maternal health disparities. Accordingly, the interplay between stress and reproduction is a key social justice issue and an important site for theoretical inquiry and birth equity efforts. Fortunately, both stress physiology and pregnancy physiology are highly plastic—responsive to the benefits of increased social support and respectful maternity care. Justice means valuing Women of Color and valuing their right to have a healthy, respected, and safe life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infertility can affect anyone, including Black women who, contrary to popular belief, are most likely to suffer from infertility, less likely to seek fertility care, and more likely to delay or completely forgo fertility treatment (Chin et al Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 29(5):416-25, 5). These trends are likely fueled by deep-rooted stigma generated from a multitude of origins. Some black women may feel uncomfortable discussing their experience with infertility due to the pervasive stereotype that Black women are hyper-fertile (Ceballo et al Psychol Women Q 39(4):497–511, 20). This stereotype also has important implications within the medical field, in which provider implicit bias may affect referrals and treatment plans, further contributing to stratified reproduction (Chapman et al J Gen Intern Med 28(11):1504-10, 15, FitzGerald and Hurst BMC Med Ethics 18(1):19, 16). It is time for the medical community to shift our focus to what we can change, starting with how we perceive the narrative. In order to effect change, providers should first become and remain aware of racial/ethnic disparities within reproduction. We can make a concerted effort to effectively counsel Black women about their fertility and future childbearing goals, as well as strive to debunk false racial/ethnic fertility stereotypes with medical evidence. We should actively work to understand our biases, where they stem from, and how to resolve them. We must aim to always provide respectful, equitable, and consistent care, especially when deciding how to counsel someone regarding fertility preservation and infertility treatment options. In sum, we can approach solving this complicated racial-ethnic gap in health equity by taking small intentional and parallel steps, starting now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People of all races, ethnicities, nationalities, gender identities, sexualities, and socioeconomic statuses experience infertility. Epidemiologically, infertility is experienced by 15% of couples and becomes more prevalent with age.1 Studies have found that infertility disproportionately affects more women of racial and ethnic minorities, especially Black women.2 Improvements in assisted reproductive technologies have allowed some people with infertility to have the family of their dreams. However, in the United States, many couples with infertility have been unable to benefit from these scientific advancements because of significant racial and socioeconomic disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses healthcare and preventative health for women in prisons, jails and juvenile centers. It discusses Rhode Island having the lowest incarceration rate with opportunity to make inroads into healthcare for such women. Topics discussed include disparities in women's health care in the prisons across the U.S., interventions within the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC), and ways to improve healthcare in incarcerated women.

Infertility can affect anyone, including Black women who, contrary to popular belief, are most likely to suffer from infertility, less likely to seek fertility care, and more likely to delay or completely forgo fertility treatment (Chin et al Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 29(5):416-25, 5). These trends are likely fueled by deep-rooted stigma generated from a multitude of origins. Some black women may feel uncomfortable discussing their experience with infertility due to the pervasive stereotype that Black women are hyper-fertile (Ceballo et al Psychol Women Q 39(4):497–511, 20). This stereotype also has important implications within the medical field, in which provider implicit bias may affect referrals and treatment plans, further contributing to stratified reproduction (Chapman et al J Gen Intern Med 28(11):1504-10, 15, FitzGerald and Hurst BMC Med Ethics 18(1):19, 16). It is time for the medical community to shift our focus to what we can change, starting with how we perceive the narrative. In order to effect change, providers should first become and remain aware of racial/ethnic disparities within reproduction. We can make a concerted effort to effectively counsel Black women about their fertility and future childbearing goals, as well as strive to debunk false racial/ethnic fertility stereotypes with medical evidence. We should actively work to understand our biases, where they stem from, and how to resolve them. We must aim to always provide respectful, equitable, and consistent care, especially when deciding how to counsel someone regarding fertility preservation and infertility treatment options. In sum, we can approach solving this complicated racial-ethnic gap in health equity by taking small intentional and parallel steps, starting now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]