The Missing Link to Black Women’s Reproductive Health | Bianca Owens | TEDxVCU

In this talk, Bianca Owens explores how Black women's reproductive health is often discussed in isolation. She elaborates on a number of factors that work in tandem to influence Black women's reproductive health while arguing that we must begin taking an interdisciplinary approach to evaluating and serving Black women. The statistics are clear, Black women suffer worse reproductive health outcomes than any other racial/ethnic group. Why is this? Current approaches are based in an individualistic context and do not center the overall impact of various forms of oppression that Black women face. We must move away from that approach in order to properly support Black women in their continued fight to reproductive well-being. Bianca Owens, M.S. is currently a doctoral student in the Health Psychology program at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a two-time alumna of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, earning her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and her Master of Science in Community Psychology. Owens is dedicated to the well-being of people of African descent, with a special interest in supporting women. In her research and community engaged work, Owens examines sexual and reproductive health outcomes among women of African descent using an African-centered approach that considers the impact of systems of racism, oppression, and sexism on health equity. In addition to her work in academia, Owens is co-host of the All in All Podcast as well as co-founder of the All in All Network, a non-profit organization committed to empowering Black communities across identities by providing mental health, wellness and education support in order to promote positive life outcomes. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at