Thread by @hchdiz

We can’t say #ThxBirthControl without acknowledging the history of reproductive violence and coercion. 🧵

I love birth control! I love that it is a tool that allows people to choose when/if they have children. I love contraceptive counseling and assisting patients in achieving goals.

I hate inequitable access & reproductive coercion.

Historically, Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people, people with disabilities, poor people, and incarcerated people, have been systemically abused in the development of contraception.

The structural racism, ableism, classism, xenophobia, and sexism behind these cruel practices (human rights violations) are still alive and well today.

Today, people still have trouble accessing their full range of options (including having their decision to not use birth control respected, having certain methods pushed, and being denied elective tubal ligation, etc.).

Some providers even deny the removal of long acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) such as implants and IUDs when patients request it!

Providers should be PARTNERS with patients in their reproductive goals, not arbiters.

It was just this past year when a whistleblower revealed that people being detained by ICE were undergoing unnecessary hysterectomies & other gynecological procedures. A prime example of reproductive coercion & violence.

google.com/amp/s/amp.theg…

There are AMAZING reproductive justice organizations & providers doing work to address these issues (and many more!). @SisterSong_WOC @reproaction @SPARKRJNOW (just to name a few- please feel free to add other orgs to this thread!)

Birth control is a major scientific development & benefits many! However, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure every single person has access to their full range of options without feeling pressured, intimidated, or coerced. Acknowledging historical context matters.