I Wouldn't Let it Get to Me: Pregnant Black Women's Experiences of Discrimination.
Emily Dove-Medows, Lucy Thompson, Lindsey McCracken and 3 others
PMID 33587344WHAT IT FOUND
Black pregnant women described varied experiences of racism, including police harassment and workplace discrimination, but seven reported none.
Many shielded themselves by avoiding, minimizing, or saying harm occurs only if you let it.
Key findings
01Participants described varied experiences of racial discrimination, including criminalization, verbal abuse, social ostracism, avoidance, and workplace discrimination.
02Seven women did not report any personal experiences of racial discrimination.
03The greater majority described shielding against racism through avoidance, minimization, and personal responsibility, often saying harm would occur only if they let it.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was a convenience sub-sample of the first 18 coded cases from two Midwest medical centers, selected to provide early insights, so it cannot show how common these experiences are. Interviews were conducted by telephone and interviewers were not race-matched, which may have affected disclosure. The study describes perceptions and coping, not birth outcomes or whether any response reduces risk. Participants were 8 to 29 weeks pregnant and had singleton pregnancies, so findings may not apply to later pregnancy or multiple gestations.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the women's statements that discrimination only harms if you let it as proof that racism does not affect pregnancy. This study reports their perceptions and coping strategies, not birth outcomes or the effects of any intervention.