An increasing number of Black women are opting to become single mothers by choice (SMBC) through methods such as in vitro-fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination, and adoption. These women are typically financially stable and educated, often in their late 30s.
While sharing a similar profile with their white peers, Black women pursuing solo parenthood encounter specific challenges. These include societal stigmas surrounding Black single motherhood, a scarcity of Black and brown sperm donors, and reported discriminatory experiences from hospital staff during childbirth.
To navigate these difficulties, many Black SMBCs build strong support systems. They rely on communities of family, friends, neighbours, and other mothers. Virtual and in-person networks, such as Mocha Moms Inc and Single Mothers by Choice, offer advice and camaraderie.
Chamise Alston, a 40-year-old therapist, conceived her 16-month-old daughter via IVF in 2023 after selecting a donor from a sperm bank catalogue. Jamila Galloway, a 44-year-old marketing executive, welcomed her daughter six months ago after multiple intrauterine inseminations and IVF cycles. Jennifer Cruz, an Afro-Latina and board member of Single Mothers by Choice, has an 11-year-old son conceived through IVF with donor sperm.
The limited availability of Black men as sperm donors, who constitute less than 3% of donors at sperm banks, means some Black women, like Galloway, conceive with sperm from white donors. Galloway is now involved in marketing a cryobank that specialises in Black donors to help increase supply and access.