New Books Network Abortion and Reproductive Justice: An Essential Guide for Resistance
Jan 22, 2026
Dr. Marlene Gerber Fried, a legal scholar and advocate for reproductive rights, joins Dr. Loretta J. Ross, a human rights activist and co-creator of the reproductive justice framework. They discuss the urgent need for a broader understanding of reproductive justice beyond mere choice, emphasizing rights to have, not have, and raise children. The conversation weaves through historical oppression, the impact of the Hyde Amendment, and contemporary challenges in detention systems. They inspire resistance and highlight the importance of integrating social justice into the reproductive rights movement.
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Reproductive Justice Reframes Abortion
- Reproductive justice reframes abortion beyond individual choice to include race, class, and systemic constraints.
- Marlene Gerber Fried argues this broader lens is essential to understand who actually accesses reproductive care.
Catholic Mother Who Feared Moral Condemnation
- A Catholic mother called fearing her daughter would 'go to hell' if she sought an abortion and didn't know where to turn.
- Marlene listened, validated her care as a mother, and helped connect her to needed services.
Origins And Flexibility Of The Framework
- Reproductive justice began in 1994 when 12 Black women connected reproductive rights with social justice and coined the term.
- Loretta J. Ross emphasizes the framework's adaptability to distinct communities' needs and histories.
