Donate
Health & Sexuality Info

Birth Justice

All birthing people have the right to make decisions about our pregnancies, to have support for a healthy pregnancy throughout the prenatal period, and to give birth safely and joyfully. How can we end the health disparities, especially the racial inequalities, that prevent birth justice?

Explore Birth Justice content
Clear All
Resources

How History and Racism Reframe the Formula Shortage for Black Families

A Black woman with curly hair feeds a baby with a bottle

Formula shortages disproportionately affect Black birthing people because of a long history in which they have been both prohibited and discouraged from breastfeeding.

Resources

Pregnancy as a Crime Post-Dobbs: A Preliminary Report

handcuffs laying on fingerprints chart

Fetal personhood laws and other abortion restrictions play a significant role in the criminalization of pregnancy.

Resources

The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice on Reproductive Justice

A red sign that says, "Reproductive Justice for All"

In this brief overview, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice defines reproductive justice in solidarity with Black activists, and discusses the concept in light of the reproductive health and rights of Latine communities.

Resources

Criminalization of Pregnancy Has Already Been Happening

A woman in a hospital gown cries in a hallway

Abortion bans criminalize pregnant people. This NPR piece explains how, and traces the history of criminalizing pregnancy over the last 50 years.

Resources

Jailed and Pregnant: What the Roe Repeal Means for Incarcerated People

A black and white photo of handcuffed hands holding prison bars

What are the consequences of the Dobbs decision on incarcerated people? This Q&A fact sheet reviews the availability of reproductive health care in prisons and jails.

Resources

Black Women, Reproductive Justice, and Environmental Justice

A protest on a beach with a woman standing in the middle with megaphone

We have the right to form and raise families in safe, healthy environments that are free of toxic chemicals. This fact sheet from “In Our Own Voice” shows how reproductive justice and environmental justice intersect.

Resources

A Birth Story about Obstetric Racism

Five Black pregnant women are standing holding their bellies. The first one, who has her lock in a bun on the top of her head is wearing a hospital gown. The second woman who has a short haircut, is wearing a gray dress. The third woman, who has a short haircut is wearing a light pink tee shirt and gray pants. The fourth woman is facing left. She has on a green headwrap, a teal tee shirt and black shorts. Her shirt is hiked up and her stomach is visible. The fifth woman is facing front. She has a curly short haircut and wearing an orange tee shirt that is raised above her belly, and gray pants. Around her belly are two monitors.

Scholar, educator, and poet LeConté Dill collaborated with two doulas -- anthropologist Dána-Ain Davis and illustrator Cheyenne Varner to share this birth story about obstetric violence and medical racism.

Resources

Doulas & Midwives Can Help Latina Moms Reclaim Ancestral Birthing Practices

A Latina woman doula in a sweater and jeans lifts a pregnant woman's belly with a yellow rebozo, a Mexican garment. The pregnant woman is lying on a blue exercise ball and is wearing a white shirt and jeans.

BIPOC doulas Selena Maldonado and Lydia Harris discuss the benefits for Latine people of having a doula and/or midwife.

Resources

Health Disparities, Advocacy, and the Coronavirus

Health Disparities Advocacy and the Coronavirus scaled jpeg

An audio interview and written transcript with OBOS content expert Sabia Wade about becoming a doula, race and health disparities, advocacy, and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.