I Thought “Intersectional Feminism” Was Going to Help Us Center These Women’s Health and Safety Issues

Initially, when I first heard about and researched,  “intersectional feminism” I was encouraged. 

We might finally get an opportunity to talk about disparities in healthcare and how these disparities impact Black and other women of color in violent or toxic relationships.  

Women who have been diagnosed with disabilities and those who have not, would get detailed focus and analysis. I felt encouraged.

• So we could focus on *Tina who has a visual impairment, who left her abusive husband but still had to deal with his stalking.

• Or *Raina who could only vary her routine so much to avoid her abusive relationship partner.  He knew her routine centered around certain doctors and treatment centers for her chronic illness care. 

• We could focus on women like *Ebony who lost access to health insurance coverage when she divorced her abusive husband. As a woman with an autoimmune condition, she depended on his insurance coverage and his care.  While Ebony had family, no one had the time or interest in caring for her during her healthcare crisis seasons. When her husband wasn’t abusive, he took great care of her.
• Or maybe the high number of undetected brain injuries in women who have lived through domestic violence….

But then like most social issues in this world, the focus turned to: “How can we center on and focus on the needs of males while silencing the women?” 

“How do we make women villains for speaking up about real life and death issues that concern them and their families?”

 I should have known. 

  Because like clockwork. Women fell in line to center men and their “feelings” over the words and warnings of women.  Even female academics and feminists tried to scold women for speaking up about long-neglected women’s issues.

Side rant: There is nothing “progressive”, new, or special about centering men’s feelings. 

See: Every day since human existence. 

Prayerfully, one day, when we are serious about Black and other women of color beyond our individual hair and clothes choices….we can focus on these health disparities between Black women and white males. 

As in the things that shorten our quality and length of life: 

 (reference links at the bottom of this post)

Health Insurance Coverage: Females, particularly women of color, are less likely to have health insurance compared to White males.

Access to Healthcare Services: Females, especially women of color, often face barriers to accessing healthcare services.

Infant Mortality Rate: Higher infant mortality rates among Black and Native American women.

Maternal Mortality Rate: Women of color, particularly Black women, have higher maternal mortality rates.

Chronic Disease Prevalence: Higher rates of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes among females of color.

Life Expectancy: Lower life expectancy for women of color compared to White males.

Mental Health Services: Less access to mental health services for women of color.

Prescription Medication: Women of color are less likely to receive prescription medication for pain.

Preventive Care: Lower rates of preventive care utilization among women of color.

Emergency Room Visits: Higher rates of emergency room visits among women of color.

Specialist Referrals: Fewer referrals to specialists for women of color.

Surgical Procedures: Lower rates of certain surgical procedures for women of color.

Hospital Readmissions: Higher rates of hospital readmissions for women of color.

Cardiovascular Disease: Higher prevalence and mortality rates from cardiovascular disease among women of color.

Kidney Disease: Higher rates of kidney disease and lower rates of kidney transplants for women of color.

Asthma: Higher prevalence of asthma and asthma-related deaths among women of color.

Obesity: Higher rates of obesity among women of color.

Smoking Cessation: Lower rates of successful smoking cessation among women of color.

COVID-19 Impact: Disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women of color.

Vaccination Rates: Lower vaccination rates among women of color.

Mental Health Outcomes: Poorer mental health outcomes for women of color.

Pain Management: Inadequate pain management for women of color.

Patient-Provider Communication: Poorer patient-provider communication for women of color.

Healthcare Costs: Higher out-of-pocket healthcare costs for women of color.

Medical Debt: Higher rates of medical debt among women of color.

Access to Specialists: Limited access to specialists for women of color.

Heart Disease: Higher rates of heart disease among women of color.

Stroke: Higher incidence and mortality rates from stroke among women of color.

Dental Care: Less access to dental care for women of color.

Vision Care: Lower rates of vision care services for women of color.

Hearing Loss: Higher prevalence of untreated hearing loss among women of color.

Pediatric Care: Disparities in pediatric care access and outcomes for children of color, particularly daughters.

Health Literacy: Lower health literacy levels among women of color.

Health Screenings: Lower rates of health screenings for women of color.

Mental Health Stigma: Greater stigma surrounding mental health issues in communities of color, particularly affecting women.

Substance Abuse Treatment: Less access to substance abuse treatment for women of color.

Transplantation: Lower rates of organ transplantation for women of color.

Respiratory Diseases: Higher rates of respiratory diseases among women of color.

Reproductive Health: Disparities in reproductive health services for women of color.

Access to Primary Care: Less access to primary care providers for women of color.

Healthcare Quality: Lower quality of healthcare services received by women of color.

Medication Adherence: Lower rates of medication adherence among women of color.

Health Outcomes: Generally poorer health outcomes for women of color.

Cancer Screening: Lower rates of cancer screening among women of color.

Chronic Pain Management: Disparities in chronic pain management for women of color.

Health Insurance Costs: Higher health insurance premiums and deductibles for women of color.

Patient Satisfaction: Lower patient satisfaction rates among women of color.

Healthcare Discrimination: Experiences of discrimination in healthcare settings for women of color.

Diabetes Management: Poorer diabetes management outcomes for women of color.

Cancer Mortality: Higher cancer mortality rates among women of color.

But, I guess not. 

We are still being pressured to talk about women can serve and please men.