The iWoman Report: Black Maternal Health Week, Women Choose the Single Life, and More Women at the Next Olympics

Black Maternal Health Week Highlights Urgent Crisis Affecting Black Mothers

As Black Maternal Health Week (April 11–18) unfolds, health experts and advocates are spotlighting a troubling crisis: Black women in the U.S. are dying from pregnancy-related complications at rates three to four times higher than their white counterparts. According to the CDC, many of these deaths are preventable. In Baltimore, this disparity is particularly stark. "Black women are dying at three to four times the rate during the birthing process and postpartum," said Lashelle Stewart, Executive Director of Baltimore Healthy Start.

What’s alarming is that these disparities persist regardless of income or education. Research shows that even wealthy Black women face higher maternal health risks than some of the poorest white women. Black mothers are also more likely to experience severe complications such as preeclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, blood clots, and preterm birth. Advocates say systemic racism in healthcare is a driving factor. "Moms aren't heard, moms aren't believed," Stewart said. "They somehow feel our pain tolerance is greater or that we are exaggerating."

Efforts to address the crisis are gaining traction at both state and federal levels. Several states have expanded Medicaid coverage to one year postpartum—critical since nearly half of maternal deaths occur during that period. Programs like Baltimore Healthy Start offer support up to 18 months after childbirth. More states are also backing paid family leave and expanding telehealth services, though the U.S. still lacks a national paid parental leave policy. Black Maternal Health Week continues to serve as a vital call to action, pushing for systemic change and equitable care for Black mothers.

More Women Are Embracing the Single Life—By Choice or Necessity

After years of disappointing dates and unmet expectations, 29-year-old Boston accountant Andrea Vorlicek is done waiting for “Mr. Right.” She’s now house hunting on her own and considering single motherhood. “I’m financially self-sufficient enough to do these things myself,” she said. “I’m willing to accept being single versus settling.” Vorlicek’s experience reflects a growing trend across the U.S., where more women are opting out of traditional romantic paths—not necessarily because they want to, but because they see few better options.

A confluence of cultural, economic, and political shifts is reshaping how women view relationships. Educational and income gaps between men and women, political divides, and outdated gender expectations are pushing many women to prioritize independence, career, and self-fulfillment over marriage. While women now outpace men in college degrees and homeownership, they report struggles finding partners who support their ambitions or share their values. According to a 2024 AEI survey, more than half of single women said they were happier than their married counterparts, compared with just a third of single men.

Some women, like 34-year-old Tina Noohi, are actively planning for solo parenthood, separating their desire for children from romantic partnerships. Others, such as Savannah-based real estate agent Rachael Gosetti, are wary of dating in politically conservative environments, especially where reproductive rights are restricted. While the number of single women has grown significantly over the last two decades, so has their sense of empowerment. Whether staying single is a proactive choice or a reluctant Plan B, women across the country are redefining what fulfillment looks like—and increasingly, it doesn’t require a partner.

Women Athletes to Outnumber Men for First Time at 2028 Olympics After Historic Soccer Shift

For the first time in Olympic history, women will make up the majority of athletes at the Summer Games, thanks in large part to a major victory for women’s soccer. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Wednesday that the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will feature a 50.7% female athlete representation—marking a groundbreaking shift in gender balance at the world’s biggest sporting event.

The milestone was driven by the IOC’s decision to expand the women’s soccer tournament to 16 teams, while reducing the men’s competition to 12. This reversal of the current setup at the upcoming Paris Olympics (which features 16 men’s teams and 12 women’s) brings long-awaited parity to the sport. It also represents a broader effort by the IOC to address historical gender disparities, particularly in Olympic soccer, where the women’s tournament debuted in 1996 with just eight teams.

The progress comes during a period of transformation for the IOC, as president-elect Kirsty Coventry prepares to become the organization’s first female leader in its 131-year history. At the same meeting, the IOC also approved expanding the women’s water polo tournament to 12 teams to match the men’s field. While newly added sports like cricket, flag football, and lacrosse still skew male in athlete numbers, the overall move toward equality marks a significant step forward in the Olympic movement’s ongoing push for gender parity.