As far as medical research goes, disparities in funding allocation have long been a source of concern. One of the most pressing issues is the chronic underfunding of research for diseases that disproportionately affect Black women. Despite our higher rates of certain diseases, there is a glaring gap in research funding dedicated to not only addressing these conditions but simply understanding them.
This disparity not only exacerbates health inequities but also limits the effectiveness of healthcare interventions tailored to Black women’s needs. The lack of attention to Black women’s health is an issue that demands systemic change, rooted in both historical, social, and structural factors.
The issue of underfunding in Black women’s health is nothing new. It is deeply embedded in the historical context of medical racism and gender inequality. The history of medical experimentation on Black women is included in a painful history with cases like the Tuskegee Experiment and Henrietta Lacks. There were cases of exploitation like the gynecological surgeries performed without anesthesia on enslaved Black women that have set a dark precedent. These historical events have long-lasting repercussions, contributing to a mistrust of medical institutions within Black communities.
Black women’s health has historically been marginalized in the larger framework of medical research, which has predominantly focused on the needs of white men. Medical studies have excluded women from research trials, and when women were included, they were treated as a monolithic group. Black women are usually excluded from this research, even though we have unique health challenges that intersect race, gender, and socioeconomic factors.
This exclusion and underrepresentation have also contributed to a knowledge gap in how diseases affect us, resulting in little to no funding for research and a lack of healthcare solutions. Black women are disproportionately affected by several conditions that remain underfunded or inadequately researched such as breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, fibroids, and maternal mortality.
Breast cancer is seen as a universal concern, putting all women together in the same pot. But research shows that Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with aggressive forms of the disease and have lower survival rates compared to white women. Despite this, breast cancer research funding continues to prioritize more common, less aggressive forms of the disease.
Black women with breast cancer are also underrepresented in clinical trials, and research findings consistently fail to account for the specific factors that contribute to these disparities. As a result, effective treatments and strategies are limited for us.
Cardiovascular diseases kill more than 50,000 Black women every year, and stroke is a leading cause of death among Black women. That’s frightening to say. Black women face a unique set of risk factors, including hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, which can significantly increase the likelihood of developing heart disease. Yet, the majority of cardiovascular research focuses on white populations or generalizes findings across racial and ethnic lines. This leaves another gap in understanding of how these diseases manifest and progress in Black women. Without targeted research that addresses our specific biological and social factors, healthcare providers are unable to offer effective prevention strategies or treatment options.
Uterine fibroids are another condition that disproportionately affects Black women. Studies show that up to 80 percent of Black women will develop fibroids by the age of 50, and they are more likely to experience severe symptoms. My grandmother, mother, and I know this all too well. It baffles me why research into fibroids has been so underfunded, and much of what we know is based on studies that fail to capture the full experience of Black women. There is a lack of focus on how fibroids impact our quality of life, fertility, and overall health. It also doesn’t help when you go to the doctor and face racial biases, which can exacerbate your condition.
The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among developed countries, and Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. Despite these alarming statistics, maternal health research is another area that continues to be underfunded and overlooks our experiences. Racial discrimination in healthcare systems is a real thing. The implicit biases among healthcare providers and socioeconomic inequalities contribute to these higher mortality rates for Black mothers.
Implicit bias plays a huge factor in shaping the direction of medical research. Researchers may prioritize conditions that predominantly affect white women, or they may fail to design studies that adequately address the unique needs of Black women. The lack of diversity in research teams, particularly in leadership positions, further perpetuates these biases.
Socioeconomic factors, including access to quality healthcare, education, and employment, also play a role in the underfunding of research for diseases that disproportionately affect Black women. Economic disadvantage limits access to the medical care necessary for diagnosis and treatment, while structural inequalities play a role. This makes it harder for Black women to advocate for themselves in the healthcare system.
Kamala Harris boldly spoke about health care disparities for women during her presidential campaign. Intentional efforts must be made to ensure we are adequately represented in research studies, as well as clinical trials. This means increasing the recruitment of Black women into research, as well as training and hiring more Black researchers to sit at the table within the medical and scientific community.
Research funding should be allocated to initiatives that involve Black women in the design and implementation of health interventions. Community-driven research can help ensure that our voices are always heard and that the results include our experiences. There should be a systemic effort to address implicit biases in healthcare settings.
The disparities in research funding for Black women’s diseases are a reflection of deep-rooted systemic issues within the healthcare and research sectors. We know that significant changes have to be made — and sooner than later. Who we have fighting for us in Washington, D.C., matters now more than ever before. From the looks of things, we don’t have many who are. Nonetheless, we expect and deserve better health care, medical research and funding. The time for action is now — before more lives are negatively affected by preventable health disparities.
