Reproductive Justice: An Introduction

361 Pages·2017·1.884 MB·English

by  Loretta J. Ross and Rickie Solinger

Reproductive Justice
An Introduction
Loretta J. Ross and Rickie Solinger
university of california press
Reproductive Justice
reproductive justice: a new vision
for the twenty-first century
Edited by Rickie Solinger,
Khiara M. Bridges,
Zakiya Luna, and Ruby Tapia
1. Reproductive Justice: An Introduction, by Loretta J. Ross and
Rickie Solinger
2. How All Politics Became Reproductive Politics: From Welfare Reform to
Foreclosure to Trump, by Laura Briggs
Reproductive Justice
An Introduction
Loretta J. Ross and Rickie Solinger
university of california press
University of California Press, one of the most distin-
guished university presses in the United States, enriches
lives around the world by advancing scholarship in the
humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its
activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and
by philanthropic contributions from individuals and
institutions. For more information, visit www.ucpress.edu.
University of California Press
Oakland, California
© 2017 by The Regents of the University of California
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ross, Loretta, author. | Solinger, Rickie, 1947–
author.
Title: Reproductive justice : an introduction / Loretta J.
Ross and Rickie Solinger
Description: Oakland, California : University of
California Press, [2017] | Series: Reproductive justice :
a new vision for the twenty-fi rst century ; 1 | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifi ers: lccn 2016046912 | isbn 9780520288188 (cloth :
alk. paper) | isbn 9780520288201 (pbk. : alk. paper) |
isbn 9780520963207 (eBook)
Subjects: LCSH: Human reproduction—Law and
legislation—United States. | Reproductive rights—
United States. | Reproductive health—United States.
| African American women—Health and hygiene. |
Women’s rights—United States.
Classifi cation: lcc kf3760 .s65 2017 | ddc 342.7308/5—dc23
lc record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016046912
Manufactured in the United States of America
25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For the SisterSong family and my son, Howard
Michael Ross, without whom much of my life
would not have been possible.
May Ruby and Dean live in a world where
reproductive justice prevails.

contents
Introduction
1
1. A Reproductive Justice History
9
2. Reproductive Justice in the Twenty-First Century
58
3. Managing Fertility
117
4. Reproductive Justice and the Right to Parent
168
Epilogue: Reproductive Justice on the Ground
238
Acknowledgments 267
Notes 269
Index 325

Introduction
The two of us, Loretta and Rickie, joined forces to write Reproduc-
tive Justice: An Introduction so that we could introduce the concept of
reproductive justice to new audiences. As a scholar (Rickie) and an
activist (Loretta), we believe that we have made a book that will
contribute to the exciting upsurge of reproductive justice activism
and scholarship. We have read each other’s articles and books and
followed each other’s work for years with respect and admiration.
Making this book has deepened both our regard for each other and
our commitment to the principles of reproductive justice.
We chose to write this book in the form of a primer because it
is an explanation of the basic elements of our subject. Reproduc-
tive Justice: An Introduction off ers an expansive explanation of
reproductive justice so that readers can learn about this creative
vision for achieving human rights protections. The primer will
also help readers understand how reproductive justice is signifi -
cantly diff erent from the pro-choice/antiabortion debates that
have dominated the headlines and mainstream political confl ict
for so long.
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