From Abortion Rights to Reproductive Justice: A Call to Action
Erica Goldblatt Hyatt, Judith L. M. McCoyd, Mery F. Diaz
Abstract
As aggressive cultural and legislative attacks on abortion rights and access continue, we call upon social workers to pursue the liberatory aims of the reproductive justice (RJ) movement. We argue that the RJ framework, rooted in feminist theory, aligns with social work's social justice ethos and goals, appropriately guiding advocacy and intervention. After outlining the central aims and tenets of the RJ movement, we consider policies that impair RJ and those that could promote RJ, focusing on enhancing body sovereignty, childbearing, and parenting. We conclude with concrete recommendations for how social workers can pursue RJ professionally and personally.
Topics & Concepts
AbortionSociologyEthosLegislatureSocial movementSocial justiceEconomic JusticeCriminologyAction (physics)Intervention (counseling)Reproductive justicePolitical scienceGender studiesEnvironmental ethicsLawMedicinePregnancyNursingPoliticsPhysicsGeneticsPhilosophyQuantum mechanicsBiologyReproductive Health and TechnologiesReproductive Health and ContraceptionFeminist Theory and Gender Studies