The Communicative Relationship between the Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Stakeholders and the Reproductive Healthcare Nonprofit Organization

ABSTRACT

As the third largest employment sector in the United States, nonprofits work to fill gaps left by the government and for-profit sectors. Because they work with disadvantaged populations, mission-driven nonprofits are afforded an opportunity to empower clients. This study uses Planned Parenthood as a point of entry for interrogating the role of service-oriented nonprofits. Grounded in a feminist approach to stakeholder theory, this study assesses how socioeconomically disadvantaged women experience their relationship with Planned Parenthood, and how they negotiate this relationship to meet and become better informed about their reproductive healthcare needs. Twenty women who use Planned Parenthood as their primary reproductive healthcare organization were interviewed. Findings highlight the organization’s ability to meet needs and make clients comfortable in healthcare interactions, as well as barriers women experience as part of the organizational relationship. Conclusions demonstrate the importance of engaging client perspectives as nonprofits to carry out their mission.