This is unconscionable. There is ample evidence of origins of health disparity that have nothing to do with individual decisions at work in Texas. It is possibly the most abundantly documented and least addressed example of systemic racism in medicine in the last 50 years. To stand on a pedestal she built out of the knowledge of black midwives and spit upon their daughters is evil.
M
Mallory Shannon
9 years ago
This is unacceptable. The racism in birth MUST end.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
You of all people should be massively ashamed for the ignorance you are perpetuating. For all the stigma you try to remove around birth, you are saying that it's allowed for those that fit a certain mold. Shame on you!
J
Julia Wabie
9 years ago
Shocked. Having a fire at my place if anyone wants to burn their books :/
T
Tina Hallquist
9 years ago
I'm very disappointed that someone in such a public position would be so uneducated and totally misguided. Time to stop the lecture circuit.
M
Melinda Hanshew
9 years ago
This is so shameful. I was so helped by Guide to Childbirth and now it feels dirty. Black lives matter. Black voices matter.
S
Shani McLeod
9 years ago
Damn shame! I'm black, I'm a Doula and I'm a mom. This is not ok k
B
Brittany Thornton
9 years ago
As a birth worker in Texas where the maternal mortality rate is the highest in the world and although only 11.4% of our pregnant women are black/African American, they make up 29% of those who die, I find it highly offensive for Ina May to so quickly dismiss the racial disparity in maternity care and I stand with these women.
H
Heather
9 years ago
Her implication that black women are causing poor birth outcomes through their own actions is beyond disgusting.
T
Talita Oseguera
9 years ago
As a black woman enrolled in nurse-midwifery school to become part of the solution to eradicate health disparities for black pregnant and postpartum people, I am HIGHLY disappointed that Ina May Gaskin is perpetuating the systemic racism that exists in America by blaming black women for our disproportionate rates of maternal mortality. Ina May learned and perfected her craft from black women, has never the black woman credit, and NOW is playing blame?! I explicitly demand ICAN to denounce racist ideology AND Ina May Gaskin herself! Her narrative and teachings are violent to black women, their babies, and their community. ICAN needs to be accountable and not accept nor encourage racism. ICAN must incorporate anti-racist training for its chapters. Also, trust back women and allow black women the space, opportunity, and payment to be guest speakers at events!!
M
Madeleine Dougherty
9 years ago
Featured
Just as women's symptoms have historically been ignored and downplayed (with deadly results), so too have black womens needs been dismissed. Their wellbeing matters. Their black babies matter. Shame on Ina May Gaskin.
M
Melissa Schellack
9 years ago
We must do better for mothers and families of color. Ina Mae has such a broad platform and could be helping.
L
Laura Whitley
9 years ago
Unbelievable. My apologies as a white midwife to all Black women and women of colour who have been harmed by this racist ideology from Ina May Gaskin. I have been honored to attend workshops by both Jenny Joseph and Kathryn Hall-Trujillo who are true teachers of the realities of historical trauma and it's impact on the mortality and morbidity of women of colour. I agree to support your demands to the very best of my ability.
E
Evelyn Williams
9 years ago
Thief
N
Natalie Watson
9 years ago
I respect Ina May for her historical contributions to American Midwifery. I do not feel she should be representing the current movement nor should she be attending future conferences as a keynote speaker.
C
Claire Fullerton
9 years ago
So so horrible
G
Glyness
9 years ago
Ina inspired me to have an out of hospital birth, how disappointing she only holds space for white women in having the burth they desire and deserve. As someone who purports to fight the good fight, I am shocked how ignorant she is.
J
Julia Haverstock-Wagner
9 years ago
I support women of color and their rights to safe, supported birth!!!! Shame on all who put their heads in the sand or worse, rely on racist untruths.
G
Gail Swain
9 years ago
How could you Ina May? Ive always looked up to you.
A
AnnMarie Rian
9 years ago
Not only is white midwifery not part of the solution, it is a big part of the problem. It's time to change this.
This is unconscionable. There is ample evidence of origins of health disparity that have nothing to do with individual decisions at work in Texas. It is possibly the most abundantly documented and least addressed example of systemic racism in medicine in the last 50 years. To stand on a pedestal she built out of the knowledge of black midwives and spit upon their daughters is evil.
This is unacceptable. The racism in birth MUST end.
You of all people should be massively ashamed for the ignorance you are perpetuating. For all the stigma you try to remove around birth, you are saying that it's allowed for those that fit a certain mold. Shame on you!
Shocked. Having a fire at my place if anyone wants to burn their books :/
I'm very disappointed that someone in such a public position would be so uneducated and totally misguided. Time to stop the lecture circuit.
This is so shameful. I was so helped by Guide to Childbirth and now it feels dirty. Black lives matter. Black voices matter.
Damn shame! I'm black, I'm a Doula and I'm a mom. This is not ok k
As a birth worker in Texas where the maternal mortality rate is the highest in the world and although only 11.4% of our pregnant women are black/African American, they make up 29% of those who die, I find it highly offensive for Ina May to so quickly dismiss the racial disparity in maternity care and I stand with these women.
Her implication that black women are causing poor birth outcomes through their own actions is beyond disgusting.
As a black woman enrolled in nurse-midwifery school to become part of the solution to eradicate health disparities for black pregnant and postpartum people, I am HIGHLY disappointed that Ina May Gaskin is perpetuating the systemic racism that exists in America by blaming black women for our disproportionate rates of maternal mortality. Ina May learned and perfected her craft from black women, has never the black woman credit, and NOW is playing blame?! I explicitly demand ICAN to denounce racist ideology AND Ina May Gaskin herself! Her narrative and teachings are violent to black women, their babies, and their community. ICAN needs to be accountable and not accept nor encourage racism. ICAN must incorporate anti-racist training for its chapters. Also, trust back women and allow black women the space, opportunity, and payment to be guest speakers at events!!
Just as women's symptoms have historically been ignored and downplayed (with deadly results), so too have black womens needs been dismissed. Their wellbeing matters. Their black babies matter. Shame on Ina May Gaskin.
We must do better for mothers and families of color. Ina Mae has such a broad platform and could be helping.
Unbelievable. My apologies as a white midwife to all Black women and women of colour who have been harmed by this racist ideology from Ina May Gaskin. I have been honored to attend workshops by both Jenny Joseph and Kathryn Hall-Trujillo who are true teachers of the realities of historical trauma and it's impact on the mortality and morbidity of women of colour. I agree to support your demands to the very best of my ability.
Thief
I respect Ina May for her historical contributions to American Midwifery. I do not feel she should be representing the current movement nor should she be attending future conferences as a keynote speaker.
So so horrible
Ina inspired me to have an out of hospital birth, how disappointing she only holds space for white women in having the burth they desire and deserve. As someone who purports to fight the good fight, I am shocked how ignorant she is.
I support women of color and their rights to safe, supported birth!!!! Shame on all who put their heads in the sand or worse, rely on racist untruths.
How could you Ina May? Ive always looked up to you.
Not only is white midwifery not part of the solution, it is a big part of the problem. It's time to change this.