Choice of a Lifetime: Disability, Feminism, and Reproductive Rights

Human rights and reproductive choice.

A central challenge in developing reproductive health strategies is giving real meaning to the right of couples and individuals to determine, freely and responsibly, the number and spacing of their children. This article places the right of reproductive choice in legal and historical contexts, highlights salient issues that arise in trying to formulate international standards for its enforcemen...

Symposium: A Broader Vision of the Reproductive Rights Movement: Fusing Mainstream and Latina Feminism

Breastfeeding and feminism: A focus on reproductive health, rights and justice

The annual Breastfeeding and Feminism Symposia aim to reposition breastfeeding as a valued part of women's (re)productive lives and rights. The symposia are designed to raise the profile of breastfeeding within the women's advocacy and feminist studies' communities, and to increase recognition among breastfeeding supporters that breastfeeding promotion could receive more socio-political support...

The paradox of disability in abortion debates: bringing the pro-choice and disability rights communities together.

There is an unfortunate paradox that arises when proand anti-choice advocates talk about disabilities such as Down syndrome or spina bifida. The paradox works this way: On one hand, reproductive rights proponents can portray disability as a tragic state that justifies abortion—even for wanted pregnancies. At the same time, anti-choice advocates proclaim their value for all life, including indiv...

Feminism, Abortion and Disability: irreconcilable differences?

There has been considerable discussion of the political allegiance between the feminist and disability movements, but the question of abortion remains a thorny one. Disability rights advocates have been keen to demonstrate that it is possible to believe in a woman's right to sovereignty over the body and, yet, be opposed to the selective abortion of an impaired foetus – describing the latter as...