Perinatal Wage Equity, Parental Leave Access, and Reproductive Justice Among American Indian and Alaska Native Working Mothers in Washington State

Researchers and policy makers who focus on paid family leave have devoted little attention to American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) people. To address this gap, the authors investigate earnings stability, parental leave access, and associated outcomes among AIAN mothers in Washington state. Using mixed methods and grounded in an Indigenous theoretical framework, we explore factors that alternately facilitate and impede these mothers’ leave access and related outcomes. Quantitative findings reveal significant perinatal income disruptions, disparities in both earned income and projected paid leave eligibility, and intersectional inequities in projected paid leave eligibility. Qualitative results underscore the serious adverse impacts of insufficient paid leave access for working AIAN mothers, as well as both the inequities and the individual and community strengths they experience after welcoming a new child. This study highlights the need for comprehensive, culturally aligned policies and support structures to address AIAN perinatal well-being.