Our Body, Not Always Our Choice

On this week’s episode Ashley and Marcy talk racism, sex and reproductive health. Black women are disproportionately affected by multiple sexual and reproductive health conditions compared with women of other races/ethnicities. In fact, HIV and pregnancy-related complications remain within the top 10 leading causes of death for African American women aged 20–54 and 15–34 years, respectively. Beyond this, physiological stressor exacerbated by racism might have Black women experiencing internalized racism which can manifest in low self-worth, low self-confidence, and depression. These experiences may, in turn, foster risky sexual behaviors that compromise our health. There is a lot to unpack here and we’re going to dive deep. Listen as we discuss the impact society, our communities, and our individual choices have on our reproductive health.