Reproductive Justice and the Role of Birthing Centers

Abstract

Three decades ago, a group of Black women in Chicago attending a pro-choice conference coined the term reproductive justice, defining it as “the complete physical, mental, spiritual, political, social, and economic well-being of women and girls, based on the full achievement and protection of women’s human rights.” This episode of Justice Above All highlights the centrality of birthing centers, which provide historically informed and culturally competent care to Black birthing people, to the realization of reproductive justice. We will discuss a wave of new state-level regulations that are severely impacting the ability of midwives and other birthing center staff to provide their services. We will also explore how these attacks on birthing centers relate to historic efforts to unwind progress towards reproductive justice.

Keywords: reproductive justice, birthing centers, midwifery, hospital discrimination