In 2025, Black women in the U.S. still can’t get the quality healthcare their white peers often receive. The history of bias in this country continues to play out through social determinants of health, from poverty to whether or not people have access to clean water. Despite the many questions that remain around women’s health, the Trump administration has also recently reduced funding for women’s health research.

Across the country, Black women are leading the charge to make change. Today, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Dr. Sharon Thompson, Medical Director and Board Vice Chair of the Black Women’s Health Imperative, to discuss why Black women are disproportionately impacted by inequities in the healthcare system—and how combatting these disparities benefits everyone.

Links:

https://bwhi.org/

https://bwhi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/CWC_Report_Full_report_lowres.pdf

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/flint-water-crisis-everything-you-need-know

https://kinema.com/films/me-period-tut9gq

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/23/nx-s1-5372892/womens-health-initiative-research-funding-gets-cut

Guest: Dr. Sharon R. Thompson is a powerhouse in women’s health—an OB/GYN, health tech innovator, professor, and national speaker with deep roots in public health and education. Known for her dynamic blend of clinical care, policy insight, and media presence, Dr. Thompson leads conversations that center dignity, data, and cultural competence in healthcare. She is the founder of Central Phoenix OB/GYN and a regular medical contributor on Good Morning Arizona.

Take Action NOW: Join NOW this July for our National Conference in Las Vegas! Click here to learn more and register. We can’t wait to see you there!

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Socials:

Dr. Sharon Thompson:

Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonthompson/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonthompsonmdmph/

Black Women’s Health Imperative:

Instagram: instagram.com/blkwomenshealth/

Twitter/X: x.com/blkwomenshealth

Facebook: facebook.com/BlackWomensHealthImperative/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/black-women's-health-imperative/

YouTube: youtube.com/c/BlackWomensHealthImperative

In 2025, there are more guns in the United States than people. Last June, the Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis. But even though women often feel the effects–especially through domestic violence–gun violence is rarely treated as a feminist issue.

But tackling gun violence is feminist. Today, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes sits down with Mikki Kendall, author of Hood Feminism, to discuss America’s gun crisis, what it has to do with attacks on women’s rights, and how we can create a future that prioritizes protecting women.

Links:

https://mikkikendall.com/

https://www.thetrace.org/2023/03/guns-america-data-atf-total/

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/annual-gun-violence-data

https://depauliaonline.com/59001/focus/gun-violence-the-unheard-feminist-issue/

https://us.pagefreezer.com/en-US/wa/browse/0a7f82bb-be6e-448a-ae11-373d22c37842?find-by-timestamp=2025-01-02T05:49:59Z&url=https:%2F%2Fwww.hhs.gov%2Fabout%2Fnews%2F2024%2F06%2F25%2Fus-surgeon-general-issues-advisory-public-health-crisis-firearm-violence-united-states.html×tamp=2025-01-02T07:03:02Z

Guest: Mikki Kendall is a writer, diversity consultant, and occasional feminist. She is the author of the New York Times-bestselling HOOD FEMINISM and of AMAZONS, ABOLITIONISTS, AND ACTIVISTS, a graphic novel illustrated by A. D’Amico. She has appeared on the BBC, NPR, The Daily Show, PBS, Good Morning America, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, WBEZ, and Showtime; her essays can be found at TIME, the New York Times, The Guardian, the Washington Post, Essence, Vogue, The Boston Globe, and NBC.

Take Action NOW: Join NOW this July for our National Conference in Las Vegas! Click here to learn more and register. We can’t wait to see you there!

Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Socials:

Instagram: instagram.com/karnythia/

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/karnythia.bsky.social