Reproductive Justice Gains Focus in Health Discourse

- The term "reproductive justice" was coined in 1994 by a group of Black women who called themselves the Women of African Descent for Reproductive Justice. They developed this framework to address the limitations of the "pro-choice" movement, which they felt centered the experiences of white, middle-class women. The framework is built on three core tenets: the right to have a child, the right to not have a child, and the right to parent children in safe and healthy environments. - SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, formed in 1997, is a national organization dedicated to the reproductive justice movement. Comprised of and representing Indigenous, African American/Black, Asian and Pacific Islander, Arab and Middle Eastern, and Latinx women and gender non-conforming people, SisterSong works to eradicate reproductive oppression and secure human rights. - The reproductive justice framework is grounded in a human rights model, as opposed to a privacy or choice-based model. This approach allows for the assertion of not only individual but also collective rights based on shared experiences of oppression. - In 2023, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is significantly higher than the rates for white (14.5), Hispanic (12.4), and Asian (10.7) women. Research conducted before the *Dobbs* Supreme Court decision indicated that states with more restrictive abortion laws already had higher maternal mortality rates. - The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) has a position statement supporting reproductive choices and has a caucus called "Midwives for Reproductive Justice" to align with the broader movement. The organization affirms that everyone has the right to make their own sexual and reproductive health choices. - Recent legislation in Virginia, effective July 1, 2025, aims to address maternity care shortages by allowing nurse-midwives to practice to the full scope of their training, including fulfilling 24-hour duty roster requirements for nursery care if a doctor is unavailable. - In 2024, Virginia passed legislation that provides for the licensure of Certified Midwives (CMs) on par with Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) and establishes Medicaid reimbursement parity for all nationally certified midwives. This makes Virginia the first state to recognize autonomous midwifery practice with 100% fee schedule reimbursement for all nationally certified midwives. - The Supreme Court's 2022 *Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization* decision, which overturned *Roe v. Wade*, eliminated the federal constitutional right to abortion and returned the authority to regulate abortion to individual states. This has led to increased restrictions or bans on abortion in many states, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.