Womanist Ethics as a Contribution to Bioethics

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Social Theory
• Public Health Ethics

Background:

• Pandemic ethics require frameworks addressing marginalized populations.
• General social justice frameworks are insufficient for deep health equity.
• Black women face unique systemic barriers to healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the utility of womanist ethics in bioethics for pandemic preparedness.
• To advocate for a womanist ethical framework to enhance health equity for Black women.
• To explore the intersection of womanism, social justice, and healthcare ethics.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and theoretical analysis of womanist ethics.
• Examination of systemic issues affecting Black women during health crises.
• Comparative analysis of ethical frameworks.

Main Results:

• Womanist ethics offers a necessary "on-the-margins" perspective for pandemic ethics.
• Key issues include the feminization of poverty, healthcare access disparities, and historical violence.
• A womanist framework can create a more just and equitable health narrative.

Conclusions:

• Womanist ethics is crucial for bioethicists addressing health equity, especially for Black women.
• Integrating womanism into bioethics provides a robust framework for pandemic response and beyond.
• Understanding womanism alongside movements like Black Lives Matter can shape future ethical discourse.