Session 18: The ‘Mistory’ decolonization project: confronting black maternal health disparities with midwifery and history students

Abstract

Recent studies show that Black women are nearly 4 times more likely to die in pregnancy and childbirth in the UK when compared to white women. Reasons for this transcend physical, psychological and socio-economic aspects, but racial bias is a contributory factor. Nineteenth century teachings on race told physicians that Black women were less susceptible to pain in labour, breastfed easily, and had less emotional connection to their children. This racialized knowledge, developed under slavery, was repeated in medical literature throughout most of the twentieth century, and subsequently still impacts understandings of ‘racial difference’ today.

LJMU History and Midwifery departments are leading a curriculum enhancement internship project, facilitating students across disciplines to work together using historical research to decolonize the midwifery curriculum. This implicitly recognises the value of working across LJMU’s community in addressing all three of the aims in LJMU Strategy 2030 in, first, providing excellent education beyond the curriculum (Education and Student Experience); second, including students in cutting-edge interdisciplinary research (Research and Knowledge Exchange), and finally, including students in a parallel multi-institutional project on Black maternal health (with International Slavery Museum/local artists) in which both History and Midwifery staff play lead roles (Place and Partnership).

In summary, this project provides historical context to racialised ideas around Black women and reproduction, explores how these ideas link to outcomes of Black women in UK maternity services and produce historically informed teaching interventions/resources to help decolonize the curriculum. In this SAH presentation the midwifery and history leads, with the student interns, will discuss 1. The methodology used and applicability for other disciplines 2. Challenges/benefits of working across two very different subject areas, and 3. the value of embracing LJMU’s community and the value of both student, as well as staff, skills and knowledge (key takeaway message).