Paper Example on Reproductive Justice and How it Affects Women's Lives

Introduction

Reproductive justice can be defined as a complete well-being of women and girls depending on their social, mental, spiritual, physical and economic standard based on their full protection and achievement with the society according to their fundamental human rights. (Shuyler, 2018). For them, reproductive politics was not about their choices but about stable justice. Due to this, the reproductive justice concept was initiated by activist women of color in sister song. Reproductive justice is a concept that connects social justice and reproductive justice. Reproductive justice has had far and outreaching consequences on women's lives. (Van Alphen, 2015).It has had an impact on their lives through the different concrete ways

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Reproductive justice has created a platform to access to birth control (Surfin, 2009). It has increased public awareness of methods of contraception such the emergency contraception forms and other methods of family planning. From the study results conducted in San Francisco on women aged 18-44, it was revealed that a period of about 24hrs, 29% of them were vulnerable to the usage of emergency contraception. (Van Alphen, 2015). The reproductive justice movement looks forward to decreasing the number of unwanted pregnancies which was rampant and disastrous as the main objective of providing knowledge and access to contraception. Moreover, this would greatly assist women to take care of their bodies.

Birth control has been made more affordable for all women due to the effort strike by the reproductive justice (Ross et al., 2016). The reproductive justice has been on the move to ensure that various insurance companies are involved in meeting the costs of women's reproductive health. Family planning programs have been supported by reproductive justice which was enacted to provide those with a low-income affordable reproductive health services. (Surfin, 2009). This has resulted in individuals accessing better health care and make wise decisions on matters related to family planning.

Over and above, the platform to access abortion services if required without restrictive barriers have been advocated for by reproductive justice such as sister song. (Ross et al., 2016) It is advisable that when the health of the mother is at risk, it is important to get affordable and safer abortion to save the life of the mother. Various organizations that promote reproductive justice have been championing for the training of physicians in order for them to acquire quality skills to provide safe abortion and creating awareness about abortion. (Van Alphen, 2015). Therefore, such great efforts enhanced by the reproductive justice movement has curbed the high number of deaths of women at risk of losing their lives due to the complication of pregnancy.

The Institutionalized Power Dynamics that Affect and Limit Women's Access to Reproductive Choice

Different groups and organizations have tried their best to enforce reproductive justice. However, it has not been a bed of roses. A number of women have been limited to access to reproductive choices by institutionalized power dynamics.

Women are normally forced into engaging in prostitution. Especially in the US, trafficking of sex combined with forced prostitution is a large economic industry for most of the people. (Van Alphen, 2015). Due to the profitability resulting from the industry and the low risk of being prosecuted due to weak regulations against trafficking, it has really grown in the recent years. From the economic analysis of the Thai economy, it a realized that close to $3 billion is earned from the trafficking annually. More so, the earnings in the US from the same women trafficking that is estimated at about $60 million annually. Therefore, this economic benefits derived from such practices have made prostitution be seen as a good practice rather than a vice in the society that needs to be dealt with.

Family planning has also been used by various governments including the US government in controlling women rather than empowering them. (Van Alphen, 2015).Women have been disregarded and often used as objects and not subjects as far as policymakers are concerned. The societal attitude of viewing women as means and not ends, women have been neglected as necessary health needs in the reproductive process have been denied.

How the Limited Access to Reproductive Freedom Reflect Women's Lower Status and Power

Reproductive freedom and rights have been under attack for decades. As a result of this, women have been lowly regarded in the society as fragile objects. (Van Alphen, 2015).Women have been subjected to gender discrimination in that most of them have been denied leadership positions. For example, some females often face discrimination when applying for leadership positions in churches hence the decline in their participation. The societal attitude that a woman cannot lead has discouraged most women from taking part in leadership activities.

The practice of Female Genital mutilation has been rooted in lack of reproductive freedom. (Surfin, 2009).This has been a menace that is rooted in gender inequality. The rights of some young girls are violated and forced to undergo this practice at a young age. In addition, these young girls are forced to drop out of school due to the complications of FGM thus derailing their education The psychological stress of the procedure may stimulate behavioral disturbances in children. (Van Alphen, 2015). During the long-term, women may undergo feelings of anxiety and depression. Furthermore, long-term effects comprise of hemorrhage and infection which can be severe leading to death.

In most countries including the US, the lack of access to reproductive freedom is a major factor that affects the economic prosperity of women. (Van Alphen, 2015). This is because it was acknowledged that typical woman working full time is paid 20% less than a typical man working for the same duration. Women lower status in the society has also been witnessed in the previous years since they are denied the opportunity to take part in decision making.

Limited access to reproductive freedom has resulted in stigmatization and affiliation among the women. (Van Alphen, 2015).Some women who have opted to stand firm with their reproductive freedom have been positioned as a latent source of taboo in the society. They are looked down upon by the society and highly disrespected. This has made women lack the self-esteem and the self-confidence among them. Sadly, enough some of these women are chased away by their own families and abduction.

The Ways that Feminists have Created Social Change

For the longest time in history women have been recognized as pale reflections of males, characterized trough viewed differences from men and subordinated as a result of them. Women have been cast as lesser beings who are mostly associated with the "kitchen". In the midst of such challenges some women have enacted resilience and portrayed viable social change. They have adopted a stoic attitude and have acted as active agents of social change. The feminist movement has effected change through various ways despite the resistance faced.

The Women's Liberation Movement was on the forefront in advocating for the rights of women from the 1960's. (Van Alphen, 2015).The women's right comprised of the same remunerations as men, having equity in terms of the rights of the law and the freedom to have family planning as they wish. Their efforts were met with resistance from different organizational groups since women were considered as the object of oppression and torture. Challenging the prior stereotype that girls wanted to engage in sexual activities even when they were young, feminists worked hard to protect girls and women from sexual assault. In the U.S, The National Organization of Women was established with the aim of enhancing equality for all women it was faced with critics. Nonetheless, various laws fighting for women rights were formed. (Surfin, 2009).

Feminist have developed viable social change through the introduction of education to women. (Surfin, 2009). Availability of education facilities to the female character has empowered as an able character. It is highly believed that education for girls and women is the most effective way to improve economic development to poor society and individual families. As it is said mothers are like buttons they hold everything together.

Over and above, the feminist leadership does not only account for the leadership roles but also involved in the promotion of women leaders that has feminist values and ideology to advance in social justice (Pearlman et al., 2017). The number of women in leadership has significantly increased due to feminists who have campaigned for this change. Most women who seek power in male-dominated political systems benefited from feminist movements that advocated for more women in leadership. (Surfin, 2009).This triggered and strengthened women as political actors. In a country like Kenya, women leadership has been empowered through creating a position of women representative. These representatives as supposed to primarily enhance the interest of the women and the girl child. Studies on both emotional intelligence and transformational leadership suggest that women are more transformational and emotionally intelligent in leadership styles. (Vicente 2010)

The Different Forms and Mediums of Activism and the Principles that Shape Feminist Social Transformation

Different forms and mediums of activism have been exercised to promote feminism. Women have been empowered to use various channels to fight for their legal rights.

Women rights activist use social media to get their message out to the public. (Van Alphen, 2015). Social media has assisted women to share out their experiences of sexual harassment to the public. Women voices have become clearer and visible than ever. This is highly attributed to social media as a medium of activism. Social justice movements are another form of female activism. (Van Alphen, 2015).Feminist join the different movement to campaign for women empowerment programme and mentorship. They use such movements to create awareness to the public about their women rights in particular. Furthermore, these movements organize seminars that offer leadership training to women.

The feminist art movement emerged in the 1960's in the event of anti-war demonstration for women rights. (Lockwood, 2006).The female artists wrote art history to bring about a ray of hope and change in the contemporary world. Feminist art as a medium of activism created chances that did not exist for women. It also created a platform that paved way for the activist art. (Surfin, 2009).Feminist also embraced different materials which were linked to the female gender to construct their work such as textiles to enhance women empowerment.

Character strength exhibited by women has been another principle that has helped in the social change process. (Van Alphen, 2015). Good values and principles are virtues that bind a community together and stimulate development. Feminist have reinforced social transformation which has been reinforced by the different principles acquired. These principles have enabled them to practice their roles effectively and efficiently. Some of these solid principles achieved by the feminist include Furthermore, the unity of different women been their strength in helping in social transformations. (Lockwood, 2006). Feminist social transformation is about building community and fostering relationships that make an organization work stronger. This is mostly witnessed through forging coalitions, forming and good friendship with potential allies. Feminist work together and consult one another i...