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Reproductive Justice vs. Reproductive Rights

As we launch our exciting new initiative, the Reproductive Justice Project Committee, it’s

important to first understand what reproductive justice means and how it differs from

reproductive rights. While the two concepts are deeply interconnected, they are not

interchangeable.

Reproductive justice is a movement that originated within the Black community in 1994. It was

coined by a group of Black women who recognized that mainstream reproductive rights

advocacy often failed to address the layered realities of race, gender, class, and sexuality.

According to SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, reproductive justice

is “the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and

parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.” This framework goes beyond

the legal right to abortion. It demands an intersectional analysis of the power structures such as

systemic racism, class inequality, and gender-based discrimination that prevent many people

from accessing the resources they need to make autonomous reproductive choices.

SisterSong and similar organizations focus not only on abortion access but also on issues such

as alternative birthing options, STI prevention and treatment, access to contraception, and

support for survivors of domestic violence. Reproductive justice centres the lived experiences of

people who are often marginalized, specifically women of colour and 2SLGBTQQIA individuals,

and aims to dismantle the systemic barriers that prevent full reproductive freedom.

In contrast, reproductive rights typically refer to the legal protections and policies that guarantee

an individual’s ability to make decisions about their reproductive health (such as the right to

access abortion or contraception). While this legal framework is essential, it often assumes a

level playing field, failing to account for the systemic inequities that make these rights

inaccessible to many.

For instance, although abortion has been legal in Canada since 1988, access to abortion and

other reproductive healthcare services remains unequal. Barriers still exist, especially for

marginalized populations. These include:

● Poverty and economic inequality

● Inadequate or inaccessible sex education

● A shortage of abortion providers

● Limited access to contraception and STI treatment

● Systemic bias and cultural stigma


These social and structural obstacles mean that the legal right to reproductive healthcare does

not guarantee equitable access for racialized, low-income, Indigenous, and gender-diverse

communities.


So, what’s being done?

A number of organizations are taking meaningful action to bridge the gap between legal rights

and lived realities.

● Canadian Women’s Foundation and Global Fund for Women are providing education,

raising awareness, and funding initiatives that support reproductive justice for

marginalized groups.

● Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights advocates for a deeper understanding of

why legal rights alone are not enough. In their podcast “All Right, Now What?”, Meghan

Doherty, Director of Global Policy & Advocacy, emphasizes the need to investigate why

certain populations in Canada still lack access to abortion, even though it is considered a

health service.

● LEAF (Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund) has published comprehensive

pieces on reproductive justice and continues to fight for inclusive access to sexual and

reproductive healthcare—including birth control, comprehensive sex education, and STI

care. While progress is being made, there is still much work to do.


Concluding Thoughts

Understanding the difference between reproductive justice and reproductive rights is essential.

Achieving true gender equity requires more than securing legal protections, it demands a

transformation of the systems that uphold inequality. A “one-size-fits-all” approach overlooks the

intersecting barriers faced by many, especially women of colour and gender-diverse individuals.

The legal recognition of abortion was a monumental victory, but it should not be the end of the

story. We must continue to advocate for access, not just rights. We must push for systems that

serve everyone, not just those who already have privilege.

As we move forward, let us do so informed, empowered, and committed to achieving

reproductive justice, not just settling for reproductive rights.


Citations:

Choice in Health Clinic Toronto Abortion Clinic. (2021, October 22). Reproductive Justice

and reproductive rights, what’s the difference? Choice in Health Clinic Toronto Abortion Clinic. https://choiceinhealth.ca/blog/reproductive-justice-and-reproductive-rights-whats-

the-difference


Pacia, D. M. (2020, November 30). Reproductive rights vs. Reproductive Justice: Why the

difference matters in bioethics - petrie-flom center. Pretrieflom.law.harvard. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2020/11/03/reproductive-rights-justice-bioethics/

Reproductive justice. Canadian Women’s Foundation. (2022, May 17).


Reproductive Justice is Essential to Gender Justice. Canadian Women’s Foundation.

gender-justice/


Reproductive Justice Project. LEAF. (2025, January 28). https://www.leaf.ca/project/reproductive-justice-project/


SisterSong, Inc. (n.d.). Reproductive Justice. SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive


What is Gender Justice?: The Importance of Gender Justice. Global Fund for Women.

 
 
 

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