Reproductive justice is more than the right to choose, it’s about the right to live, thrive, and parent in dignity. For women of color, especially Native and Black women, reproductive oppression has never existed in isolation. It has been deeply entwined with colonialism, white supremacy, and patriarchy. From forced sterilizations to criminalized pregnancies, reproductive policies have long been tools of control, used not only to regulate individual bodies but to suppress entire communities.
As Andrea Smith notes, Native women were historically targeted because of their ability to reproduce, threatening colonial power. Similarly, Sander Gilman and Dorothy Roberts show how racist myths and policies cast Black women as hypersexual or unfit, reinforcing stereotypes to justify violence and reproductive control.
But women of color have always fought back. The reproductive justice movement, created by and for marginalized communities, reframes the conversation: it’s not just about abortion, but about healthcare, safety, land rights, and economic justice. As Kamala Price argues, this framework makes space for real inclusion, recognizing the lived experiences of those most affected.
This is not just a movement for rights, it’s a call for liberation. Reproductive justice demands we rethink who gets to choose, who gets to parent, and who is allowed to simply exist.
