Reproductive Futures

Family planning services are tied to the long history of reproductive oppression in this country. From the nation’s founding, control and exploitation of Black women’s bodies fueled the institution of slavery through rape and forced childbearing.

Efforts to control and exploit Black reproduction continued through the eugenics movement (which restricted the reproductive rights of the most marginalized communities to achieve population control) and sterilization policies and practices that targeted marginalized groups (including women of color, low-income women, immigrant women, women with disabilities, and incarcerated women).

We believe that achieving true reproductive justice addresses these inequities by using an intersectional critical analysis to highlight and address systemic inequalities that impact access to reproductive health services and maintenance of bodily autonomy.

Access to effective contraception has had enormous benefits to women’s health worldwide, and reduced the number of unintended pregnancies, high-risk pregnancies, and maternal and infant deaths. Contraception has numerous benefits for Black women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals’ ability to improve personal health, economic stability, and educational outcomes.

Yet, reproductive oppression persists and is pervasive in the U.S.. Black women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals continue to face provider bias about recommended family planning services, coercion about contraceptive choices and services, and inability to access the full range of contraceptives. Bias, discrimination, and stigma are still a factor for those who seek contraception and reproductive health services.

Policies to address this multifaceted problem must act intersectionality and address both barriers to access and the potential coercion of Black women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals who seek family planning counseling and contraception.

We can achieve Reproductive Justice with an overhaul of policies that center women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals. And we believe that doing so will improve outcomes for all Americans if we prioritize access to quality, comprehensive health care for all as a fundamental freedom.