07/09/2026
The Diversity Tax is a very real, documented sociological concept.
In birth work, this type of tokenism happens in many forms - some overt while others more covert.
The 5 ways we're talking about relate to:
🏆Trophy Imagery - Using a single birth worker or Black baby in promotional materials like social media posts or website photos to create the illusion of inclusivity.
🙋🏾♀️Being the "Only One" in the room - We are frequently placed in the position to represent and speak on behalf of our entire demographic.
🩹The "Quick Fix" - Putting the solution of a systemic isse like the maternal mortality crisis on the shoulders of diverse doulas bypassing the necessary work of addressing racism within the medical-industrial complex.
💜Exploiting Cultural Practices - Adopting culturally specific birth and postpartum practices like rebozo, belly wrapping, closing the bones, and baby carrying for financial profit without giving proper acknowledgement. We are more than a trend.
✊🏾Unpaid Labor + No Power - You want us on panels and advisory boards for "exposure" without financial compensation or any actual authority. No thanks.
Unfortunately, this invisible labor piles onto marganilized workers leading to burnout and an unchanged landscape.
How have you seen or experienced the Diversity Tax in birth work?
