Black Women's Institutional Distrust in the Reproductive Healthcare System

Injustices within North America’s reproductive healthcare system are widespread, including issues such as inaccessibility to birth control, forced sterilization, having one’s child unjustly taken, and disparities in obstetric care which is the focus of this paper. I argue that the injustices faced by Black women in obstetric care most likely result in a justified distrust of the reproductive healthcare system. Drawing on empirical evidence, I explore specific cases of obstetric injustices, emphasizing "silencing" as a common mechanism used to perpetuate them. I also argue that these injustices foster distrust that is unique from other forms of distrust in reproductive healthcare. I incorporate philosophical definitions of distrust, which include both emotional responses and corresponding actions and introduce the concept of "cultural mistrust" as further evidence of the justified nature of this distrust. This research highlights the ongoing nature of these injustices and underscores their critical implications for healthcare equity for Black women.