"Required reading for anyone dedicated to bodily autonomy and sovereignty now and into the future."—Ms. Magazine
A bold call to action and guide for building an inclusive and intersectional reproductive justice movement.
Overturning Roe unleashed a wave of urgent threats to abortion and bodily autonomy, fueled by overt white supremacy, racial and anti-immigrant hatred, and support for traditional gender roles and sexual identities. But the resistance is fierce, led by a new generation of activists of color dedicated to building an inclusive movement. In Abortion and Reproductive Justice, widely recognized movement leaders Marlene Gerber Fried and Loretta J. Ross provide a history of abortion politics through a reproductive justice framework that centers those most vulnerable.
The book emphasizes that the right to have and raise children is as important for reproductive choice as the right not to. This critical approach—originating in Black feminism—provides grounding for radical abortion advocacy. Calling on us to join in, the book highlights abortion stories from individuals and organizations who are putting this analysis into action on the front lines, in the United States and beyond. By linking abortion rights to broader social justice initiatives, including Black Lives Matter, immigrant and refugee rights, disability justice, and LGBTQ+ rights, the authors expand the conversation at a critical moment.
Marlene Gerber Fried is Professor Emerita of Philosophy at Hampshire College and cofounder of the National Network of Abortion Funds.
Loretta J. Ross is a MacArthur Fellow, Associate Professor of Women and Gender at Smith College, and cofounder of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective. They are coauthors, with Jael Silliman and Elena Gutiérrez, of Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organize for Reproductive Justice.
"Fried and Ross have written an essential book that provides a sharp analysis of reproductive justice. They offer readers a vital primer on applying a reproductive justice lens as an analytical tool to examine abortion, abortion policy, and activism, equipping them with critical insights for deeper understanding and engagement."—Dána-Ain Davis, author of Reproductive Injustice: Racism, Pregnancy, and Premature Birth
"This essential book is needed now more than ever. In Abortion and Reproductive Justice: An Essential Guide for Resistance, reproductive movement leaders Loretta J. Ross and Marlene Gerber Fried provide readers with accurate and necessary information about abortion politics at a time when abortion rights are under attack from extremists who tout misinformation. I applaud Ross and Fried’s application of an expansive reproductive justice framework that includes the important stories of folks who identify across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. I implore anyone who cares about reproductive justice to read this book so that you can gain the skills needed to continue to resist."—Candace Bond-Theriault, author of Queering Reproductive Justice: An Invitation
"Who better to narrate the history and struggles of the reproductive justice movement than two of its foremost thinkers and activists? In evocative, effective, and engaging prose, Fried and Ross make a passionate and forceful case for how and why reproductive justice is critical to all our lives. A critical text for teaching and a must-read for us all in these times!"—Banu Subramaniam, Professor, Wellesley College, and author of Botany of Empire: Plant Worlds and the Scientific Legacies of Colonialism
"This book demonstrates how reproductive justice, far beyond just an academic concept, is a principle that continues to animate activism across the world. Fried and Ross's approachable yet thorough work especially highlights the contributions of feminists in the Global South, such as the Mexican organization Las Libres, whose direct actions advance abortion access through pill distribution and accompaniment support for people receiving treatment. In doing so, Fried and Ross offer a crucial corrective to what is often told as a white feminist story."—Cora Fernández Anderson, author of Fighting for Abortion Rights in Latin America: Social Movements, State Allies and Institutions
"With unparalleled insight, analysis, and experience, Fried and Ross provide an essential guide to abortion access for these times. A must-read for everyone committed to reproductive justice, human rights, and bodily autonomy."—Elena Gutiérrez, author of Fertile Matters: The Politics of Mexican-Origin Women's Reproduction
"With deep roots in reproductive justice activism and scholarship, Fried and Ross center the voices of those resisting reproductive oppression to show that reproductive freedom is inseparable from social justice. Through compelling storytelling and rigorous analysis, this book is both a vital resource and a powerful call to action for anyone fighting for justice in a post-Dobbs world."—Dorothy Roberts, author of Killing the Black Body
416 pp.6 x 9
9780520421134$95.00|£80.00Hardcover
Sep 2025