Intersectionality is a concept coined by Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw. It is an important notion to understand the reproductive justice movement because the two are deeply intertwined. The reproductive justice movement is a result of women of color’s frustrations with the traditional and single-minded pro-choice/life rhetoric and framework. Rather than having a singular focus on the ability and right to an abortion, this movement pivots to three main objectives, which are: the right to an abortion, the right to have a child, and the right to parent them in a stable and loving environment. Intersectionality reveals that systems of oppression, such as racism, classism, and misogyny, work dependently on each other and further marginalize those who live at the crossroads of these intersecting identities.
The reproductive justice movement acknowledges how socioeconomic factors, immigration status, race, and gender influence and affect reproductive choices. It embodies and upholds an intersectional approach.
Kimala J. Price, a leading scholar and activist in reproductive politics, explains how the movement emerged from a lack of attention to women of color’s issues and concerns. The Pro-choice movement constantly failed to consider external factors and how they influenced a person’s decisions. They only fought for the right to have an abortion, but failed to keep in mind the many other choices a woman might like to make.
There are economic barriers for pregnant people everywhere, whether that be a lack of education, inaccessible clinics or professionals, or health insurance. Until all of these issues are properly addressed and rectified, reproductive justice and equity will not be achieved. These are issues that primarily affect women of color and those in poverty.
The society in which we live is not supportive of either the poor or the uneducated. Women of color, especially poor ones, often feel pressured to abort or pressured into taking birth control. Of course, it is important to take into account how anti-abortionist this country has become.
Despite a moral uproar against abortion, there is not much being done to better the foster-care system or systems that will financially and emotionally help poor families. This reveals an incredible hypocrisy, anti-abortion policies force births, but are almost always unwilling to guarantee a good quality of life. Foster care systems separate families and the number of children in them is constantly growing. This is an example of how the original pro-choice movement lacks foresight. The reproductive justice movement fights not only for the choice to have or not have children, but also to parent them. Additionally, immigration status is something that can affect reproduction. Many pregnant women who are undocumented and are also victims of domestic violence have no access to intervention from law enforcement because they fear legal repercussions and deportation. They also are unable to go to clinics or receive pre and postnatal care.
Intersectionality is crucial to achieving social equity because if we are not intersectional, some people, the most vulnerable, are bound to be left behind and forgotten. By looking through an intersectional frame of mind, the inequalities of several different communities are constantly being revealed. The reproductive justice movement depends on intersectionality. It is important to note that this movement is not exclusively a female rights issue, but rather a human rights one. Recognizing that reproductive justice intersects with race, gender, financial status, and immigration status will allow us to pursue a fairer society. To properly achieve this, we must be open to recognizing the privileges and disadvantages of everyone and be willing to defend them.
