2025 Theses Doctoral

When and Where I Enter: A Stakeholder Analysis of Why Centering Black Women in Legislative Leadership and Policy is the Blueprint for Achieving Health Equity and Preventing Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases

Farley-Cook, Ivorie Allen

This research study explored the relationship between racialized gender identity and legislative sponsorship of policies that address the social determinants of health and center Black women in policy. A purposive sample of Black and non-Black United States legislators serving at the local, state, and federal levels between 2015 and 2025 was utilized for stakeholder and policy analyses.

The findings of this research study indicated that Black U.S. Congresswomen (N=37) have sponsored more legislation relating to the five social determinant of health domains in comparison to non-Black U.S. Congresswomen (N=180). Moreover, the results showed that policies that center Black women are disproportionately sponsored by Black women legislators (N=39) and most prevalent in the Southern region of the United States (N=29). In 2024, the majority of Black women elected to public office at the local, state, and federal levels identified as members of the Democratic party (74%) and won as Incumbents (N=355). Furthermore, current opportunities for Black women to enter public office in 2025 are most frequent at the local level of U.S. government.