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what is reproductive justice?

Reproductive justice will be achieved when all people and communities have access to the information, resources, and support they need to attain sexual and reproductive self-determination.

Reproductive justice (RJ) connotes collective efforts to address and overcome the roots of reproductive oppression, while constructing legally tenable, realistically accessible avenues for informed, consensual, unobstructed decision making about education, sex, contraception, sterilization, abortion, procreation, birth, and parenting.

LSRJ challenges the next generation of legal experts to think critically about individual liberties, which have often been framed as negative rights – things to be enjoyed free from government interference. RJ asks us to think creatively about positive rights guaranteed through government, individual, and community action.

For a deeper understanding of RJ, check out:

• LSRJ's "What is Reproductive Justice" (PDF)
• Reproductive Justice Briefing Book (PDF)
• SisterSong's "Understanding Reproductive Justice" (PDF)
• Expanding the Movement for Empowerment and Reproductive Justice
• Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice's "A New Vision for Reproductive Justice" (PDF)

why did we change our name?

In 2007 we changed our name to more accurately reflect the spirit of our intersectional perspectives, inclusive values, and collaborative strategies, as well as the substance of our work. By adopting our new name, our exterior more fully embodies our interior values. At the campus and national levels our new name is heightening involvement of law students, yielding greater diversity in our membership, enhancing our coalition-building capacity, and increasing partnerships with other social justice organizations and advocates. In short, it is helping us expose more future lawyers, judges, politicians, and scholars to reproductive justice and its intersections with other areas of the law and legal practice.

For more information about our identity as an RJ organization, please read:

• [Re]Introducing Law Students for Reproductive Justice (PDF)