EDUCATION, RACE, AND CHILDBIRTH

INTERSECTIONAL REFLECTIONS ON THE MEDICAL CURRICULUM AND THE DEHUMANIZATION OF BLACK MATERNITY

Abstract

The aim of this study is to understand how the historical dynamics of colonization and the omission of anti-racist education in academic training echo in the contemporary relationships experienced by Black women in motherhood. To this end, it explores the historical construction of racism during colonization and its persistence today, evidenced by the lack of adequate access to maternal health and the high rates of mortality and obstetric violence among Black women. It problematizes the extent to which the colonial legacy in health curricula and pedagogical practices contributes to the objectification of the Black woman’s body. The narrative reveals that obstetric violence is fostered within a dominant medical culture that neglects intersectionality. It emphasizes the need for curricular reforms and transformative critical approaches in the educational field to promote equity and reproductive justice.