“Now You Get to See Me”: Black Women Healthcare Professionals’ Experiences in Sister Circles During the Double Pandemic

Abstract

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world through the necessity of mask mandates and stay-at-home orders, while marginalized communities continued to grapple with disproportionate outcomes of the pandemic due to systemic racism. Hence, some had to live in a double pandemic, such as minoritized healthcare professionals on the frontlines addressing the uncertainties of the health crisis. Importantly, Black women healthcare professionals relied upon sister circles as a mental health mechanism. Sister circles are support groups for and by Black women and are often informally formed within contexts such as education, work, and recreation. This qualitative study deepens the understanding of how during the double pandemic sister circles in the United States created a space for Black women healthcare professionals to support each other in managing stress, navigating workspaces, and sustaining their personal lives. Fifteen participants across different health professions, including nursing, social work, and therapy, participated in one-time interviews and focus groups to share their experiences as members of a sister circle. Four salient themes were: (1) mental health support, (2) mutual understanding, (3) guidance on how to engage in salary negotiations, and (4) professional knowledge. Additionally, the findings indicate that sister circles provided them a space for mental health support, rooted in mutual understanding, along with offering advice on salary negotiations and advancing their overall professional knowledge.