Abortion Access as a Racial Justice Issue

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which revoked federal protections for abortion, exacerbates racial inequities in reproductive health care. Historically, reproductive oppression has targeted Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities from forced sterilization to restricted access to contraception and abortion. The article highlights how abortion bans disproportionately harm these groups, worsening existing disparities in maternal mortality and access to care. Black and Indigenous individuals face maternal death rates 2–4 times higher than White individuals, and abortion restrictions further endanger their health. The authors argue that abortion access is inseparable from racial justice, urging clinicians and policymakers to address these inequities through advocacy, equitable care delivery, and policies affirming bodily autonomy.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which revoked federal protections for abortion, exacerbates racial inequities in reproductive health care. Historically, reproductive oppression has targeted Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities from forced sterilization to restricted access to contraception and abortion. The article highlights how abortion bans disproportionately harm these groups, worsening existing disparities in maternal mortality and access to care. Black and Indigenous individuals face maternal death rates 2–4 times higher than White individuals, and abortion restrictions further endanger their health. The authors argue that abortion access is inseparable from racial justice, urging clinicians and policymakers to address these inequities through advocacy, equitable care delivery, and policies affirming bodily autonomy.