Reproductive justice and disability : irreconcilable differences?

Abstract

Women’s ability to control if and when to have children is a fundamental human right and a keystone of reproductive justice. However, contraception, abortion and sterilization have also been used to disempower women who are forced into these practices without their consent. It is known that disabled women’s sexual and reproductive rights have long been and still are infringed and their bodily autonomy violated and controlled by non-disabled others. Therefore, while embracing principles based on the ‘right to choose’ and self-determination, a pro-choice stance needs also to address the philosophical, moral and ethical complexities and the relationship between abortion and disability rights.