Black leaders were critical to the formation of the modern reproductive rights movement. Before the end of Black History Month, we should pause and remember some of the leaders who shaped the movement in the years before Roe v. Wade.
Thank You, Megan Rapinoe! Advancing Pay Equity in Sports
Today’s conversations about pay equity in sports and other professions are important because they highlight how gender shapes power—who has it, who is kept from it, and how it is wielded to protect a privileged few.
Our Abortion Stories: ‘I Knew Something Was Wrong, But My Doctor Wouldn’t Listen’
Abortions are sought by a wide range of people for many different reasons. There is no single story. Telling stories of then and now shows how critical abortion has been and continues to be for women and girls. (Share your abortion story by emailing myabortionstory@msmagazine.com.)
Two women detail their experiences with miscarriage and abortion healthcare in this edition of Our Abortion Stories: “It was one blow after another. It turned out the doctors there wanted me to have a hysterectomy. I laughed at them.”
When It Comes to LGBTQIA+ Youth, Schools Are Getting a Failing Grade
Feb. 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and I want to make sure we are not forgetting Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) youth, particularly Black adolescent girls, young women and gender expansive individuals.
Although awareness and acceptance of Black LGBTQIA+ youth is growing, there is still a lot of work to be done when it comes to equipping them with comprehensive sex education to help them make safe and healthy choices.
Is Academia Safe for Black Women? How Bias and Racism Affect Faculty Mental Health
Antoinette Bonnie Candia-Bailey, a beloved professor at an historically Black University in Missouri, committed suicide on Jan. 8, reportedly as a result of racism by the school’s president. Harvard University president Claudine Gay recently resigned amid accusations of plagiarism. Many view her resignation as an illustration of the broader issue of marginalizing Black women within the predominantly white male academic space.
Academia is not inherently designed for the success of Black faculty. These institutions were initially created for and catered to white people, placing BIPOC in a position where they must succeed within systems not designed for their success. Centering Black scholars in roles critical to the institution involves challenging the role of white supremacy addressing systemic issues within academia that create unrealistic expectations.
The Tools Trump Could Use to Curb Abortion Access if He’s Elected
Donald Trump was one of the anti-abortion movement’s most dependable presidents. If reelected, the former president would have tools to quickly curtail access to the procedure, without the aid of Congress—and the pressure on him to wield them has already started.
The Politics of Defining Anti-Semitism
I am named after my great grandfather, Siegmund, who died in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in 1942—so understanding and fighting anti-Semitism is close to my heart.
But the Antisemitism Awareness Act recently introduced in Congress will silence discussions in institutions of higher education where academic freedom should guarantee the right to open debate and dissent. Along with anti-critical race theory and “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, bills targeting anti-Semitism are part of a larger agenda to control what is taught in K-12 schools and universities, therefore redefining social justice concepts.
Billboards Fight for Safe Abortion Access and to Save Los Angeles Clinic
A fleet of billboards popped up around Beverly Hills and Los Angeles in recent weeks declaring, “Los Angeles should be SAFE for abortion seekers.” And here in the sunny, so-called safe-haven of Los Angeles, you’d think that abortion would be safe. But for the abortion care providers at DuPont Clinic and the patients they seek to serve, this has not been the case.
Abortion Bans Increase the Need for Survivor Support
The best thing that we as physicians can do is to believe women, holding their hands and offering our unconditional support as we guide them through the pain and connect them to the healthcare resources that suit their best interests. This includes access to safe, legal abortion, a narrow avenue for recourse that recent and current GOP candidates threaten to narrow further.
But I am one doctor. There is only so much that I can do. I cannot single-handedly change our society.
Why We Need to Let Parents Use Campaign Funds for Childcare
During my recent reelection campaign, I utilized my political campaign funds to pay for childcare for my toddler, Kayden. California—alongside Colorado, New Hampshire, New York and Utah—passed bills in 2019 to allow campaign funds to be used for campaign-related childcare expenses. As a beneficiary of this legislation, I know firsthand the positive impact these laws have on working moms running for office.
Now, more states are trying to ensure that their political candidates are able to use campaign funds for childcare.