Today, reproductive rights are under attack. The Trump administration and Republican lawmakers have proposed legislation to limit full access to family planning, women鈥檚 health and abortion services, birth control, and comprehensive sex education. Individuals are left with fewer choices and less protection toward their bodily autonomy.
In the face of these challenges, people are pushing back. However, not all voices are represented equally in the call for change. The fight for reproductive rights often fails to recognize the ways race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, and geography impact people鈥檚 ability to have 鈥渃hoice.鈥�
In this Let鈥檚 Talk About edition, we provide resources to spark a conversation about reproductive justice, a movement fighting for everyone鈥檚 bodily rights. This topic will encourage students to think about what it means to have 鈥渃hoice鈥� and to say, 鈥淢y body is mine!鈥�
We recognize that talking about reproductive justice with your students may be uncomfortable, not necessarily age-appropriate鈥攁nd may not even be allowed in your building. You know your students and school community best. If you choose to have this discussion, it’s important to provide a safe environment where students can voice their opinions honestly without fear of being judged or silenced. .
How to Use This Collection
Suggested below are steps to a thoughtful and meaningful discussion with your students about reproductive justice. Choose what is appropriate for your class.
1. Students complete a pre-survey. (optional).
2. Choose at least one YES! article and one outside article for a robust compare and contrast.
3. Use the discussion questions鈥攐r craft your own鈥攖o gauge your students鈥� understanding and opinions.
4. Students complete a post-survey. (optional).
5. Explore curriculum if you鈥檇 like to dive deeper.
6. Share Francesca Grossberg’s essay 鈥淢y Potluck, My Choice鈥� with your students to show them another student鈥檚 perspective on the issue of reproductive rights.
Reading Materials
YES! Articles
I Know Why Black Women Are Wary of Reproductive Activism
3 Maps Show Where Legal Abortions Are Hardest to Get鈥攁nd Who Lives There
Where Birth Control Is Scarce, Young Women Create Sex Education Outside the Classroom
Why Childbirth and Abortion Are Not Separate Issues
From IVF to Miscarriages: 5 Ways We Can Talk About Infertility
Outside Article
(SisterSong)
(PBS)
(everyday feminism)
Discussion Questions
1. When we talk about reproductive rights, we often use language of 鈥渃hoice.鈥� Who gets to have reproductive choice in this country? How do a person鈥檚 different identities (race, class, gender, etc.) impact their rights and access to reproductive services?
2. Some people may assume that reproductive justice is solely a women鈥檚 issue. What do you feel is the role of men and gender non-binary people in reproductive justice? How do people of any gender benefit from reproductive justice?
3. Do you feel like you have the ability鈥攁nd the freedom鈥攖o make choices about your body? Explain your answer.
Curriculum
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One Student鈥檚 Perspective
鈥淢y Potluck, My Choice,鈥� by Francesca Grossberg, grade 8, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Bronx, NY.
听Francesca鈥檚 essay was submitted to the fall 2018 YES! National Student Writing Competition, 鈥淔eeding Ourselves, Feeding Our Revolutions.鈥�
