Wombs Under Attack: Black Women and the Trump-Era Destruction of Reproductive Justice
- blackactivistwriter
- Jul 31
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 3
In this blog post, I discuss why women's wombs are under attack amid the Trump Administration era. Without question, the Trump Administration has done nothing but decimate women's rights by stripping away programs and initiatives that enable individuals, namely Black women, to achieve reproductive justice.
I. What is Reproductive Justice (RJ)?
Reproductive justice (RJ) is a human rights framework that espouses the core belief that Black women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals have the autonomy to make sound sexual and reproductive health decisions for themselves and their loved ones.
The RJ framework is anchored in four central tenets. They are: the right for individuals to have children, the right to NOT have children, the right to access social and economic support to raise living children, and, last but not least, the right to be free from and protected against myriad forms of violence and discrimination.
The framework's central four tenets delineate similar human rights aspirations enshrined in global human rights standards. RJ is grounded in the principles of gender equality and human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) document offers a foundational blueprint for global equality, dignity, and world peace.
II. What is my "why" for writing about this topic?
Reproductive justice is a subject that is near and dear to my heart. Black mothers deserve the right to live healthy lives and to raise their children in safe living environments.
The fact that these ideals are not a living reality in our nation makes me feel disheartened. Black women are the engine that fuels society. We are the backbone of our households and contribute to the workforce. Black women are resilient, innovative, and a force to be reckoned with. However, there is a strong antithesis between America's esteemed values of liberty and equality and Black women's lived realities. At every waking moment, we endure microaggressions, systemic racism, and institutional neglect. In closing, this is the vehicle that drives my purpose to use my platform to amplify Black women's experiences and raise ongoing awareness of the maternal health disparities we continue to deal with.
III. How has gender inequality shaped our political landscape?
The anti-gender movement has taken the world by storm since the 1990s, when journalist Dale O'Leary introduced the term "gender ideology" in her book The Gender Agenda (1997). Since its introduction, the term has entered the mainstream lexicon, often used to discredit ideas and movements that uphold gender equality and human rights. At its core, the anti-gender movement seeks to undermine fundamental human rights, encompassing the rights to expression, assembly, protest, and bodily autonomy.
A stark example of this demise is the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, which had guaranteed the constitutional right to abortion in the United States. Reproductive rights are only a small piece of the pie. Proponents of the anti-gender ideology also deploy other tactics, for instance, promoting right-leaning ideologies and the push for rigid heteronormative norms. One common narrative is that a woman's place is at home, raising children. Another heteronormative belief is that the nuclear family is the only acceptable model of family life in modern American society.
The criminalization of abortion and the uptick of other draconian laws further demonstrate how gender inequality continues to influence our cultural and political institutions, for the worse. These methods have eroded democratic values through fear-mongering and disinformation. In authoritarian communist countries, such as Russia, it is unlawful to protest against injustices or to inform the public about social issues. Such oppressive restrictions silence activists and make people apprehensive to speak up for equality and human rights.
We are living in deeply uncertain times. The world is burning-literally and figuratively-with no foreseeable end in sight. We are entrenched in fear, anger, division, and hate. Black women, as always, are on the frontlines bearing the brunt of these socio-political crises. At times, freedom feels elusive amid continuous patterns of conflict, struggle, and suffering.
IV. How does the threat of reproductive justice impact Black women?
The threat to reproductive justice impacts Black women across two key angles: health equity and economic justice. What many people fail to realize is that reproductive justice is not merely on an individual level- RJ is deeply rooted in social equity. The Trump Administration's repressive laws and policies are projected to harm Black women on a greater scale. The goals outlined in Project 2025, an unprecedented conservative policy agenda, have already begun to come into fruition.
From a health perspective, abortion access continues to be a hotly contested topic. As of this year, abortion is banned or severely curtailed in approximately 26 U.S. states, according to the National Partnership for Women and Children, a nonpartisan, national nonprofit organization. According to In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda, a reproductive justice-centered organization, 57% of Black women live in states, such as Georgia, Texas, and Florida, that have stringent abortion laws.
Another main target of Project 2025 is reproductive health, particularly pregnancy care, with direct links to the defunding of essential social programs, such as Medicaid.
a. Wombs under Attack: Health disparities
To understand the colossal impacts of these cuts, we must take into account the adverse health outcomes already stacked against Black women. According to the CDC, Black women are two to three times more likely to die from childbirth and other pregnancy complications than White mothers. But it doesn't stop there. Black babies, too, are highly susceptible to becoming premature at birth, which can increase the possibility of infant mortality.
Black women often have limited or no access to high-quality healthcare, stemming from broader challenges, such as inadequate health coverage, low income, limited transportation, and geographic barriers. For example, Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. Furthermore, they are also more likely to be diagnosed at later, more aggressive stages of the disease when treatment options are limited and survival rates are highly unlikely.
The fact of the matter is that Black women are living in a deeply entrenched racist society where we are constantly undermined, unvalued, and misunderstood. What makes this whole maternal health crisis so unfortunate is that it is 100% preventable.
b. Wombs under Attack: Economic Policy and Medicaid
The threatened loss of Medicaid funding is already being felt among the most vulnerable populations. President Donald Trump recently enacted what's known as the "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act"- a law that seeks to destroy the fabric of our nation under the veneer of beauty. Despite its benign name, there is nothing beautiful about legislation designed to
decimate essential safety net programs. Its underlying purpose is to widen the wealth gap- boosting the power and wealth of the elite while pushing poor and working-class Americans further to the margins.
According to In Our Own Voice's 2025 Policy Agenda, 51% of Medicaid recipients are women of color. I can personally attest to the importance of this program. Medicaid has been, and continues to be, a vital lifeline for me, especially during this current period of job loss. I'm grateful for the healthcare access it has provided during an incredibly trying chapter of my life.
Medicaid, along with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other public support programs, sustains innumerable Black households. According to In Our Own Voice, Medicaid provides coverage for about two-thirds (66%) of Black births, compared to a national average of around 42%. Medicaid also provides coverage for about one-third of Black women. These statistics underscore its invaluable role in reproductive healthcare.
Abortion access is inextricably linked to Medicaid. The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act sought to strip Planned Parenthood and its affiliates of Medicaid funding. However, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, based in Boston, issued an injunction against that provision, ruling it unconstitutional and a punitive measure against Planned Parenthood clinics that provide abortion services.
The implications of this temporary injunction are vast. If Planned Parenthood clinics ultimately lose Medicaid funding, then it would significantly hinder patients' access to timely sexual and reproductive healthcare. The outcomes are consequential. Individuals may turn to unsafe, back-alley abortions or be forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term due to a shortage of viable care options.
V. Conclusion
As I have stated in the beginning, Black women's wombs are under attack due to systemic racism and the Trump Administration's rollback on diversity initiatives and defunding of programs, such as Medicaid. These bans will affect Black communities and their pockets in the long run. I say all this to say that these cuts are not just a political issue; they are an existential threat. So, the fight for reproductive justice is ongoing. Black women deserve to thrive and not just merely to survive. We deserve to experience joy, laughter, and freedom from the shackles of misogynoir and systemic racism.
VI. Call to Action
I want to stress that Reproductive Justice is not just a political issue. It is a human rights plight that affects the dignity, health, and well-being of Black women. If this blog post resonated with you, here are a few meaningful ways to take action:
Share this post widely.
-Help spread awareness by sharing it on all of your social media platforms. Tag people, use hashtags, such as #ReproductiveJustice and #HonorBlackWomen, and invite others into meaningful discussions.
Support reproductive justice-centered organizations.
-Follow and donate to organizations, such as the National Partnership for Women and Families and Black Mamas Alliance. These organizations, among many others, are doing boots-on-the-ground work tirelessly to achieve reproductive justice for all.
Learn about, respect, and honor Black women's voices.
-Understanding and valuing Black women's voices- and carving out safe, intentional spaces for them to share their boundless wisdom with others would be a wonderful, crucial starting point. This method helps us to reconcile and heal from past and present wrongs inflicted upon Black women daily.
Remember, talk is cheap. Respecting and honoring Black women's voices is reflected in our actions! It should be self-conscious and intentional.
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