According to the CDC, approximately 700 to 900 women die from childbirth complications annually in the United States, with Black women being 2 to 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. These unsettling statistics indicate the urgent need for understanding the reproductive justice framework to stop Black mothers from needlessly dying while delivering new life into the world.
In this blog post, I delve into the beginnings of the Reproductive Justice movement, examine the common barriers Black women endure, and propose actionable solutions. I hope readers walk away with a deeper understanding of the RJ movement and the movement's critical importance for Black women and other marginalized communities.
Most importantly, I hope this post inspires action to advocate for Black women's equal rights through an intersectional lens.
I. What is the reproductive justice movement?
Reproductive Justice(RJ) is a human-rights-based framework that centers around the lived experiences of Black women and other marginalized communities, such as the LGBTQIA+, Indigenous communities, and so forth. The concept of 'reproductive justice' has only been in our lexicon for 30 years. A group of Black women who convened in Chicago founded the movement in June 1994; Loretta Ross spearheaded this movement. The main impetus behind its establishment was that the Women's Rights movement excluded Black women and woefully failed to address the social and economic needs that uniquely impacted them.
The three central tenets of the reproductive justice movement are:
The right to body autonomy, which encompasses privacy and consent
The right to have children or to not have children
The right to parent existing children in safe and sustainable communities
These principles provide a roadmap for understanding how systemic inequities manifest, impact marginalized communities, and achieve a socially just world for all.
a. The Origin of the Reproductive Justice Movement
The RJ movement did not exist out of a vacuum in isolation. It bridges the concepts of reproductive rights and social justice, which helps to understand its comprehensiveness and contemporary relevance in addressing systemic inequities. Its origins can be traced back to the foundational principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) document, enacted by the United Nations in December 1948, with significant contributions from former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Reproductive Justice asserts that all individuals, regardless of social status, sexual orientation, or other identities, are entitled to fundamental rights: bodily autonomy, the choice to have children or not without fear of reprisal or stigma, and the ability to raise families in safe, sustainable communities. No government should take these rights away because doing so would undermine the principles of equality and human rights.
RJ is grounded in the lens of intersectionality, a conceptual framework developed by law scholar and human rights activist Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. Intersectionality highlights the multi-faceted nature of individuals' identities and how they influence their experiences of privilege and oppression within society. The central premise is that interlocking systems of oppression, such as racism, sexism, and classism, synergistically function to marginalize individuals, particularly those from underserved communities. For instance, black women contend with intersectional oppression due to both their race and gender, which relegates them to the bottom rung of society.
I identify as a Black, cisgender, disabled woman from a lower-middle-class background. I acknowledge the privilege that comes from my socioeconomic status, which allowed me to attend college and earn a degree. Furthermore, I am aware of the systemic oppression I face due to my race, skin color, gender, and disability, which manifests through discriminatory laws, policies, and harmful societal beliefs.
II. What's holding us back: Barriers to accomplishing Reproductive Justice
Myriad systemic factors infringe upon Black girls' and women's right to equality and justice. Black women often contend with various forms of intersectional discrimination, such as sexism, classism, and racism. These forms of discrimination perpetuate implicit bias, anti-Black racism, and discrimination both on an interpersonal and systemic level. Furthermore, intersectional discrimination contributes to the disproportionately poorer health outcomes and astronomical death rates that Black women experience, particularly from a host of chronic health conditions and pregnancy-related complications, such as diabetes, compared to their White counterparts.
According to the Black-led national coalition, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda, Black women are three times more likely to develop some form of cardiovascular disease. More disturbingly, nearly 50% of Black women aged 20 and older already live with heart disease. Another unsettling statistic is that Black women have an 80% chance of developing fibroids at some point in their life. They are three times more likely to suffer from fibroids, be hospitalized for them, and develop them at a younger age. Furthermore, Black women are 2.4 times more likely to undergo hysterectomy procedures than White women.
The fallout from the recent U.S. election season dealt a huge blow to and a slap in the face to many Americans. President-elect Donald Trump is slated to begin his second term as U.S. President In January. I found the outcome disheartening. Throughout his first term as President, Trump has consistently disregarded the needs and rights of Black communities and other marginalized groups. His rhetoric, often filled with unfounded and harmful vitriol, has targeted vulnerable populations, including immigrants, for the sole purpose of inciting hatred and division.
During his first term, Trump worked closely with the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision that had protected reproductive rights for 50 years. His administration believed this setback was a win, but for most people, it conveys an undoing of the work to achieve reproductive justice. Additionally, Trump's endorsement of the Project 2025 policy proposal impinges on our democracy and curtails Black women's rights and bodily autonomy.
Amid the disappointing election outcome, a few bright spots offer optimism and hope. Representative-elect Sarah McBride made history as the first transgender person elected to the U.S. Congress. Her political platform prioritizes paid family and medical leave, gun safety reforms, and increasing the minimum wage. Similarly, U.S. Senator-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester will become the first Black woman from Delaware to represent the state in the Senate. Her agenda focuses on lowering costs, protecting workers, advancing gun safety, and combating climate change. These small wins highlight the promising goal of progress when representatives from diverse backgrounds enter positions of power.
Another significant barrier to achieving reproductive justice is the unrelenting wave of draconian, restrictive abortion bans across the United States, particularly in Central and Southern states. In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating federal protections for abortion rights. This decision has significantly hindered access to reproductive healthcare. As a result, abortion is now illegal in 13 U.S. states. Unsurprisingly, its reverberating impact has been harsh on Black communities, who already have to contend with existing systemic barriers to high-quality healthcare.
In my home state of Delaware, abortion remains lawful and protected under state law. In states like Tennessee, Louisiana, and Texas, criminalized abortion laws have left many individuals without treatment options and forced them to undergo unwanted pregnancies. These repressive policies not only work to infringe on women's bodily autonomy but also exacerbate existing inequalities, making the fight for reproductive justice more timely than ever.
III. What can we do to achieve Reproductive Justice? Potential solutions
As a society, we can all contribute to advancing reproductive justice, whether through small actions or broader advocacy. Knowledge is power, so the first step is to educate ourselves. To successfully realize reproductive justice, it's important also to acknowledge that Black women navigate intersecting identities that perpetuate the prevalence of systemic racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression.
Ways to get involved in the fight for Reproductive Justice:
Support Black-led coalition organizations, such as SisterSong and In Our Voice, that tirelessly advocate for reproductive justice and equality for Black women and youth
Learn about In Our Own Voice:
Learn about SisterSong
Contact your local representative to advocate for addressing social issues that disproportionately impact Black women, families, and communities.
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Volunteer at local organizations serving underrepresented communities to impact needy individuals directly.
You can play a part in speaking out against any form of injustice in person and on social media platforms.
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