Listen to Black Women: Do Black Feminist and Womanist Health Policy Analyses.

Abstract

When Black women use their experiences to theorize and organize, movements begin. Black girls' and women's health is pathologized in a way that rarely addresses the structural determinants of their health. Policy analysis research has inherent biases and power differentials, which can limit impact, reach and adequately addressing the policy issue. To our knowledge, no existing approach to policy analysis focuses exclusively on Black girls' and women's health. This commentary uses Black Feminism and Womanism to describe the utility of what we call the Black Feminist and Womanist (BFW) Analytical Path to Health Equity and to challenge policy decision-makers to engage in decolonizing approaches to address health inequities.