The current attacks on DEI are a setback to improving Black maternal health; however, Black maternal health must remain central in all efforts to improve U.S. maternal health and be a named priority within our legislative agendas.
Data Erasure: An Attack on Women’s Health
Women are being eliminated from data collection and reporting. From government website scrubs to the dismantling of maternal mortality review committees, our voices and experiences are being systematically erased. These actions suppress critical health information, opening the door for more extreme policies and making it harder to demonstrate the harms and hold policymakers accountable.
Miles, Mountains, and Barriers: Reproductive Health Crisis in Appalachia
Rural women face major barriers to reproductive care that have only been exacerbated post-Dobbs. Distance, cost, stigma, and systemic inequities limit access. Policy change is crucial to protect access and support rural communities in need.
Pronatalism on Trial: Analyzing the Amended Complaint in the Lawsuit Against Mifepristone
This blog post explains new pronatalist arguments in the lawsuit filed by three states that challenges the FDA approval of mifepristone.
Overburdened and Underserved: How Rural Women Fall through the Cracks
Women in rural areas face numerous barriers to equitable and comprehensive care. A combination of geographic isolation, economic barriers and systemic neglect means that care is difficult to afford and nearly impossible to access, having tangible consequences for the health of rural women.
More Than a Plus: The Vital Role of Nonbinary Voices in Reproductive Rights
Recently, the use of “Women’s+” has become increasingly common in activist spaces. In advocacy and health care spaces, terms like ‘women+’ or ‘non-men’ are often used to be more inclusive. While these terms intend solidarity, they can be imperfect solutions that also unintentionally limit or erase nonbinary identities.
More than 11 million women gained reproductive rights protections in state ballot initiatives
Voters chose to strengthen legal protections for reproductive rights and access in seven states, including two states – Missouri and Arizona – that had an abortion ban in place. American Indian and Alaska Native women particularly saw gains.
ThxBirthControl: Shout Out to Our IUDs
Recently on Tik Tok, a growing number of mostly women have gone viral for documenting their Intrauterine device (IUD) insertion procedure. In many of these videos, the person getting the IUD shares their experience on the exam table screaming and crying, subsequently...
Abortion Exceptionalism: How the New Louisiana Law Classifying Medication Abortion as a “Controlled Substance” Compromises Health Care
Abortion exceptionalism is the singling out of abortion care for special treatment or regulation. Although Roe originally established abortion as a fundamental right, abortion has been severely restricted and stigmatized by government policy including Louisiana’s recent scheduling of medication abortion pills.
Miscarriage Care Is Abortion Care Is Health Care
I knew the saying “abortion is healthcare.” But it didn’t really hit me until that exact moment that my intellectual knowledge, passion for reproductive rights, and lived experience came together. Abortion IS healthcare! It was the healthcare I needed to protect my health, and it was a procedure that I needed to have in order to try to get pregnant again.
The Reproductive Injustices Faced by Undocumented Latinas l #LatineHeritageMonth
National Latine Heritage Month is a time to honor the rich history and contributions of Latine people. For me, it represents not only a celebration of our shared heritage, but also a time of reflection and a reminder of our ongoing fight for justice. Undocumented Latine women are our present and future, and their reproductive health must be a priority—this month and every day.
Digital Surveillance Supercharges Abortion Criminalization. Closing the Data Broker Loophole Is Urgent
In the wake of the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, millions are living under the specter of surveillance and criminalization for seeking, assisting with, or providing abortion care. The dangers that electronic surveillance poses to reproductive health privacy are daunting.
We Must Fight Back Against the Supreme Court’s Attacks on Women’s Equality
August 26 marks Women’s Equality Day. It’s a reminder that the founding promise of equality in our Constitution was not always available to everyone — and that women have had to fight to be treated as equals to men.
The Supreme Court’s EMTALA Dismissal Means More Chaos
In not actually ruling on the question of whether EMTALA preempts state abortion bans, the Court left in place the uncertainty around whether and when providers in states with abortion bans are allowed to provide care to pregnant people experiencing medical emergencies.
Our bodies. Our voices. Our votes.
As we prepare to mark the 248th anniversary of our nation’s founding, we are increasingly reminded that our democracy has always been a work in progress – and that the progress we have achieved has never been easy or conflict-free.
2 Years Later: The Ripple Effect of Dobbs on Young Health Professionals
As I look forward to my next steps post-grad, I find myself facing challenges along with many young health professionals like myself. I am especially impacted by the consequences of Dobbs as a Afro Latina woman and a young health professional.
What Disability Reproductive Equity Day Means to Me
Today, we observe the first ever Disability Reproductive Equity Day. Disability Economic Justice Counsel Marissa Ditkowsky, who identifies as a multiply-disabled woman, talks about her personal experiences and why this day is so important to her.
First Over-The-Counter Oral Contraceptive Rolls Out With Help From WNBA
Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese… and Opill! As the WNBA gets underway, there’s so much to be excited about but did you know how the League is bringing its power to the fight to protect access to contraception?
Lawsuits Seek to Weaken Protections for Abortion Access in Emergencies
Enacted by Congress in 1986, EMTALA requires U.S. hospitals that receive Medicare funding to give “necessary stabilizing treatment” to people in emergencies, regardless of their ability to pay or whether or not they have insurance.
Women’s History Unsung Hero: Celebrating the Advocacy of Florynce Kennedy
To commemorate Women’s History Month, Hodan Deria, 2024 Spring DEIA Intern highlights Florynce “Flo” Kennedy for her life-long dedication to advocacy. Through her activism for civil rights, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights, Kennedy’s legacy continues to inspire and inform discussions on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
