The Intersectionality of Reproductive Justice
A Chat with Imani Oluwafumilayo Maliti
The push for reproductive rights has been an increasingly controversial topic within legislation throughout decades of American history.
Although reproductive rights legislation has been introduced and passed, access and equity remain key components that are missing nationwide. With the election of a new president, many Americans have a hopeful outlook on the future.
When running for office, President Biden stated that science is a key focus of his administration. In comparison, former President Trump implemented legislation that restricted abortion access for many people nationwide. This legislation specifically ostracized people of color, low-income citizens, and young people. The growing COVID-19 pandemic has only increased the disparities within abortion access.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union people of color, specifically, Black people, have an unfair disadvantage when it comes to receiving abortion access. However, many disagree with the idea of abortion access being a human right. Groups such as the Georgia Life Alliance believe that “there is nothing compassionate about ending a human life, no matter the circumstances.”
In recent years, many scientists and activists have noted the importance of expanding the reproductive justice conversation beyond abortion. Inequities can include contraceptives, birth control, sex education and maternal care. Many consider this to be an especially concerning matter when autonomy and maternal health are at stake for millions of people. The urgency felt surrounding this issue has pushed many young people to become involved.
One of those young people is Imani Oluwafumilayo Maliti, junior Mathematics major at Clark Atlanta University. Maliti is a 2021 National fellow for the Reproductive Rights Activist Service Corps (RRASC) Summer Internship Program.
Maliti is one of the many young black women who aligned themselves with the Reproductive Justice Movement as they reached adulthood. When recalling her journey to where she is now she mentions how important education is when discussing the Reproductive Justice Movement.
Maliti says “If you’re sexually active — and even if you’re not — RJ affects you. It does not stop at abortion access. Think about Plan B and how ridiculously expensive it is. Think about the high mortality rates of Black mothers. Think about the weight limits on birth control (and how most doctors won’t tell you that there is such a thing). Think about your school’s sex-ed class.” These are a few of the many movement priorities that are crucial to an unbiased and nonpartisan conversation surrounding reproductive justice.
Although there are a plethora of legislative goals sitting on the desk of the president, Maliti and other organizers stress that this is a time-sensitive matter. Maliti stated that she would “love to see this administration take a firm stance when defending reproductive rights and hold themselves accountable to expanding people’s access to those rights…” What we have is not enough.
It is clear that the disparities affecting COVID-19 treatment access, have simultaneously deepened reproductive health barriers affecting lives nationwide.
