Behind Walls: Mass Incarceration as an Oppressor of Reproductive Justice in the United States

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine if and how mass incarceration denies women of color their right to reproductive justice in the United States. By analyzing the prison system’s legal framework as well as its practices, the study aims to analyze both known and unknown barriers to reproductive justice in the correctional setting. Data on such policies and practices was collected through personal interviews as well as through podcast interviews with formerly incarcerated women and a lawyer knowledgeable in prison healthcare laws within the United States. The findings from this data indicate that incarcerated women are not just denied necessary reproductive healthcare, but are essentially punished by the prison system for existing as reproductive individuals. Furthermore, this oppression disproportionately harms women of color due to the disproportionate mass incarceration of black and brown people in the United States, which stems from the criminalization of poverty and the “war on drugs” that began in the 1970s. These findings imply that there is a large group of women who have and continue to be dehumanized and threatened behind walls. Reproductive healthcare is necessary healthcare; thus, it must be prioritized in prison reform and legislature.