Beastmomma

I have been involved in the planning of the Regional Law Students for Reproductive Justice training.  In the process of creating the event, I have been advocating for a more representative event.   This looks like having more women of color and non-lawyers who are working in the community.  I got to have one panel for which I got help to get panelists. The rest of the day was spent on abortion topics which were great and important, but this last session really brought things home for me.

A woman was talking about the importance of being seen by professionals.  She told a very moving story about giving birth to her son.  I started crying in the midst of her story; she was describing entitlement and feeling vulnerable.  My favorite line was, "When I was scared about what was going to happen, I did not think that Roe was going to help me.  I knew that I just needed to be seen by these professionals."  One of the doctors did see her and she did give birth without having a c-section.   Then she said, "Reproductive justice is not just about the right to choose NOT to have a child; it is about the right to HAVE children in SAFE spaces."  When I heard her talk, I felt all my self-doubt and concern about making too much of a fuss by asking for things to be more inclusive slip away.  In that moment, I thought, "I did something good."