Loretta Ross "Reproductive Justice and Social Change"

Question 1

What is reproductive justice?

Answer 1

Reproductive Justice: Complete physical, mental, spiritual, political, social and economic well-being of women and girls
The fight for: not having children, having children and right to parent children must be equal

Question 2

What does reproductive justice address?

Answer 2

Reproductive justice addresses social reality of inequality, specifically in terms of inequality of opportunities in control of reproduction

Question 3

What is reproductive justice’s main concern

Answer 3

Key concern is isolation of abortion from minority populations
Focus is shifting to entire reproductive oppression (not merely abortion!)
Multi-pronged approach needed:
Reproductive health → service delivery
Reproductive Rights → legal issues
Reproductive Justice → building of the movement
Power of minority groups (poor, racial, etc.) must be built up to ensure all women garner equal power in this movement towards reproductive equality

Question 4

How is a woman’s reproductive destiny affected by her social status?

Answer 4

The ability of any woman to determine her own reproductive destiny is directly linked to where she stands in society.

Wealthy - access and choice to their own reproductive destiny
Poor - less access and choice