Posts Categorized: Uncategorized
At the Intersection of Fatness & Reproductive Justice
I am fat and I have been fat for a very long time. According to some people, the word “fat” is the very worst thing we could be. I admit, sometimes I have thought that, too. In an extremely fatphobic society, who would want to submit themselves to additional marginalization? I am fat, but sometimes I don’t want to be called fat, because to be called fat feels as if I’m accepting the very real negative outcomes that infiltrate nearly every aspect of our society. We often think about “fat” only in terms of appearance, relationships, sex, or food. We have ideas about who is fat and why they are fat. We question what they could, should, and would do about not being fat if they really tried, if they… Read more »
#RJ Wrapped
The Reproductive Justice movement has faced a lot of challenges this year, but has also witnessed several wins. Here’s what our #ReproductiveJusticeWrapped “sounds” like in 2023: With everything going on in the world, it can be difficult to remember to celebrate our victories. The overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 resulted in several major setbacks for reproductive rights in the United States, and was discouraging for folks who have been part of the fight for bodily autonomy for decades. Nonetheless, it also served as a catalyst for activists, politicians, community organizers, and social justice initiatives all over the country in the larger reproductive justice movement. In 2023 alone we have witnessed history with the first over-the-counter contraceptive pill made available without a prescription or age limit, legislation for insurance… Read more »
Reproductive Justice in the Music Industry Has a Long Way 2 Go
CW: This article mentions sexual assault and violence. On Thursday, November 16, 2023 R&B singer Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit against rapper and producer Sean “Diddy” Combs, suing him for a decade-long pattern of emotional, physcal and sexual abuse, beginning when Cassie was 19 years old. The New York Times reports that in addition to sexually exploiting Cassie, Diddy asserted “an extraordinary level of command of her life,” that involved micromanaging her career and becoming extremely violent during the relationship and post break-up. In a statement about the lawsuit Cassie voiced, “‘after years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships.’” The lawsuit… Read more »
Self-Care for Activists
From Roe vs. Wade being overturned to abortion bans and various policies and rulings that have put basic rights under attack, Gen Z are dealing with immense amounts of injustice and threats that will have a disproportionate impact on their rights. Emboldened by either their personal experiences, their connection with their peers, or their need to create safe spaces for their identities/beliefs, an increasing number of young people are engaging in activism to channel their despair and anger into positive action for change. For many, activism can become a means for dealing with the stress and frustrations caused by institutional wrongs and oppressions. Many youth find that becoming involved in activism lessens their essential dread and offers them a sense of community and agency. However, despite the benefits, activism can… Read more »
The Reproductive Justice Movement is for Everyone. But it’s Still Not Accessible to Everyone.
As I’ve been applying to jobs and law school post-graduation, I’ve come face-to-face with the barriers that exist for many marginalized young people to get politically involved. I am a first-generation American and college graduate from a conservative immigrant family in the South, forcing me to navigate the world of political, reproductive justice work on my own. Oftentimes, I feel as if I’m walking around blindfolded trying to navigate a world that wasn’t meant for me. If you can relate, or especially if you can’t, these words are for you. I couldn’t get politically or socially involved in the reproductive justice movement until I found a paid way to do so. Furthermore, learning about reproductive justice (RJ) in the heart of a conservative and predominantly white community was a challenge… Read more »
Practicing Radical Community Care
Unless you have been living under a rock or are completely divorced from the Internet, you have heard about the horrendous crimes against humanity committed in Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and beyond over the past month. The Free Palestine movement in particular is more visible than ever as people across the world call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. More than 300,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, November 5 in support of Palestine. To put that number in perspective, that is at least 100,000 more individuals than there were at Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. Palestinian news and media sites such as Eye on Palestine and the Palestinian Youth Movement have posted daily updates on the realities in… Read more »
Why Decolonization is Necessary for Reproductive Justice
Content warning: This article mentions acts of reproductive violence and assault. Throughout the past month our newsfeeds and timelines have been flooded with updates on the current humanitarian crisis in Palestine following Israel’s blockade of Gaza. People across the globe have been calling for the decolonization and liberation of Palestine, a nation that has been fighting against settler colonialism by Israelites since 1948. The number of casualties in Palestine over the past six days is horrific─Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has resulted in over 2,000 deaths and nearly 10,000 individuals wounded. Palestine and its allies across the globe are demanding an end to Israel’s occupation and decolonization: the process by which colonies become independent of the colonizing country. The Free Palestine movement serves as an important reminder for why decolonization is… Read more »
Avoiding Burnout for Youth Activists
From Roe vs. Wade being overturned to abortion bans and various policies and rulings that have put basic rights under attack, Gen Z are dealing with immense amounts of injustice and threats that will have a disproportionate impact on their rights. Emboldened by either their personal experiences, their connection with their peers, or their need to create safe spaces for their identities/beliefs, an increasing number of young people are engaging in activism to channel their despair and anger into positive action for change. For many, activism can become a means for dealing with the stress and frustrations caused by institutional wrongs and oppressions. Many youths find that becoming involved in activism lessens their essential dread and offers them a sense of community and agency. However, despite the benefits, activism can… Read more »
Housing Justice is Reproductive Justice
Illustration by Nina Yagual x @abeautifulhoodcrumb “A home that is stable, affordable and secure not only means that we are able to curate a life full of color, tradition, and magic, but it also paves a way for ongoing health and happiness for future generations.” — Nina Yagual Sistersong, a national organization and reproductive justice collective, defines reproductive justice as the following: However, how can someone obtain consistent prenatal care if they are experiencing homelessness and are transient? How can a person parent their child safely if they live in substandard housing? How can people afford an abortion or health insurance for contraceptives if they’re spending over one-third of their income on rent alone? The current housing crisis is a threat to the reproductive justice movement as housing insecurity threatens… Read more »
What You Should Know About The Forced or Involuntary Sterilization Compensation Program (FISCP)
The eugenics movement began during the early 20th century and operated under the white supremacist belief that “social ills” ― Blackness, neurodivergence, immigration, to name a few―could be eradicated through “racial improvement.” Since the eugenics movement of the early 1900s, the state of California has been accused of facilitating forced sterilizations. Sterilization served as one of the primary ways that eugenics was put into practice and Californians were stripped of their right to bodily autonomy. While the exact number of forced sterilization cases in California is unknown, the best estimation is tens of thousands. There have been multiple waves of compulsory sterilization throughout the 21st century. Although by 1979 forced sterilizations laws were repealed in California for state hospitals, approximately 20,000 people had already received sterilizations without their consent. An… Read more »
