Structural Racism

Even in 2016, structural racism still occurs in the United States. One of the most pertinent areas with structural racism is in the reproductive health of African American communities. There are many disadvantages that affect black women’s access to health care and education about reproductive health. One of the biggest questions stems from how we as a society let this continue due to public policy, cultural representations, and norms that we have accepted. The main reason for this difference in reproductive care stems from many different causes, but I believe that the strongest is the education difference between black and white citizens. Middle and High Schools in predominately African American areas face many more challenges than schools
It creates a type of vicious cycle for poor reproductive health. A poor high school education limits an individual’s chances of getting into college; a lack of a college degree will reduce income, which will make it extremely difficult to leave the area that has inadequate schooling. The cycle continues as their children go to the same type of high school they went to and face the same education. This lack of education perpetuates the structural racism that is seen in African American communities. Individuals who are less educated make less money and cannot afford to go to the best doctors, or even go to the doctor at all. Not seeing a doctor at all means less education on birth control and reproductive health. Even in opportunities where they are able to see a doctor, there is a lack of doctors and healthcare policy makers who consider the specific needs and challenges of black patients and doctors (Feagin and Bennefield,
Facing higher levels of STIs is explained by limited education because limited education means less employment, less access to quality care because one cannot afford it, and distrust of a physician because one is not educated enough to understand the training a medical professional has gone through (Prather et al, 2016). Higher abortion rates, teen pregnancy rates, and pregnancy related morbidity are all related to a lower education level. If a group of people is not educated on what causes pregnancy or how to safely prevent it, then they will likely have a higher unintentional pregnancy rate. The lack of education also results in lower socioeconomic standing, which means that access to birth control is harder and more expensive to the