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Shiriki K. Kumanyika, PhD, MPH, Christiaan B. Morssink, MA, MPH and Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH

Shiriki K. Kumanyika is with the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia. Christiaan B. Morssink is with the Department of Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. Marion Nestle is with the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, New York University, New York, NY.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Shiriki K. Kumanyika, PhD, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 8th Floor, Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021 (e-mail: skumanyi{at}cceb.med.upenn.edu).

US minority health issues involve racial/ethnic disparities that affect both women and men. However, women's health advocacy in the United States does not consistently address problems specific to minority women.

The underlying evolution and political strength of the women's health and minority health movements differ profoundly. Women of color comprise only one quarter of women's health movement constituents and are, on average, socioeconomically disadvantaged. Potential alliances may be inhibited by vestiges of historical racial and social divisions that detract from feelings of commonality and mutual support.

Nevertheless, insufficient attention to minority women's issues undermines the legitimacy of the women's health movement and may prevent important advances that can be achieved only when diversity is fully considered.

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