Proposed CSAI—Reproductive Justice: Expanding Our Social Justice Calling
Issue
Reproductive rights and health services are seriously under attack nationally. Reproductive Justice represents a broader analysis of racial, economic, cultural, and structural constraints on women’s power. The right to have children, to not have children, and to parent children in safe and healthy environments is a human right.
Grounding in Unitarian Universalism
Unitarian Universalist's (UU’s) have been on the frontline of women’s reproductive rights and anti-racist work for decades. The commitment to reproductive justice would reenergize that commitment, and pay attention to the important intersections of race, class and gender. This work would be informed by the feminist theologians, reproductive justice advocates, and UU’s in the movement.
Topics for Congregational Study
- Why is focusing on individual choice inadequate?
- What is reproductive justice?
- How do power structures limit individuals’ access to reproductive justice?
- What are the choices in birth?
- What moral questions does reproductive technology create?
- How does sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse contribute to unintended pregnancies later in life?
- How can eliminating racism, classism and sexism reduce the need for abortion and enable families to care for the children they do have?
- How are pregnant women who use drugs stigmatized and what are the real dangers and solutions?
- How can transgendered individuals maintain their reproductive rights?
- How do economic justice and reproductive justice intersect?
Possible Congregational/District Actions
- Form a Reproductive Justice Committee
- Join Sister Song as an ally member.
- Invite SisterSong to conduct reproductive justice training.
- Educate congregation on reproductive justice, choices in birth and other relevant issues, including presenting a lay service on reproductive justice.
- Show films about reproductive justice.
- Present a reproductive justice workshop at district meetings.
- Advocate for legislative positions that foster reproductive justice.
- Give money to organizations that help women fund abortions.
- Create interfaith networks and committees.
Related Prior Social Witness Statements
- Reform of Abortion Statutes—1963 General Resolution
- Abortion—1968 General Resolution
- Abortion—1973 General Resolution
- Unitarian Universalist Statement On Survival And Population Control—1970 General Resolution
- For The Right To Abortion—1975 General Resolution
- Abortion: Right To Choose—1978 General Resolution
- A Religious Statement On Abortion: A Call To Commitment—1980 General Resolution
- Resolution On Abortion Clinic Bombings—1985 Business Resolution
- Right To Choose—1987 General Resolution
- Federal Legislation For Choice—1993 General Resolution
Additional Information
Online Resources:
- What is Reproductive Justice? (YouTube)
- Loretta Ross of SisterSong on "Reproductive Justice 101" Part 1 & Part 2 (YouTube)
- Lucy Felix, Migrant Health Promotion (YouTube)
- A Different Vision for the Reproductive Justice Movement: LUZ Reproductive (YouTube)
- Speak Justice! (YouTube)
- Reproductive Justice Briefing Book: A Primer on Reproductive Justice and Social Change (PDF)
- Reclaiming Choice: Broadening the Movement (PDF)
- Three Applications of the Reproductive Justice (PDF)
- Important Reproductive Rights Supreme Court Decisions
Organizations
- SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective
- National Advocates for Pregnant Women
- National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
- Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Bibliography
- Baumgardner, Jennifer. Abortion & Life. New York, NY: Akashic Books, 2008
- Bender, Karen E. and Nina de Gramont, ed. Choice: True Stories of Birth, Contraception, Infertility, Adoption, Single Parenthood, & Abortion . San Francisco, CA:MacAdams/Cage, 2007
- Murphy, Sheigla and Marsh Rosenbaum. Pregnant Women on Drugs: Combating Stereotypes and Stigma. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1999
- Roberts, Dorothy. Killing the Black Body. New York: Vintage Books, 1997
- Silliman, Jael, et al. Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organize for Reproductive Justice. Cambridge: South End Press, 2004
- Wicklund, Susan with Alan Kesselheim. This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor. New York: Public Affairs, A member of Perseus Book Groups, 2007
Films
Congregational Support
Certifying Congregation
Endorsing Congregations
- First Unitarian Society of Denver
- Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair
- Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers
For more information contact socialwitness @ uua.org.
This work is made possible by the generosity of individual donors and congregations. Please consider making a donation today.
Last updated on Friday, November 18, 2011.
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