--- title: "Reproductive Justice: The Movement Whose Time Has Come" date: 2013-05-31T18:14:31-04:00 author: OBOS Admin canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/reproductive-justice-the-movement-whose-time-has-come" section: Blog (Archive) --- [Donate](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/donate) [From the Archives of Our Bodies, Our Blog](/blog)# Reproductive Justice: The Movement Whose Time Has Come By Rachel Walden • May 31, 2013 Please note: This entry -- originally posted at [Our Bodies, Our Blog](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog) -- has not been updated since the publication date listed above. The Reproductive Justice: Activists, Advocates, Academics in Ann Arbor ("A3 in A2") conference taking place this week aims to foster learning, dialogue and collaboration around reproductive justice issues. OBOS Executive Director Judy Norsigian, one of the conference advisory board members, is leading a session on informed consent and moderating Friday's final panel. Until recently, the term reproductive justice was used mainly by a relatively small number of people involved with abortion rights and women's reproductive health. The phrasing is more inclusive than abortion rights and takes into account all aspects of women's ability to control their own reproduction, including social inequalities that affect the ability and right to have or not have children and to parent children in healthy environments. The term has been discussed, and debated, quite a bit lately. Over at RH Reality Check, Jon O'Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, recently argued why reproductive justice [cannot be a substitute](http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2013/04/25/why-we-are-and-must-remain-for-choice/ "Why We Are and Must Remain ‘Pro-Choice’") for the terms "choice" or "pro-choice," prompting [this response](http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2013/05/08/understanding-reproductive-justice-a-response-to-obrien/ "Understanding Reproductive Justice: A Response to O’Brien") from reproductive justice activists (who, it should be noted, consider Catholics for Choice an ally). Their response notes in part: > Women of color struggled within the pro-choice movement to bring their needs to the forefront, and they also created new organizations built on a broad, intersectional analysis and understanding of reproductive rights and health. The shift from choice to justice does not, as O'Brien says, devalue the autonomy of women who face obstacles. Instead, locating women’s autonomy and self-determination in human rights rather than in individual rights and privacy gives a more inclusive and realistic account of both autonomy and what is required to ensure that all women have it. Advocating for reproductive justice was not counter-posed against being "pro-choice" or supporting abortion rights. Rather, reproductive justice re-framed and included both. The push toward a more comprehensive understanding of reproductive rights has also been adopted by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) of Congregations. Delegates at last year's General Assembly meeting selected "[Reproductive Justice: Expanding Our Social Justice Calling](http://www.uua.org/reproductive/calling/index.shtml "Reproductive Justice: Expanding Our Social Justice Calling")" as the 2012-2016 Congregational Study/Action Issue -- meaning congregations and districts are invited to engage and reflect on it, in any way they see fit -- and the subject will be the focus of this summer's [GA meeting](http://www.uua.org/reproductive/). Earlier this year, Billy Moyers invited Jessica González-Rojas, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, and Lynn Paltrow, founder and executive director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women, to [discuss the topic](http://billmoyers.com/segment/jessica-gonzalez-rojas-and-lynn-paltrow-on-abortion-rights-activism/ "Jessica González-Rojas and Lynn Paltrow on Abortion Rights Activism"). "What's happened is that women are beginning to recognize that what’s at stake is more than abortion," said Paltrow. "It is their personhood -- their ability to be full, equal, constitutional persons in the United States of America." **For more information:** Check out the [Reproductive Justice Briefing Book](http://protectchoice.org/downloads/Reproductive%20Justice%20Briefing%20Book.pdf "It's a PDF. An 81-page PDF."). Produced by the Pro-Choice Public Education Project, it offers a comprehensive look at a variety of topics, including sex education, abortion, adoption, pregnancy, disability, incarceration, immigrants, LGBT issues, race, and class. --- #### 1 Response Our Bodies Ourselves is no longer able to accept comments. **LadyFlowersbySusan** on Jun 03, 2013 We will never be free and equal until the full spectrum of our reproductive rights belong to us. Bravo! ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics - [Abortion & Reproductive Rights](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/abortion-reproductive-rights) - [Activism & Resources](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/activism-resources) - [Disability](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/disability) - [Motherhood](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/motherhood) - [Pregnancy & Childbirth](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/pregnancy-childbirth) - [Public Policy](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/public-policy) - [Race & Ethnicity](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/race-ethnicity) - [Sex Education](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/sex-education) ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)### *Why You Can* **Trust Us** - We rigorously evaluate all content - We embrace a reproductive justice framework - We don’t accept ads or sell products - We reject funding from the pharmaceutical industry - We counter misinformation and disinformation - We address the social, political, and economic factors that affect health and sexuality [read more](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/why-you-can-trust-us) Share [](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)