Older African American Women: Systematic Racism, Health Disparities, and Caregiving Responsibilities

by Dorothy Smith-Ruiz, Marcia J. Watson-Vandiver, Debra C. Smith

African American women have disproportionally high prevalence, incidence, and mortality rates for most health conditions in comparison to white women. This book will explore some of the reasons for these disparities including problems within the health care system and societal institutions.

The disproportionally high number of COVID-19 deaths in the African American population, especially among African American women, have brought renewed attention to historical racial inequality and the role it plays in the daily lives of American women and black families in general. Recommendations include practical implications of this research include identifying social and financial supports unique to older African American women and determining strategies to strengthen the health needs of African American families, which is also paramount to addressing economic, social and racial disparities of this population.

Drawing on data from a variety of sources, this book applies a systematic racism and intersectionality approach to how various social, demographic, economic, and health variables influence the outcomes and the overall health status of older African American women. As such, it will appeal to scholars in Sociology, Social Work, Nursing, Gerontology, Social Policy, Racial and Inequality Studies, African American Studies, Justice Studies, Culture, Ethnicity and Health Studies, and Public Health.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1032268697
• ISBN13: 9781032268699
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 176 Pages