The Motherhood Project
Black, Latinx and immigrant women navigating motherhood
Motherhood is often portrayed from a romanticized perspective in mainstream media. The experiences of women of color and immigrants are usually ignored along with the countless challenges that they encounter in one of the most important moments of their lives.
Black and Latinx women, immigrants, and especially Undocumented women face many reproductive health and prenatal care barriers. The disparities range from access to public health insurance and culturally competent care to racism and prejudice in the healthcare system, and the lack of a supporting network.
As reported by Emily Neil for ¡Presente! Media:
“Overall, throughout the U.S., the maternal mortality rate in 2018 was 17.4% — more than double that of most other wealthy countries. In 2020, it climbed to 23.8%. For non-Hispanic Black women, it was more than double the overall rate, at 55.3% in 2020, and for Hispanic women it was 18.2%.” READ MORE
With the goal to shed some light on these inequalities but also give voice to the powerful stories of these women, ¡Presente! Media created The Motherhood Project, a series of documentaries, investigative and profile stories, and an Encuentro Virtual about real motherhood experiences by women of color in the Greater Philadelphia Area. This project is supported by The Samuel S. Fels Fund.
The Motherhood Project Films
Latina immigrants navigating motherhood is a ¡Presente! Media short documentary about the experiences of three Latina immigrants becoming mothers in the United States. Katherine Cartagena, Silvia Roldán Sarmiento, and Reyna Guzmán Casarez share their stories and talk about the challenges of becoming mothers in a foreign country. Latina immigrants navigating motherhood is part of ¡Presente! Media’s program ”The Motherhood Project.
Produced by Michelle Myers
Filmed and Edited by Becca Haydu
Concept, Production, and Post-Production Supervision by Gabriela Watson-Burkett
Translation by Emily Neil
The Motherhood Project Stories
BY GABRIELA WATSON-BURKETT, MICHELLE MYERS AND BECCA HAYDU ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2022
Latina immigrants navigating motherhood is a ¡Presente! Media short documentary about the experiences of three Latina immigrants becoming mothers in the United States.