Giving Justice To The Reproductive Rights Of Women

Why is it that some women are glorified as mothers but others have their motherhood rights contested? Or is it okay for a doctor to decide you can’t have more kids? Society continues to construct different destinies for women, especially those of color in the United States through targeted policies. Throughout history, women have fought for multiple rights but one they continue to fight for is Reproductive justice. The word “Reproductive justice” can be defined differently by many, it can be described as the right to have or not have a child and the right to also use forms of birth control. According to Loretta Ross, Reproductive justice is the complete physical, mental, spiritual, social, and economical well-being and protection of women and girls. There are three frameworks to fighting reproductive oppression: reproductive health, reproductive rights, and reproductive justice ( Ross 2007).

Often hidden and not seen by many but within the reproductive justice there’s an intersectionality of race, gender, and class, and it’s rooted in the recognition of the histories of the reproductive oppression and abuse in communities of women of color. One of the main struggles of these women has been about reproductive autonomy; which is the right to have an abortion, the right to conceive, bear, and raise children. Issues such as policies controlling welfare, access to contraceptives and other family planning services, abortion access, the war on drugs and the criminalization of women of color who use drugs, largely Black women, serve to further a white supremacist agenda that is still very much intent upon controlling the childbearing of Black women and other women of color are all implicated in the concept of reproductive justice. (Bond, 2007)

Historically, some of the challenges that predominantly women of color face today were similar or even worse back then. Although there has been changed as time progresses we can see that our society is constructed to value certain woman and children over others, usually, those who are valued the most are a white woman and white children. We can see the continued marginalization since through the course of history; Women of color, incarcerated women, and other marginalized groups continue to be subject to forced or coerced sterilization(Bambauer, 2019). Many women of color have received harsh treatment especially denigration of their bodies from racialized stereotypes. Reproduction of black women has been controlled since slavery when slave women were forced to produce children who would later be sold as property (Roberts 1997). Similarly, Latina women have faced state control of their reproduction, as policy makers and pundits construct their reproduction as ‘‘breeding’’ immigrants who drain social services (Gutierrez 2008). One way in which many of these woman’s reproduction was controlled was by forced sterilization. In the 1960s and 70s, 10 Latino Spanish speaking women in California sued doctors over tubal ligation procedures conducted on them without their knowledge(No Más Bebés 2017)

When analyzing this issue we can agree that economic and social factors play a huge role in reproductive health care itself. For instance, the education of a woman consists of language she’s able to speak. Using as an exam and comprehension of the topic. For example, “No mas bebes”. Latinas were not knowledgeable about the procedures and oftentimes because they don’t speak the language they agree or get scared when the doctors bring up “medical complications” and they end up signing the consent forms. But by doing so they end up with performed procedures they didn’t want like what is known as “forced sterilization”. Race plays a role as well. A white woman’s experience with reproductive health will be fundamentally different than that of a Latina or African American woman because of race. Similarly, because of economic factors woman of color their rights for safe, voluntary sex, birth control, and motherhood are not only controlled but often criminalized as well. Coercive programs target low income and women of color for high-risk contraceptives. New laws and policies make abortion access more difficult and costly(Reproductive justice Briefing book 2007)

Without a doubt, reproductive justice is every woman's right. Therefore, women continue to fight for that right. Today, in Chicago we have protesters who support reproductive justice. We have voiced out in Chicago with hopes to obtain rights all women deserve not only white women. Now we don’t see many forced sterilizations in the U.S but rather the right to abortion has been a subject of debate. A strong advocate and supporter of reproductive justice work named Julie Lynn who works for planned parent of Illinois said, “I think it’s important that people are coming out to support everyone in this movement whether they’re looking for abortion fund information, abortion access, or comprehensive reproductive health care overall, We all need to make sure we’re locking arms and standing together in this fight and making sure we continue to have bodily autonomy.” (Horstead 2019). Lynn along with other Chicago residents such as Hannah Doruelo believe that the abortion ban criminalizes woman and certain populations. Many woman who plans on getting an abortion hope it’s safe and affordable.(Horstead 2019).

Today in Chicago, Since President Donald Trump ascended to the White House in January 2017, the federal landscape in women’s health and rights has shifted dramatically as the administration has stalled and reversed years of progress(Ahmed 2018). One of the solutions can be providing the right for an abortion. Yes, it’s a life they have inside them and many people see it as murder. But I believe every woman should have the right to abort if they don’t feel ready because it is their body and their decision. At the end of the day, we don’t want mothers to be “bad mothers”. I don’t think they should be punished for feeling that they are not ready to be a mother yet. Many women especially those women of color and the low income they can’t provide for that child so it should be okay for them to wait until they are ready. Therefore, a solution would be not only to provide abortion options but make them accessible and affordable for the woman. I think that medication abortion should be an option and I think will provide equitable access for woman. According to numerous studies have found to be safe and effective, allows women to obtain important medical care outside of a clinic or hospital setting if the services offered in these venues are inaccessible or do not meet a woman’s needs(Ahmed 2018). Society lacks to see that part of the reason why these women get pregnant in the first place has to do with the lack of sexual education or the lack of birth control and contraceptives. For many women of color, these methods are not a choice for them. And if they did have access to birth control many women of color are prone for high-risk contraceptives. Since contraceptives and abortions access is more difficult and more costly another solution I suggest is making it more affordable for everyone to afford even women of low income. According to the Center for America’s progress, The United States has one of the highest unplanned pregnancy rates among developed countries; in 2011, nearly half of all pregnancies were unintended. Access to reliable contraceptives is, therefore, a vital tool to reduce unintended pregnancies and to plan for safe, healthy pregnancies(Ahmed 2018). I think that providing accessible and affordable contraceptives women of color can have access to actual health rights like white women receive. We can shift from “that’s not an option for me” to “this is an option for me”.