Recap & Resources – February 23
We had a great turn out for our initial meeting. The first 25 people to register received a copy of the book, Reproductive Justice: An Introduction by Loretta J. Ross and Rickie Solinger. The complementary books were purchased at a discount from Brain Lair Books with community donations. Brain Lair Books is a community-centered place in South Bend, IN that uplifts marginalized communities. If you are not familiar with this bookstore gem, I highly recommend you stop in for a visit or browse their selection of books online. A big THANK YOU! to those who donated and coordinated this effort.
Before the meeting started, we heard a brief history about our meeting venue. The Civil Rights Heritage Center, which is a part of Indiana University South Bend, has an interesting history. The building used to be a segregated city swimming pool. Thankfully, IUSB transformed it into an active learning center where community members can explore the civil rights struggles of the past. It is the perfect setting for our group discussions as we lay the groundwork to build a future that includes more reproductive justice.
The History of Reproductive Justice
The meeting started out with a brief video giving an overview of the history of reproductive justice, presented by In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda.
Introductions
Community Conversations on Reproductive Justice
We chose the book Reproductive Justice: An Introduction because it provides a comprehensive overview of the subject and a framework for understanding and mobilizing to advance women’s human rights. Rickie Solinger, a historian and scholar, and Loretta J. Ross, an activist and cocreator of the theory of reproductive justice coauthored the book. Loretta also cofounded SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Collective to build an effective network of individuals and organizations to improve institutional policies and systems that impact the reproductive lives of marginalized communities. SisterSong has taken a leadership role in the national reproductive justice movement.
Setting the Stage
Next, we explored why there is a need for more reproductive justice by looking at national and local data on maternal and child health outcomes and disparities. We touched on some challenges for women of color surrounding reproductive health and additional pressures we are feeling in the current environment.
Data on Maternal and Child Health Outcomes and Disparities
The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is determined by the number of babies who die in the first year of life per 1,000 live births.
The Maternal Mortality Rate is the number of maternal deaths during a given time period per 100,000 live births.
The following reports provide details and comparison data for the U.S., Indiana, and the Northern Hospital District including LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, and Marshall Counties.
- Infant Mortality Rates by State – CDC ranked Indiana 43rd in 2022
- Maternal Morality in Indiana (2022) – IU Public Policy Institute, Indiana has the 3rd highest maternal mortality rate of all reporting states
- Infant Mortality Indiana 2022 by Hospital Region – Indiana Department of Health (IDoH)
- Disparities in Indiana Infant Mortality by Hospital Region 2022 – IDoH, Northern region has highest IMR for Black infants
- March of Dimes 2024 Report Card – United Sates received a preterm birth grade of “D”
- March of Dimes 2024 Report Card – Indiana also received a “D” grade
Challenges for Women of Color
It is important to center the voices and lived experiences of those from marginalized communities, so we took some time to hear from the women of color that were present. One of the main challenges identified was the resistance to discussing reproductive health within faith-based organizations, specifically Black churches.
The topic of reproductive health is linked to sex. Young people are taught abstinence until marriage. There is a fear that any other information or education on the topic might be misconstrued as an affirmation that premarital sex is acceptable. Therefore, people shy away from teaching the subject leaving most women and girls not knowing about their body, their health, and their rights. This ignorance about reproductive health perpetuates harm and disparities within the Black community. The church reduces the thinking to pro-abortion/pro-choice, but Reproductive Justice is much broader and includes all people who can get pregnant and give birth. If this was understood, more women would participate in discussions around reproductive health.
Message from Pete Buttigieg
Next, we watched an interview with Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend and Transportation Secretary. Mayor Pete eloquently shared a message about not being discourage, checking out, or giving up in the face of the current political, socio-economic challenges.
Celebration of Civil Rights Activist – Rosa Parks
Advocating for social justice takes a toll on activists. We recognize the sacrifice that everyday people make to call out injustices and change systems to improve the lives of future generations. It is important to uplift one another and maintain a positive spirit, so we ended the gathering by celebrating the life of Civil Rights Activist, Rosa Parks. She serves as a role model demonstrating how the choices and actions of one person in the right place at the right time can be the spark that ignites a movement.
The evening with cake and conversation!
Upcoming Meetings – 2025
- March 23rd, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. (Chapters 1 & 2)
- April 27th, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. (Chapters 3 & 4)
- May 18th, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. (Epilogue and Next Steps)
Location: Civil Rights Heritage Center, 1040 Washington St., South Bend, IN
Resources
Below is a Reading Guide for Chapters 1 and 2.