Reproductive coercion, medical mistrust, and Black women’s health from the antebellum period to the 21st century

This analytical essay examines the history of reproductive coercion and medical mistrust among Black women in the United States. Using historical and interdisciplinary literature, the essay presents evidence of racialized and gendered violence, colonial medicine, and structural inequities that have shaped the medical experiences of Black women. It contextualizes medical mistrust as a rational and protective response to generations of medical exploitation, including forced breeding, involuntary sterilization, and unethical experimentation. The essay also highlights how controlling images have normalized systemic injustices and perpetuated barriers to equitable care. Contemporary disparities in pain management, reproductive autonomy, and maternal mortality are also situated within this legacy of racialized medical abuse. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need to address health inequities and to foster trustworthy healthcare systems for marginalized populations.