Addressing Women's Health Issues, Especially for Women of Color
By Ashleigh, Member, Young Women of Color Leadership Council, Advocates for
Youth
 My name is Ashleigh and I am from Michigan. I attend Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, where I am majoring in comparative women's studies and pre-med. I am very interested in women’s health. Since starting college, I have noticed that women's health issues often go unaddressed, especially those for women of color. I feel that education can play a major part in correcting this inequality. I mean that we, as women of color, need to know about our rights to health care and about the health risks we face.
Working on HIV prevention education has made me more aware. It has helped me to understand different people and different life styles. It has broadened my thinking far beyond my own situation and experience. Everyone experiences life differently, and understanding these different life experiences can help the community to work together.
In the past, I worked closely with SADD (Students against Destructive Decisions)—which focuses on educating young people on the dangers that drug and alcohol use may pose to making good decisions. I also work with the Atlanta University Center Public Health Association, keeping area colleges abreast of health issues that affect students' everyday life.
Through the Young Women of Color Leadership Council, I hope to hold forums on my campus, addressing topics that are extremely important to the health of college students—topics like partner communication, HIV testing, and what to do after being tested. I also hope to partner with members of MySistahs on Spelman's campus to build up a stronger collaborative relationship among us.
I believe that women of color are the best people to reach other woman of color. We have firsthand experience and knowledge as to what is actually going on in our community. Educating the ones directly affected will help to protect all of us and to prevent such things as HIV and AIDS from tearing our community apart. Including young woman of color in the health policy and programs decisions will assert that what we have to say is important and that our views matter. Taking an interest in our health will no longer be a chore, but our desire and a necessity.
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