“‘Oh gosh, why go?’ cause they are going to look at me and not hire”: intersectional experiences of black women navigating employment during pregnancy and parenting

Abstract

Background Workplace legal protections are important for perinatal health outcomes. Black birthing people are disproportionally affected by pregnancy discrimination and bias in the employment context and lack of family-friendly workplace policies, which may hinder their participation in the labor force and lead to gender and racial inequities in income and health. We aimed to explore Black pregnant women’s experiences of pregnancy discrimination and bias when looking for work, working while pregnant, and returning to work postpartum. Additionally, we explored Black pregnant women’s perspectives on how these experiences may influence their health. Methods Using an intersectional framework, where oppression is based on intersecting social identities such as race, gender, pregnancy, and socioeconomic status, we conducted an analysis of qualitative data collected for a study exploring the lived experience of pregnancy among Black pregnant women in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Twenty-four women participated in semi-structured interviews (January 2017-August 2018). Interview transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory techniques. Results Participants expressed their desire to provide a financially secure future for their family. However, many described how pregnancy discrimination and bias made it difficult to find or keep a job during pregnancy. The following three themes were identified: 1) “You’re a liability”; difficulty seeking employment during pregnancy; 2) “This is not working”; experiences on the job and navigating leave and accommodations while pregnant and parenting; and 3) “It’s really depressing. I wanna work”; the stressors of experiencing pregnancy discrimination and bias. Conclusion Black pregnant women in this study anticipated and experienced pregnancy discrimination and bias, which influenced financial burden and stress. We used an intersectional framework in this study which allowed us to more fully examine how racism and economic marginalization contribute to the lived experience of Black birthing people. Promoting health equity and gender parity means addressing pregnancy discrimination and bias and the lack of family-friendly workplace policies and the harm they cause to individuals, families, and communities, particularly those of color, throughout the United States.

Intersectionality in nursing research: A scoping review

“…1 ). Of these, 320 articles were selected for full-text review to assess their relevance to our inclusion criteria, and 131 articles were included for the review ( Shahram et al., 2017 ; Hulko, 2009 ; Ngum Chi Watts et al., 2014 ; Kim and DeMarco, 2022 ; Thomas and Lightman, 2022 ; Edwards, 2021 ; Isaac, 2020 ; Sodré de Souza and Hiromi Tanaka, 2022 ; Kailemia et al., 2023 ; Duijs et al., 2023 ; Nepali et al., 2023 ; Haghiri-Vijeh, 2022 ; Lane, 2023 ; Holmgren et al., 2014 ; López et al., 2023 ; Cicero et al., 2023 ; Klusaritz et al., 2023 ; Aburizik et al., 2023 ; Acosta and Morris McEwen, 2023 ; Hill et al., 2023 ; Kemei et al., 2023 a; Kemei et al., 2023 b; Kemei et al., 2023 c; Luhanga et al., 2023 ; Keshet et al., 2015 ; Manca et al., 2022 ; Mehra et al., 2023 ; OjiNjideka Hemphill et al., 2023 ; Ojukwu et al., 2023 ; Salami et al., 2022 ; Nogueira et al., 2023 ; Small et al., 2022 ; Wiegand et al., 2023 ; O'Mahony et al., 2023 ; Pimienta et al., 2023 ; Giesbrecht et al., 2015 ; Crawford et al., 2023 ; Cuesta and Rämgård, 2016 ; McConnell et al., 2016 ; Höglund et al., 2016 ; Holmström et al., 2017 ; MacDonnell et al., 2017 ; Freeman et al., 2017 ; Guruge et al., 2010 ; Caiola et al., 2017 ; Coleman-Minahan, 2017 ; Van Dyke et al., 2017 ; Jörgensdotter Wegnelius and Petersson, 2018 ; Holtmann and Rickards, 2018 ; Pe...…”

“…(2017) 57 Toronto, Ontario, Canada 2009–2011 Strength-based Explore how immigrant women describe their political activism and the meanings it has for them Gender, race Critical gender theory Mantler et al. (2020) NR Ontario, Canada NR Both strength-based and deficit-based Describe the existing policy reality for women who have experienced intimate partner violence in rural settings and examine the realities based on the structures, mechanisms, and/or forces at play Rurality, gender NR Mehra et al. (2023) 24 New Haven, Connecticut, USA 2017–2018 Deficit-based Explore experiences of pregnant black women who are navigating employment Race, gender, pregnancy, socioeconomic status NR Mencher et al.…”

Managing Pregnancy and Nursing Affecting African American Women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Clinical Outcomes and Parenthood

“…[ 203 ] Unfortunately, to date, racial disparities and racism severely impacts AAW during pregnancies in health and diseases while attending care coordination services. [ 125 , 204 , 205 ] Fulminant colitis disease during conception and pregnancy in women with IBD increases the risk of pregnancy complications and adverse neonatal outcomes . [ 185 , 206 – 208 ] Preferably, a pregnant patient with IBD should be monitored by both a gastroenterologist specialized in IBD and a maternal–fetal medicine (MFM) specialist, OB/GYN with assistance from nutritionists, lactation counselors, colorectal surgeons, and care coordinator as needed.…”

Intersectionality in Black Maternal Health Experiences: Implications for Intersectional Maternal Mental Health Research, Policy, and Practice

“…Research in Black maternal health is growing; however, more must be explored. Given the few studies linking racial discrimination to prenatal mental health, 26,27 research aimed at understanding the context of intersectional identities and experiences during pregnancy and postpartum would substantially contribute to the maternal health literature 8,14 . This research explores the impact of intersectional identities and experiences (eg, race, gender, socioeconomic status [SES], motherhood, pregnancy, and postpartum) and the implications of mental health outcomes among Black perinatal women in the South.…”

“…With the intersectional experiences of gendered racism, these social factors are determinants of maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes among Black women. 8,14 One of the many contributors to prenatal mental health problems is the pathway by which racial discrimination contributes to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Due to the integrational history of racism and discrimination in the United States, especially in the South, lifetime stress combined with pregnancy-related stress can harm one's quality of life.…”