DSW Showcase Student Presentation

This capstone presentation, “Wounded Wombs: The Silent Suffering of Black Women in a Broken System,” examines the intersection of race, gender, and socioeconomic status as key factors affecting the reproductive health outcomes of Black women. The Intersectional Health Justice (IHJ) Model is presented as an innovative framework that integrates Intersectionality, Black Feminist Thought, and Womanism to specifically address the various healthcare disparities encountered by Black women. The project explores systemic inequities in delivery of healthcare, the historical background of reproductive health inequalities, and the compounding trauma faced by Black women diagnosed with conditions including uterine fibroids and endometriosis. The IHJ Model emphasizes the importance of recognizing the lived experiences of Black women in developing trauma-informed, culturally competent, and equity-centered approaches to healthcare reform. It additionally promotes the timely and easier identification of commonly late or under-diagnosed diseases and the implementation of agency policy recommendations, such as amending intake forms to more effectively document social determinants of health and conducting pilot tests of these modifications. The project consists of three fundamental components: a conceptual paper addressing systemic disparities, a systematic literature review strengthening research on reproductive health inequities, and a practice application paper recommending actionable remedies, all framed within an Administrative Leadership perspective. It aims to alleviate healthcare inequities and advance reproductive justice for Black women via practical, structural efforts.