AFAP is committed to the work of Reproductive Justice. As part of that commitment, we are pleased to offer this list of resources related to Reproductive Justice. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather consists of selected works, websites, and organizations that we feel are particularly useful or interesting. Many contain within them further resource lists and links for diving deeper into a topic.
The resources on this list were chosen by the members of AFAP’s Reproductive Justice Committee using a set of criteria developed by the committee. This list is reviewed and revised every six months. If you have a resource that you would like us to consider for inclusion, please use our submission form. If you find an error in the list, or a link that is no longer working, you can use the same form to let us know about it.
We recognize that reproductive justice is a global issue. The resource list is reflective of the current membership of AFAP which is largely composed of people based in North America, and most of the resources listed are specific to the United States. We welcome submissions to the resource list that are internationally relevant, and new members who can broaden our membership base.
AFAP welcomes all people who share our passion for Reproductive Justice and Fertility Awareness! For more information, please visit our membership page.
Using this list
We have added keywords to all entries (except organizations). You can use “Command F” to bring up a search bar so that you can look for specific topics or constituencies. Clicking on a topic in the list below will bring you directly to that section.
Topics
Reproductive Justice Organizations & Media Outlets
Reproductive Justice Overviews
Fertility Management (Birth Control/Infertility/Sterilization/Birth)
Parenting
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)/Sexual Trauma
Economic Justice
Environmental Justice
Personal Story Anthologies
Historical Injustice
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS AND MEDIA OUTLETS
Forward Together – “What is Reproductive Justice” (org)
Organization, links to description and history of the term “Reproductive Justice”
Black Women Birthing Justice (org)
Organization for supporting black women and transgender population around birth. Great resource list on their site and a book in addition to their organization & its work.
Black Women’s Reproductive Justice (org)
“A national organizational initiative designed to amplify and lift up the voices of Black women at the national and regional levels in our ongoing fight to secure Reproductive Justice for all women and girls.”
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (org)
Organization focused on the reproductive health and justice of the Latina population.
Native American Women’s Health Education Resource Center (org)
Their first meeting to outline a Reproductive Justice agenda for Native Women was held in 1990! Currently still working, with campaigns around issues such as Plan B access and with policy reports.
The Pro-Choice Public Education Project (org)
Organization focused on supporting young women, transgender & gender non-conforming young people around issues of sexual and reproductive health.
Sister Song – Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective (org)
Co-founder Loretta Ross and others coined the term reproductive justice in 1994 with other African American women following the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt.
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE OVERVIEWS (multiple topics)
Causes in Common: Reproductive Justice and LGBT Liberation (PDF Article)
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, 2003
An article published by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (the Center) in New York City that explores the link between reproductive justice and the LGBTQI community.
Keywords: LGBTQIA; Reproductive rights; Roe v. Wade; Policy; Sex Education; Abortion
Conquest: Sexual Violence and the American Indian Genocide (book)
Andrea Smith, 2015
Provides new and comprehensive thesis regarding multiple forms of violence, including gendered and sexual violence, and explores their impact on Native women and indigenous culture. Also outlines approaches to overcome sexual violence.
Keywords: Native/Indigenous/First Peoples, Sexual Violence, Rape, Intimate Partner Violence, Forced Sterilization
Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty (book)
Dorothy Roberts, 1998
Demonstrates how control of black bodies, in particular women’s bodies, has been and continues to be embedded in the American legal system, and is currently manifesting in legislation and policy pertaining to reproductive health.
Keywords: Black /African American/African Diaspora, Poverty, Policy
Reproductive Justice and Women with Disabilities (pdf fact sheet)
Law Students for Reproductive Justice, 2015
Fact sheet on the physical, sexual and reproductive health of women with disabilities.
Keywords: Disability, Intimate Partner Violence, Domestic Violence, Sexuality, Parenting, Sterilization, Sex Education, Health Care
Take Charge: A Reproductive Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities (Downloadable booklet)
Kennedy Healy, Judy Panko Reis, Marilyn Martin et al., The Empowered Fe Fes, August 2015
Handbook for women with disabilities and their health care providers, parents, and community partners with emphasis on empowerment.
Keywords: Birth Control/Contraception, STIs, Pregnancy, Disability
The Intersection of Disability Law and Reproductive Justice (recording of panel discussion)
January 20, 2016
Law Students for Reproductive Justice and the Disability Law Society present a discussion with Mark Heyrman, Clinical Professor of Law for the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic’s Mental Health Project, and Fulani Thrasher, Women and Girls Community Organizer for Access Living Metropolitan Chicago.
Keywords: Disability, Policy
The Reproductive Justice Briefing Book: A Primer on Reproductive Justice and Social Change (Book)
Sistersong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective and the Pro-Choice Public Education Project in collaboration with others for the United States Social Forum, 2007
“This version includes updated articles and expanded coverage of important reproductive justice issues.”
Keywords: Birth Control/Contraception, Abortion, Roe v. Wade, Class
FERTILITY MANAGEMENT (BIRTH CONTROL/INFERTILITY/STERILIZATION/BIRTH)
Forced Sterilization Haunts Peruvian Women Decades On (article)
Javier Lizarzaburu, 2015
Nearly 300,000 sterilizations of mostly indigenous Peruvian women took place in the 1990’s with the repercussions still affecting their communities today.
Keywords: Forced Sterilization, Indigenous/Native, Peruvian, Birth Control, Reproductive Choice, Consent
Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives Statement of Principles (Statement of Principles)
Background information on LARC Statement of Principles (background document)
SisterSong and National Women’s Health Network, 2016
A public statement and call to action in response to coercive practices around the distribution of long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs).
Keywords: Birth Control/Contraception, LARCs, consent
The Right to (Trans) Parent: A Reproductive Justice Approach to Reproductive Rights, Fertility, and Family-Building Issues Facing Transgender People (article)
William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law, 2014
This article looks at the rights of transgender people to parent and receive health care through the lens of reproductive justice.
Keywords: Transgender Health, Parenting, LGBTQIA
The State Still Controls Women’s Bodies. Especially Brown & Black Ones (article)
Vaidehi Mujumdar, 2015
“Access to reproductive health care has long been a battle for all women, but for those who are poor or from minority communities, the number of reproductive health barriers is multiplied by state sanctioned discrimination. If we are to secure universal reproductive health care for all, we must listen to the stories and experiences from the margins. Without a full picture of how the state controls women’s bodies, we will not be able to successfully fight for change.”
Keywords: Birth Control/Contraception, Women Of Color
Why Black Women Tend to Cope with Infertility Alone (article)
University of Michigan, post by Jared Wadley-Michigan, 2015
“The women may stay silent about their infertility because of cultural expectations about strong, self-reliant black women who can cope with adversity on their own and with notions about maintaining privacy in African-American communities,” says Rosario Ceballo.
Keywords: Infertility, Black/African American/African Diaspora
Why We Need Queer Birth Justice (article/blog post)
by Olivia Polk, 2015
This article focuses on the birth needs of transgender and gender non-conforming people as well as the obstacles they face. It offers specific ways that birth professionals can support queer, trans, and GNC folks who are pregnant or planning a family.
Keywords: LGBTQIA, Birth
A Womb of Their Own (documentary, 85 min)
Dir: Cyn Lubow
Documentary exploring experiences of trans and non-binary people going through pregnancies. Film is currently not available for viewing on site, only trailer, but website contains a resource list (focused on pregnancy) for trans, genderqueer, and non-binary people and their healthcare providers.
Keywords: Pregnancy, LGBTQIA
Disability and Reproductive Justice (article)
S.E. Smith, 2013
Discussion of parents with disabilities and the discrimination they face. Reproductive Justice.
Keywords: Disability, Parenting
From Severe Stigma to Powerful Resilience: Youth Sexuality, Parenting & The Power of Structural Support (Article)
Elizabeth Greenblatt, Kate Cockrill, Steph Herold, 2015
An in depth look at how cultural stigma impacts young people’s sexuality and specifically how it affects young parents. Most work in this field focuses on changing behavior of individual teens and teen parents while ignoring the larger systemic problems of poverty, racism, sexism, classism and more that intersect with this issue.
Keywords: Teen Pregnancy, Sexuality, Sex Education
Mothers Behind Bars (Booklet)
Malika Saada Saar, Brittany Bisnott and Faiza Mathon-Mathieu, 2010
“A state-by-state report card and analysis of federal policies on conditions of confinement for pregnant and parenting women and the effect on their children”
Keywords: Pregnancy, Birth, Parenting, Incarceration, Pre-Natal Care
Parents with Disabilities (article)
Paul Preston, Ph.D., 2010
Scholarly article on parents with disabilities.
Keywords: Disability, Parenting
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE (IPV)/SEXUAL TRAUMA
If You Really Care About Intimate Partner Violence, You Should Care About Reproductive Justice (fact sheet)
National Women’s Law Center, 2013
Fact sheet explaining how intimate partner violence and reproductive justice are linked.
Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Violence, Rape, Abuse
Indigenous Women’s Reproductive Justice (PDF booklet)
Julie Andrews, B.A., Bryony Heise, A.B., Charon Asetoyer, B.A., M.A., 2004
“A survey of sexual assault policies and protocols within Indian health service emergency rooms”
Keywords: Sexual Assault, Rape, Intimate Partner Violence, Abortion, Native/Indigenous/First Peoples, Policy
Reproductive Health and Intimate Partner Violence (article)
Melissa Moore, 1999
Article published by the Guttmacher Institute that draws on current research to define Intimate Partner Violence and examine the scope of its impact on health, focusing on reproductive health.
Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence, Reproductive Health, Public Health
Gender and Justice in America: Reproductive justice should be included in reform efforts (article)
Chelsea Davis, 2015
This piece from the Vera Institute of Justice demonstrates how policies that criminalize pregnant women for drug abuse lead to poor outcomes for both women and their children, and disproportionately target women of color and poor women. The author advocates for increased treatment, rather than criminalization, for pregnant women with substance abuse problems.
Keywords: Criminal Justice System, Incarceration, Poverty, Pregnancy, Policy
Justice at the Intersections: Action for Reproductive and Economic Justice in NYC (video)
A short film made for the event Critical Intersections: Reproductive and Economic Justice held at Barnard College. The film interviews 16 organizations in the New York City area doing reproductive justice work in connection with economic justice.
Keywords: Intersectionality, Reproductive Justice
Recent SNAP Restrictions Are Another Reminder That Poverty Is a Reproductive Issue (article)
Katie Klabusich, 2015
Article exploring the intersection of poverty, birth control, and abortion. Discusses the notion of ‘choice,’ and how even when a choice is legal, it does not mean that everyone has access to making that choice.
Keywords: Poverty, Birth Control/Contraception, Abortion
Reproductive Health is Part of the Economic Health of Women and Their Families (PDF fact sheet – will download automatically when you click link)
National Women’s Law Center, 2016
Fact sheet explaining how economic well being is linked to reproductive health.
Keywords: Poverty, Policy
If You Really Care About Environmental Justice, You Should Care About Reproductive Justice! (fact sheet)
National Women’s Law Center, 2014
Fact sheet explaining how Environmental Justice and Reproductive Justice are linked
Keywords: Policy, Parenting
Native Youth Sexual Health Network (org)
Making the connection between environmental violence (including extractive industries) and sexual and reproductive health in Native/Indigenous (American) communities.
Keywords: Native/Indigenous/First Peoples
Toxic Bodies: Hormone Disruptors and the Legacy of DES (book)
Nancy Langston, 2010
A (US) history of endocrine disruptors that interfere with human and animal reproduction yet which are almost entirely unregulated.
Keywords: Endocrine Disruption
Hear Our Stories: Diasporic Youth for Sexual Rights and Justice (Audio)
“This program uses digital storytelling to examine sexual and reproductive health disparities among young parenting Latinas in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The project prioritizes uprooted young women and aims to reframe public conversations on young motherhood and sexuality, health, and reproductive rights across generations by building sexuality research. In the process, the program works with young parenting Latinas to develop their capacity as advocate-leaders.”
Keywords: Latina/Latino/Latinx, Hispanic, Parenting
Sea Change, Untold Stories (book and reading project)
“Untold Stories: Life, Love, and Reproduction is a collection of stories of ordinary people talking intimately and honestly about their reproductive experiences including abortion, egg donation, adoption, LGBT parenting, remaining child free, and much more.”
Keywords: LGBTQIA, Parenting, Abortion, Fertility, Adoption
We Carry Oceans (Audio)
“A collection of stories on bodies, sexuality, and reproductive justice within Asian and Pacific Islander communities.”
Keywords: Asian/Pacific Islander, Sexuality
Birthing Reproductive Justice: 150 Years of Images and Ideas (Online exhibit)
Online exhibit drawn from multiple collections examines the historical roots of the modern reproductive justice movement. Touches on many topics including eugenics, abortion, sex ed and the control of information, and the medicalization of birth.
Keywords: Birth, Sex Education, Forced Sterilization, Eugenics, Abortion, Birth Control/Contraception
For the Public Good (Article)
Belle Boggs, 2013
A story of the history of Eugenics in the US as exemplified by the experience of Willis Lynch, who was forcibly sterilized for being “feeble minded.” Also covers the early life of Francis Galton the “founder” of Eugenics.
Keywords: Eugenics, Forced Sterilization, Consent, Disability
La Operación website and information
La Operación (documentary) available for viewing
Dir. Anna María García, 1982
Uses stories of individual Puerto Rican women to situate their widespread sterilization within historical and economic contexts. Also touches on first human trials of the birth control pill, which took place in Puerto Rico. In English and Spanish with English subtitles.
Keywords: Puerto Rican, Latina/Latino/Latinx, Hispanic, Forced Sterilization, Consent
Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present (book)
Harriet Washington, 2007
Elucidates the history of medical experimentation on African Americans and its legacy in current medical institutions.
Keywords: Black/African American/African Diaspora, Consent, Medical Experimentation
No Mas Bebes (55 min film)
Dir. Renee Tajima-Peña, 2015
The story of coerced sterilization of Mexican Americans in LA county in the 60s and 70s that led to a historic lawsuit: Madrigal vs. Quilligan.
Keywords: Forced Sterilization, Eugenics, Hispanic, Latino/Latina/Latinx, Mexican American, Consent
Tuskegee Study Resources
–CDC Timeline
–Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care
–A Generation of Bad Blood (magazine article)
Vann R. Newkirk II, 2016
Publisher: The Atlantic Magazine
The legacy of the Tuskegee Study and its impact on health care disparity, especially as seen in mistrust of healthcare institutions on the part of African Americans.
Keywords: Health Care Disparity, Black/African American/African Diaspora, Poverty, Medical Experimentation
Unwanted Sterilization and Eugenics Programs in the United States (blog/video)
Lisa Ko, 2016
Thorough overview of the history of forced sterilization and eugenics in the US with documents and videos.
Keywords: Forced Sterilization, Eugenics, Black/African American/African Diaspora, Native/Indigenous/First Peoples, Latina/Latino/Latinx, Consent