Abstract
Allyson Felix’s performance at the 2021 US Olympics showcased her achievements and correspondingly catapulted her platform concerning women’s health to the forefront of the current news cycle; but for decades women’s health and more specifically reproductive issues have been a concern for marginalized women. Limited research has placed women of color at the centerpiece of this discussion, but Zakiya Luna in Reproductive Rights as Human Rights: Women of Color and the Fight for Reproductive Justice opens the door to voices often ignored within society. This theoretically and empirically rich book takes the reader on a journey to understand the decisions and transformation of an activist organization. The organization is SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective which manifested from four communities (Native American, African American, Latina, and Asian American). The book offers a detailed account of the members’ directive to articulate and represent their individual and collective communities to advance the reproductive rights of women of color and their lack of rights. The book includes an introduction, conclusion and eight chapters.
Chapter 1 (‘Restrictive domestication: Human rights and US exceptionalism’) explores the historical evolution of the human rights framework in the United States within the context of the world to establish and clearly define the term restrictive domestication. This first chapter is the backdrop used to set the platform of the book which is the following: the work done by SisterSong; the tone of reproductive justice; and the legal construct. Chapter 2 (‘Pushed to human rights: Marginalization in the US women’s movement’) supplements Chapter 1 by highlighting and delineating the various aspects of the larger US women’s movement and the reasoning and need for the reproductive justice movement and SisterSong. The evolution of the organization created a distinctive path forward outside of the mainstream agenda inclusive of a human rights framework capturing whose voices were heard and whose were not.
Chapter 3 (‘Pulled to human rights: Engagement with global gatherings’) distinctly features key movements before and after SisterSong’s founding in 1997 in relationship to the interplay of the international platforms impacting the formation of the human rights agenda of the organization. The chapter outlines the difficulties, battles, and historical evolution of using and framing a human rights discourse. Chapter 4 (‘Training the trainers amidst backlash’) outlines the struggles and conflicts in an effort to educate members and outside organizations. This section highlighted open skepticism, ambivalence, and barriers that separated SisterSong from other organizations and the snags experienced as the framework emerged.
The next four chapters focus on the core element of the SisterSong human rights framework and its sustainability. Chapter 5 (‘Marching toward human rights or reproductive justice?’) discusses the longevity of a women of color movement contending with the mainstream women’s movement by questioning the need for tension, lack of collective visibility, and contributions. Chapter 6 (‘Writing rights and responsibility’) showcases how SisterSong edified within various mediums to disseminate human rights aspects beyond their membership creating a foundational platform inclusive of various populations. Chapter 7 (‘They’re all intertwined: Developing human rights consciousness’) focuses on interviewees’ understanding of human rights but also how they navigate and negotiate the concept within various powerful structural and cultural barriers. Lastly, Chapter 8 (‘Puppies and rainbows: Or pragmatic politics?’) clearly delineates organizational struggles to balance their objectives within the political arena, especially since this organization embraces the human rights approach. The book concludes with an aerial view of the risk associated with the framing of human rights on the national level for US social movements.
The book would be perfect for both an undergraduate and graduate population. Due to the text showcasing a framework outside of the mainstream, it would be ideal for a social problems and social justice course. The book also gives several examples on the individual and organizational level about the struggles to implement policy and structural system changes within the societal structure; thus, creating a fruitful platform for discussions not only in a sociology course but courses that cover policy, activism, and marginalized populations. Facilitators, I would strongly encourage you to read other journal articles by this author and possibly incorporate them in the course. The student population will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of depth within the text, but also with the supplemental material if you use other articles. Reproductive rights are the cornerstone to ensure sustainability of a population; the author carefully outlines the privilege and the lasting impact if certain populations are ignored over time.
