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Interwoven Struggles: The Intersection of Reproductive Justice and Environmental Justice Through an Ecofeminist Lens

Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Reproductive justice (RJ) and environmental justice (EJ) are deeply interconnected, particularly for marginalized communities disproportionately affected by environmental hazards and systemic reproductive oppression. This poster explores how environmental factors—such as pollution, climate change, and toxic exposure—impact reproductive autonomy, pregnancy outcomes, and access to healthcare in the United States, positioning RJ as an essential component of EJ. This research examines historical and contemporary examples of environmental racism affecting reproductive health, highlighting how climate disasters, industrial pollution, and resource extraction disproportionately harm communities of color and Indigenous populations. Through case studies and movement analysis, this presentation discusses coalition-building between RJ and EJ advocates, emphasizing shared goals of bodily autonomy, human rights, and resistance against corporate and governmental control. The research will explore industrial pollution and birth defects in Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley,” the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis and linkages to environmental destruction, the forced sterilization of women of color in the United States, and how natural disasters affect reproductive rights in vulnerable communities. Challenges such as differing movement priorities, language barriers, and the risk of co-optation must also be considered. By examining successful grassroots organizing efforts that integrate environmental and reproductive justice, this research underscores the importance of intersectional activism in policy and advocacy work. Ultimately, this presentation argues for a holistic approach to justice that recognizes safe environments as fundamental to reproductive freedom. It calls for interdisciplinary collaboration, policy reforms, and community-driven solutions to advance both environmental and reproductive rights.
Author: Kowski, Maya
Language: English
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7019961444
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