American Dreams: Reproductive Justice

This season we are following stories of people touched by incarceration, all pushing forward to find their way into a better space. Episode one introduces you to Marcus, a 28 year old serving a life sentence in prison. How does an aspiring actor, who can play the piano by ear and have such a desire to help and inspire people end up serving a life sentence.  He told us his story over the course of dozens of prison calls.

American Dreams: Reproductive Justice  is a podcast that will explore exactly what Reproductive Justice means. A thoughtful framework  born in 1994, by 12 Black women in Chicago.
The four principles of Reproductive Justice are:
1. The right to have a child
2. The right to not have a child (which includes sterilization, which many doctors won’t do)
3. The right to have a child in a healthy environment and then raise them safely free from violence and with access to resources
4. The right to bodily autonomy and sexual pleasure

Season 2 of American Dreams will expand upon last season’s exploration of reproductive justice, centering stories of those touched by incarceration. Highlighting the effects of the carceral system and its effects on the directly and indirectly impacted people through the lens of reproductive justice. 

​American Dreams: Reproductive Justice Season 2 is executive produced and hosted by Erika Washington, powered by Make It Work Nevada. The podcast is associate produced, written and edited by Simone Endress. Music by Wil Black for Black Gypsy Music. Graphic designs by Mingo Collaso. A special thanks to Flobots for the use of their song ‘American Dreams’. 

Special thanks to KUNV 91.5 

This podcast is empowered by Make it Work Nevada, a Project of Tides Advocacy

For more information please visit Make It Work Nevada.org and find us on all the socials to learn more about our work to create a world we all can thrive in.

Information in this episode found on:
Websites:
Childrensrights.org
sciencedirect.org

What is American Dreams: Reproductive Justice?

As 2023 dawns, women in the U.S. look back on the last year and see one glaring issue: 2022 was the year their right to have an abortion was severely curtailed.

But many women did not have access to abortions even before the Dobbs decision. Women on Medicaid, in the same states that are outlawing abortion now. Women who live in rural areas. Women who don’t have access to good doctors, and good advice.

One thing the popular press doesn’t seem to talk about is how many women and trans men (anyone with a uterus) want to have children, but find that the systems as they are set up in this country mitigate against them.

You read that right: women want to have children, but don’t because it is so hard to do so.