When Black Health, Intersectionality, and Health Equity Meet a Pandemic.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Bioethics
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Pre-pandemic health outcomes revealed existing inequities for Black communities.
• The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these disparities, demonstrating systemic failures in health equity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To argue that the pandemic necessitates a re-evaluation of health equity concepts.
• To emphasize the indispensable role of intersectionality in understanding and addressing health disparities.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the health outcomes of Black people during the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study.
• Analyzing the intersecting nature of discrimination within social institutions.

Main Results:

• Health equity can no longer be conceptualized or practiced without incorporating intersectionality.
• Discrimination based on race, gender, ability, and class intersects to limit access to health resources.

Conclusions:

• Ignoring intersectionality in health equity work perpetuates injustice for vulnerable populations.
• Integrating intersectionality is vital for the continued relevance and ethical integrity of bioethics.