Reproductive rights and their impact on modern society are definitely a hard point for constant discussions between scientists, sociologists and average families. There is a wide range of books and articles covering this theme. Anna Davis gives us a brief historical overview of the reproductive rights movements that lead our society to the current point. The author put particular attention on birth control and abortion campaigns. Kallianes and Rubenfeld in their article “Disabled Women and Reproductive Rights” touch the subject of disabled women that are excluded from sexual education and then denied in their wish to bear a child: “If all women have the right to choose not to bear a child, then all women must also have the right to choose to bear children” (Kallianes & Rubenfeld, 210). Andrea Smith covers such complex issues as reproductive rights and how they are applicable to Native American women and women of color.
Pro-life vs. pro-choice question is not the only and not the biggest problem of the reproductive justice. There are different issues related to the reproductive rights that remain unsolved like lack of appropriate reproductive health care, contraception and pregnancy information, dangerous contraceptives, prison punishments, different approach to women of color and native women, poor women, inaccessibility of medical abortion that unavoidably leads to self-induced abortion (that causes health implications or death). We should also primal problem as economic, social, political conditions that make a woman face choice between keeping a pregnancy and doing an abortion. It is particularly remarkable that some women are convinced they have not rights at all, let alone reproductive rights. And their claims are rightful: Native American women were subject to sterilization that basically is considered genocide not so long ago, treatment centers refused to take pregnant woman that would show wish to be cured of drug addiction. Of course, there are public originations that are supposed to protect women but somehow they are only quick in giving judgements instead of providing real help to the women in difficult straits.
Apart from those acute challenges there are also stereotypes and double standards to fight. On one hand we observe resentful attitude to women not willing to marry and have children, they are considered rebellious, less women or even deviant because women are expected to become wives and mothers. If women do not yield to such strong social pressure, they can easily become outsiders and be treated as social misfits. On the other hand, there are women who are not able to have children at all, which means they fail to accomplish their natural task. They, however, get some credit of understanding, sympathy and compassion.
Works cited
Davis, A. (2003). Racism, birth control and reproductive rights. In R. Lewis & S. Mills, Feminist Postcolonial Theory (1st ed., p. 353-367). New York: Routledge.
Kallianes, V. & Rubenfeld, P. (1997). Disabled Women and Reproductive Rights. Disability & Society, 12(2), 203-222.
Smith, A. (2005). Beyond Pro-Choice Versus Pro-Life: Women of Color and Reproductive Justice. NWSA Journal, 17(1), 119-140.
