Day 20: Reproductive Justice & Systemic Racism
| CHALLENGE | DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 | DAY 6 | DAY 7 | DAY 8 | DAY 9 | DAY 10 | DAY 11 | DAY 12 | DAY 13 | DAY 14 | DAY 15 | DAY 16 | DAY 17 | DAY 18 | DAY 19 | DAY 20 | DAY 21 |
The right to choose whether or not to have children is a racial issue impacted by systems that remove bodily autonomy. The United States has a history of using forced or coerced sterilizations to target diversely abled individuals and people of color. This lingering eugenic practice has continued in our prison systems, impacting Black and Indigenous people incarcerated at largely disproportionate rates.
Pregnant individuals that live in areas with higher police presence, activity, and monitoring are 83% more likely to experience preterm birth. The trauma that comes with high stress police interactions impacts the ability for people of color to carry successful pregnancies to term.
Race and gender-based violence from police and other authority figures contradicts the idea that our communities are safe spaces to raise children. Not only do communities who experience over-policing and discrimination often lose children to this violence, but the youth lose the ability to truly live as children. The trauma of witnessing violence is not isolated to adults; children also experience PTSD symptoms due to police violence. After a child is born, the question stands: Does our community provide a safe and healthy upbringing for children?
To safely have and raise children of color in our country is a reproductive rights issue that intersects with the systemic violence embedded in our culture by white supremacy. Until we are able to invest in our communities in active ways to combat the negative health outcomes of race and gender-based violence, we cannot address reproductive justice and rights.
IF YOU HAVE…
5 Minutes |
and |
10 Minutes |
and |
30 Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
and |  |
and |  |
| WATCH THIS VIDEO
to understand where the term ‘reproductive justice’ came from and how it is impacted by intersectionality. |
and | READ THIS ARTICLE to learn more about the links between reproductive justice and ending police violence. | and | WATCH THIS VIDEO
to learn about barriers to reproductive justice within the criminal justice system. |
REFLECT
Take a moment to reflect today’s challenge and any insights you experienced.
- How did this challenge make you feel?
- What did you learn?
- What did you notice about yourself after taking the challenge?
- Consider sharing this new awareness with a friend or group to help deepen your understanding of the information.
- Continue the conversation online and connect with others by joining our Racial & Social Justice Facebook group.
Let us know why this challenge is important to you by leaving your comment here.
Thank you for joining us in our Stand Against Racism Challenge. Our work continues every weekday from May 2 – May 30. Each day you’ll be offered some content to help you take a deeper dive into the daily topic.
We ask that you undertake this challenge with an open mind and willingness to explore new ideas and allow yourself to sit with any emotions that may come up for you.
This content may be hard to process so consider having a self-care plan in place beforehand. This can include meditation before or after engaging, watching your favorite show, or doing something creative.
We look forward to going on this journey towards true equity and justice with you!
Just joining the SAR Challenge? Register and find the previous days here.
Share each challenge online with #SARChallenge
| CHALLENGE | DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 | DAY 6 | DAY 7 | DAY 8 | DAY 9 | DAY 10 | DAY 11 | DAY 12 | DAY 13 | DAY 14 | DAY 15 | DAY 16 | DAY 17 | DAY 18 | DAY 19 | DAY 20 | DAY 21 |
Image of text on orange background that says, “Invest $21 for 21.”Racial Equity work is consistently underfunded. YWCA needs your help to continue to provide high quality programming like our Stand Against Racism Challenge.
Make a $21 investment in your own anti-racist development and challenge yourself to encourage 21 other people to take the challenge and match your $21 investment.
By: Lara Estaris
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