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howard's review against another edition
4.0
This book gave me an entirely new perspective on the fight for reproductive justice and what that can look like for Black people who are marginalized by society. So much of the reproductive justice movement (in the 90s when this was written, AND now in the 2010s/20s) focuses on the right to terminate a pregnancy. I had never considered the other side of the equation, the right to procreate when there are social forces (such as poverty and addiction) that might prevent or discourage the decision to have a child. So much of the information I learned in the book about the way Black people have been treated in this country made my blood boil. I got a little lost in some of the legal discussions, and I can't say I agree with every point argued by the author. But this reading experience was very valuable to me and it will inform the way I think and speak about this topic going forward.
zoeinthenight's review against another edition
5.0
Ideal for those already educated in intersectional feminism and the prison-industrial complex.
annelives's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Gives a lot to think about on reproductive health and institutionalized racism. It's wild how many of our social programs include practices that are racist. Also, the fact that feminism tends to take on more white affluent causes ignores and even negatively impacts black and brown women's causes. Intersectionality is needed for any lasting progress in feminist causes. A must read for those wanting to dismantle racism in reproductive health and society.
edepriest's review against another edition
5.0
Everyone who cares about reproductive rights should read this book— especially white women who may not be aware how much reproductive privilege they have. I read this book while working on a dissertation about reproductive rights, and it radically changed (and improved) the entire trajectory of my project. Vital reading.
cgn's review against another edition
4.25
A depressing but enlightening view on the history of reproductive policies in the U.S. and how they have served to perpetuate inequality and social norms
coralcrab77's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
A good read and introduction to reproductive rights for black women in America.
I will preface that I read this in 2024 and it is outdated--but I learned a lot about Norplant and how much it was pushed on women of color. It would be great to see the author rewrite a newer edition, especially with the ending of Roe v. Wade
I will preface that I read this in 2024 and it is outdated--but I learned a lot about Norplant and how much it was pushed on women of color. It would be great to see the author rewrite a newer edition, especially with the ending of Roe v. Wade
bestoffates's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
smzhou's review against another edition
5.0
really informative and well written, the audiobook narrator was also really good
in particular, the points about the new reproductive methods (surrogacy, ivf, etc) and how they affect the view of bodily autonomy of Black women was something i never considered before
in particular, the points about the new reproductive methods (surrogacy, ivf, etc) and how they affect the view of bodily autonomy of Black women was something i never considered before
wmapayne's review against another edition
3.0
This is a tremendously worthwhile historical review of reproductive injustices directed at marginalized communities, both Black and Indigenous, in the United States. Roberts makes a compelling argument that the dominant forms of reproductive liberation are insufficient to meet the stigma and oppression placed on Black women, and takes the reader through powerful historical and contemporary examples of racialized reproductive injustice.
Unfortunately, Roberts’s prescriptive solutions to these injustices are inadequate. She does not generate a cogent argument for full liberation, instead relying on hackneyed concepts of individual liberty and government beneficence to the oppressed. For such a thoroughly-researched book, it is confusing that Roberts would fall back on political solutions that have already failed many times. This tends to weaken the message of the book.
Unfortunately, Roberts’s prescriptive solutions to these injustices are inadequate. She does not generate a cogent argument for full liberation, instead relying on hackneyed concepts of individual liberty and government beneficence to the oppressed. For such a thoroughly-researched book, it is confusing that Roberts would fall back on political solutions that have already failed many times. This tends to weaken the message of the book.