ISSN: 2576-0319
Authors: Shegog ML*, Evans A, Wilus D, Brown V and Kachen A
The discussion of health outcomes among women of color has taken the front seat in the ongoing discussion of health equity. Senator Kamala Harris, has been outspoken about the poor maternal and child health outcomes of Women of Color (WoC). Women of Color’s health outcomes are impacted by the world around them as they continue to have higher mortality and morbidity rates in the U.S. Research continues to illustrate that WoC have multiple sources of stress that can results in a higher allostatic load which has been found to significantly contribute to negative health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, hypertension, low birth weight babies, pre-term labor and Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, Low Platelet count syndrome (HELLP syndrome). Additional daily stressors often include reports of exposure to multiple forms of discrimination and bias associated with gender and racial/ethnic characterization. In order to effectively achieve health equity among WoC, it is imperative to understand how WoC define, understand and cope with their daily stressors and racial and gender bias, as well as possible health impacts and outcomes. This study aims to add to the continuing discourse examining WoC stress and methods of coping with acute and chronic stressors. An electronically based survey was distributed utilizing a snowball distribution technique via social media, email as well as more traditional methods in order to cast the widest net possible for participation. The research identified the intersection between Women of Color from various cultural, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds their experience of gender and racial/ethnic discrimination and the coping mechanism utilized. Ninety six percent (96%) of the respondents identified as Women of Color, 68% having attained a Master’s degree or more, earning more than $100k annually (88%). The respondents indicated that they sometimes experience discrimination based on race and gender and they have been limited in actions due to their race and gender. Coping mechanism utilized vary among the women with the majority, 80% spend time alone in response to race and gender bias. Over all Women of Color perceive that they experience racial and gender bias with negative health impacts. The coping mechanisms utilized including spending time alone require better definition and understanding to determine if it mitigates the impact of the stress associated to bias. The next steps include mixed methods research to better understand how bias impacts WoC as well as what is needed to support healthy coping skills.
Keywords: Discrimination; Stressed; Reproduce; Gender; Stress
