If you really care about If you really care about

Environmental JusticeEnvironmental JusticeThen you should care aboutThen you should care about Reproductive JusticeReproductive Justice

Jill C. Morrison Jill C. Morrison National Women’s Law CenterNational Women’s Law Center

202-588-5180 202-588-5180 ◊◊ jmorrison@nwlc.org jmorrison@nwlc.org ◊◊ www.nwlc.orgwww.nwlc.org

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About this seriesAbout this series Developed to address intersection between Developed to address intersection between

Reproductive Justice and other progressive Reproductive Justice and other progressive issues. issues.

Introduces Reproductive Justice to new Introduces Reproductive Justice to new communities that may only know of communities that may only know of reproductive rights advocacy that focuses on reproductive rights advocacy that focuses on abortion and contraception.abortion and contraception.

Educates on RJ’s three components in a Educates on RJ’s three components in a context with which other progressives are context with which other progressives are familiar.familiar.

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So far includes…So far includes…

Intimate Partner Violence (October 6Intimate Partner Violence (October 6thth)) Race Discrimination (October 13Race Discrimination (October 13thth)) Education (October 20Education (October 20thth)) Environmental Justice (today)Environmental Justice (today)

Please let us know Please let us know

if there are other issues you’d like to if there are other issues you’d like to see explored through an RJ lens!see explored through an RJ lens!

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What is Reproductive Justice?What is Reproductive Justice?

What distinguishes it from the What distinguishes it from the traditional reproductive rights traditional reproductive rights movement?movement?

What are its components?What are its components?

How does it relate to social justice How does it relate to social justice movements generally?movements generally?

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The Reproductive Justice The Reproductive Justice Movement was Created as a Movement was Created as a Response to Movements that Response to Movements that Failed to Support Women’s Failed to Support Women’s

Decisions to Bear and Raise Decisions to Bear and Raise Children Children

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What distinguishes RJ from the What distinguishes RJ from the traditional reproductive rights movement?traditional reproductive rights movement?

The traditional reproductive rights frame The traditional reproductive rights frame focuses on liberty, autonomy and equality, focuses on liberty, autonomy and equality, while the Reproductive Justice (RJ) while the Reproductive Justice (RJ) movement places reproductive health and movement places reproductive health and rights within a social justice framework. rights within a social justice framework.

RJ acknowledges that each person’s ability RJ acknowledges that each person’s ability to effectuate their rights is uniquely to effectuate their rights is uniquely shaped by social injustices including: shaped by social injustices including: poverty, racism, sexism and gender poverty, racism, sexism and gender identity discrimination, heterosexism, identity discrimination, heterosexism, language discrimination and disablism. language discrimination and disablism.

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What are the components of What are the components of Reproductive Justice?Reproductive Justice?

The right of individuals to: The right of individuals to: have the children they want have the children they want raise the children they have, and raise the children they have, and plan their families through safe, plan their families through safe,

legal access to abortion and legal access to abortion and contraceptioncontraception

http://www.sistersong.net/documents/ACRJ_Reproductive_Justice_Paper.pdfhttp://www.sistersong.net/documents/ACRJ_Reproductive_Justice_Paper.pdf

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How does Reproductive Justice relate How does Reproductive Justice relate to social justice movements generally?to social justice movements generally?

Reproductive Justice requires that all people Reproductive Justice requires that all people have the resources, as well as the economic, have the resources, as well as the economic, social, and political power to make healthy social, and political power to make healthy decisions about their bodies, sexuality, and decisions about their bodies, sexuality, and reproduction.reproduction.

The goal is not governmental non-The goal is not governmental non-interference in reproductive decision-interference in reproductive decision-making. To the contrary, the government making. To the contrary, the government plays a key role in remedying social plays a key role in remedying social inequalities that contribute to reproductive inequalities that contribute to reproductive oppression.oppression.

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The origins of Environmental The origins of Environmental Justice and Reproductive JusticeJustice and Reproductive Justice

Both are responses to movements that Both are responses to movements that presumed everyone shares the same presumed everyone shares the same goals, concerns and opportunities.goals, concerns and opportunities.

Both look to address basic structural Both look to address basic structural inequalities while addressing the specific inequalities while addressing the specific form that oppression takes.form that oppression takes.

Both recognize historical context, namely Both recognize historical context, namely all of the –isms that contributed to current all of the –isms that contributed to current status of the environment and status of the environment and reproductive health of certain reproductive health of certain communities. communities.

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Traditional Environmental Rights Rhetoric Traditional Environmental Rights Rhetoric Contributes to Reproductive OppressionContributes to Reproductive Oppression

MYTH: Population Control and MYTH: Population Control and restrictions on immigration are restrictions on immigration are necessary because there are not necessary because there are not enough resources to support births enough resources to support births by women in developing nations.by women in developing nations.

FACT: Industrialized nations have FACT: Industrialized nations have done more to degrade the planet done more to degrade the planet than developing nations.than developing nations.

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Reproductive Oppression is seen as a Reproductive Oppression is seen as a solution to environmental problemssolution to environmental problems

MYTH: There is no need to ban toxic MYTH: There is no need to ban toxic chemicals from work environments; just chemicals from work environments; just ban women of reproductive age.ban women of reproductive age.

FACT: FACT: No one should be exposed to toxic substances No one should be exposed to toxic substances

in order to make a living.in order to make a living. Low-income workers, women and people of Low-income workers, women and people of

color are more likely to be in toxic work color are more likely to be in toxic work environments. environments.

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Environmental Problems are used as Environmental Problems are used as an excuse for Reproductive an excuse for Reproductive

OppressionOppression

MYTH: Birth Control is destroying the MYTH: Birth Control is destroying the Environment, because hormones Environment, because hormones from oral contraceptives end up in from oral contraceptives end up in the water supply.the water supply.

FACT: Industrialized farming FACT: Industrialized farming practices are the primary contributor practices are the primary contributor to hormones in water in soil.to hormones in water in soil.

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Attempts to Divide Progressive Attempts to Divide Progressive Movements Movements

MYTH: You cannot acknowledge that MYTH: You cannot acknowledge that the environment has an impact on the environment has an impact on pregnant women without giving the pregnant women without giving the fetus rights. fetus rights.

FACT: Reproductive Justice supports FACT: Reproductive Justice supports families’ efforts to have and raise families’ efforts to have and raise healthy children.healthy children.

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How You Can Support Environmental Justice and Reproductive Justice

Recognize women and children suffer unique effects of environmental hazards and advocate for policies that improve reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes.

Support the right of all parents to raise their children in healthy environments by advocating for the equitable distribution of green space, walking and biking trails, and playgrounds in low-income communities.

Urge regulatory protections and safer labor practices for those exposed to toxic chemicals in industries dominated by low-income workers and Women of Color. Protections ought to increase awareness of potential harms and inform workers of their rights without promoting employment discrimination against pregnant, potentially pregnant, or nursing women.

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Ways to support both EJ and RJWays to support both EJ and RJ Increase access to safe and affordable

contraceptives and abortion and oppose coercive solutions to environmental problems that limit reproductive autonomy, such as employment policies that require workers to prove they are infertile in order to work with substances that cause birth defects.

Encourage agencies, such as the EPA, FDA, and OSHA, to pass and enforce regulations requiring industries using or producing chemicals to regularly test, report on, and reduce the toxicity of their products.

Dismantle or repeal existing regulations that place the burden of harmful environmental exposures on poor communities and Communities of Color.

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Politics, Fertility and Politics, Fertility and Toxic ChemicalsToxic Chemicals

Kimberly Inez McGuireReproductive Health Technologies Project

October 27, 2010

Advocacy at the Advocacy at the intersection of intersection of reproductive and reproductive and environmental justiceenvironmental justice

Poll: Which products have you used/handled in the last

24 hours? Check all that apply.o Credit card receipto Cell phoneo Non-stick frying pano Canned foodo Shampoo/body wash/perfume from major

national brand

Reproductive Health Technologies Project (RHTP) at-a-Glance

The decision NOT to be pregnant

Prevention

Treatment & Care

REPRODUCTIVE & ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

CONTRACEPTION

ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

ABORTION

The decision

to be pregnant

Common interests, shared approaches

Reproductive Justice: will be achieved only when all people have the economic, social, and political power to make healthy decisions about their bodies, sexuality, and reproduction

Environmental Justice: seeks to reduce the inequitable environmental burdens born by People of Color, women, indigenous communities and those living in economically disadvantaged areas or developing nations.

Issues

~ Climate change

~ Air quality

~ Water quality

~ Safe workplaces

~ Toxic chemical exposure

Wedge Issues

“Population” is not the problem…

…and neither is birth control.

Over 80,000 chemicals in commerce

Most have never been tested for safety

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)• Trick your body into

thinking they’re hormones• Disrupt natural processes

related to sexual and reproductive function

• Low doses can have big effects

• Exposures in utero can have lifelong impact

• EDCs are everywhere!

Notorious B.P.A.

Case Study: Mossville, LA• “Hot spots” = communities overburdened with more than

their "fair" share of environmental contamination– Effects on reproductive health can be devastating, and persist across

generations.– Facilities are overwhelmingly concentrated in communities of color,

low-income communities, and indigenous communities.• Mossville, Louisiana

– Predominantly African-American community– 400 households, 14 industrial facilities, 4 million pounds of toxic

chemicals annually– Largest concentration of vinyl plastic manufacturers in U.S.– Coal-fired power plant, oil refineries, and other chemical production

facilities– Elevated levels of cancer-causing and endocrine-disrupting chemicals

in their bodies, including levels of dioxin at 3 times the national average. Residents also report high rates of reproductive and other chronic and acute health problems

How Did We Get Here?

Chemical companies keep making toxic products… and we keep buying them.

How Did We Get Here? The laws that regulate toxic chemicals are outdated and ineffective

• Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)– Regulates: consumer products– Passed: 1976– Flaws: no safety testing, little

authority to regulate• Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act

– Regulates: personal care products– Passed: 1938– Flaws: no testing, no recalls,

incomplete labeling

TSCA

How Did We Get Here?

What Can I Do?

Learn MoreLearn More

ProtectYour Health

ProtectYour Health

TakeAction!

TakeAction!

Protect your health• Be careful with plastics

– Store food in glass, keep plastics out of the microwave

• Switch to non-toxic cleaners– Women’s Voices for the Earth:

www.womenandenvironment.org/greenclean

• Find safer personal care products– EWG Cosmetics Safety Database:

www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

It’s hard to know what’s safe.

Stop Toxic Chemicals at the Source• Raise awareness - sponsor a screening

– “Story of Cosmetics” viewing party: http://safecosmetics.org/downloads/Story-of-Cosmetics-viewingparty.pdf

– “Living Downstream” documentary screening: http://www.livingdownstream.com/screenings_and_events.php

• Support Federal Legislation– Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families (TSCA): http://www.saferchemicals.org/– The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: www.safecosmetics.org/

Ask your representative to co-sponsor chemical policy reform!• Link up with groups in your state

– State Activities: Safer States www.saferstates.com • Talk to RHJ advocates at conferences, events,

meetings, etc.

Questions? Kimberly Inez McGuire

Senior Associate for Programs and Policy, Reproductive Health Technologies Project, kimcguire@rhtp.orgContact RHTP for more information & ideas.

Follow RHTP on Twitter!twitter.com/RHTPorg