Social Work and Reproductive Justice

Abstract Reproductive justice (RJ) is an intersectional social justice movement birthed by Black feminist thought. It is undergirded by the right to sexual, bodily, and gender autonomy and has three core tenets: 1) the right to have a child, 2) the right to not have a child, and 3) the right to parent in safe and sustainable communities. A movement that acknowledges the White supremacist policing of childbearing and raising of minoritized groups, RJ seeks to uplift and amplify the voices of folks on the margins and empower them to make the best reproductive choices for themselves and their families. RJ’s emphasis on sexual and gender autonomy, self-determination, community building, and advocacy aligns beautifully with social work theory, education, practice, and macro-level work. Social Work and Reproductive Justice: A Necessary Fit is the first book of its kind to directly align RJ and social work through illustration of how the three main tenets can inform and infuse into social work practice and empower social workers to engage with all levels of the profession from an RJ perspective. Written by interdisciplinary authors of diverse identities, chapters provide a comprehensive and necessary education for social workers on areas embedded in the three main tenets, including obstetric racism, fertility access; maternal-fetal surgery; incarceration; abortion; the Dobbs decision; environmental justice; and resources for schools. At the end of each chapter, “Voices from the Field” introduces readers to individuals on the ground engaged in RJ work.