Breaking down the rules that treat some women differently than others

Reproductive justice means that all women are supported to parent the children they have, give birth when and if they choose and have the information and resources they need to experience their sexuality in a healthy and fulfilling way. This vision of support and respect for all women conflicts with existing government policies and programs that currently treat minors differently than adults, straight women differently than lesbians and women who want to contracept differently than women who need prenatal care. Provisions of the Affordable Care Act give reproductive justice advocates the opportunity to begin to break down some of these artificially created barriers. Uniform standards for Medicaid eligibility will mean that low-income women's access to prenatal care and family planning will no longer be determined by the state where she lives. These new policies will face opposition, though, and advocates need to be informed and prepared to mobilize support for policies that move us closer to reproductive justice.