Reproductive Justice and New Jersey

This blog will focus on reproductive justice issues in the state of New Jersey, and beyond. The term reproductive justice was coined by women of color, specifically the amazing women from SisterSong. The term is meant to be an expansion of the reproductive rights paradigm which focuses on the issues of birth control and abortion rights.
Reproductive Justice uses the experiences of women of color as the point of entry to discuss issues of reproductive rights and health. This shift in center more clearly puts into focus the ways that the interrelated systems of race, class, gender, and sexual orientation work to limit women's ability to gain and maintain control of their reproductive lives.
The reproductive justice framework facilitates a more nuanced discussion of issues such as access to abortion, health care, birthing, the right to reproductive health, eugenics, population control, and the many reproductive technologies that exist. I have great respect for the women who claimed the term Reproductive Justice and use it with care, especially as a white woman who has worked hard to understand the ways white privilege has affected her life and choices.

I look forward to an open dialogue about important issues in our community, and welcome comments both critical and affirming.


Friday, July 23, 2010

Things to look out for

There is so much  happening on both the local and national stage that will impact all of our reproductive rights for years to come. The two issues below will give you a taste of the topics that will be covered in this blog. Comments and suggestions welcome. 




New Jersey
Bill ACR76 proposes an amendment to the Constitution to prohibit use of State funds for abortions, except under certain circumstances. 


This bill is the New Jersey version of the federal Hyde Ammendment which bans federal funding to be used for abortions excluding cases of rape and incest and cases where the mother's life is in danger. (Have any of you thought about how HARD it is to prove that someone has been raped in a court of law...this ruling would also have to happen in enough time for the abortion procedure to be performed... but I digress.). 


ACR76 would reverse the NJ supreme courts interpretation that the state constitution guarantees broad and independent protection for reproductive choice.  Under this interpretation the Supreme Court has ordered nondiscriminatory public funding of abortion. Thirteen other states have such rulings (AK, AZ, CA, CT, IL, MA, MN, MT, NJ, NM, OR, VT, and WV) and four states offer this guarantee voluntarily (HI, MD, NY,and WA).


We know that the Hyde Amendment has affected women of color and poor women disproportionately, essentially making safe, legal abortions inaccessible--New Jersey should remain an exception, and a safe haven state for reproductive care. 


Nationally



The Blanket Abortion Coverage Prohibition:

The Affordable Care Act creates new insurance plans that will provide coverage for people with pre-
existing conditions who have been denied insurance and remained uninsured for six months.

This act is an important step to provide health insurance coverage for people who most need health care, those who are already diagnosed with a condition. The plans will be paid for with monthly premiums from individuals and federal funds. The rejected Stupak Amendment has been applied to these health insurance plans through the Blanket Abortion Coverage Prohibition, which denies women coverage for abortion care, even when using private funds from their premiums. 

Women with pre-existing conditions may be women who have a greater need for abortions due to their pre-existing conditions.  Why would a health insurance plan for those who are sick effectively eliminate a woman's choice to terminate a pregnancy?

The move to block abortion coverage in the new health care reform acts is a political move that makes health reform palatable to conservative politicians. The irony is that health care reform is intended to increase access, yet it is making abortion harder to obtain--- especially for poor women. 

Legislating abortion out of health care also removes abortion from what we consider acceptable care. Abortion is a medical procedure, about which decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor. Isn't that what health care reform is all about? Giving patients access to doctors so they can make health care decisions together?
Posted by Mandy Restivo at 6:41 PM

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