Reproductive freedom is about far more than just the right to choose whether or not to have a child. It encompasses every aspect of bodily autonomy, family planning, and professional and economic success. This includes not just access to birth control and abortion care but also paid parental leave and protection from pregnancy discrimination. Reproductive rights are also essential to achieving racial, gender, and economic justice for all Americans.

Organizations such as Reproductive Freedom for All and Michigan United are working together to protect reproductive rights in Michigan and across the US. Here’s what you need to know — and how you can protect the rights of women and families in your community.

Access to Birth Control: Empowering Individuals and Strengthening Communities

Contraceptive access, or the right to birth control, is a vital aspect of reproductive freedom. It empowers individuals to plan their futures, reduce unintended pregnancies, and improve health outcomes. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that adolescents and young adults must have confidential access to contraception to protect their current and future health and well-being.

Access to affordable birth control is also closely tied to gender equity and economic opportunity. Birth control is the surest way to defend women’s wellness and personal success because it enables them to complete their education, enter the workforce, and make empowered decisions about their partners and family life. 

Abortion Access: A Foundation of Economic and Personal Freedom

The ability to access safe and legal abortion care is also a cornerstone of reproductive freedom. Abortion is not a matter of convenience; it’s an essential part of health care and a human right. It upholds basic freedoms such as the right to privacy, autonomy, and good health, to name just a few. 

Restrictions on access to abortion disproportionately affect low-income communities and women of color, deepening existing health and economic inequalities. Since the fall of the federal protections offered by Roe v. Wade, legislation around abortion access has been left up to individual states. Geographic and financial barriers have grown significantly worse, forcing many women living in politically conservative states with abortion bans to travel long distances or go without needed care altogether. 

Policies that strip or restrict abortion rights not only impinge on bodily autonomy but also have long-term impacts on economic outcomes. Abortion bans reduce women’s labor force participation, increase turnover, and lower their earnings over time. Women who are forced to carry their infants to term may also face pregnancy discrimination at work, be denied adequate paid parental leave, or lack access to affordable childcare while they work.

Paid Parental Leave: Supporting Healthy Families and Economic Stability

Reproductive freedom also means having the time and support necessary to care for a new child without jeopardizing one’s job or income. Paid parental leave allows families to bond, recover, and transition into parenthood without financial strain. Paid leave is associated with better mental health for parents, improved infant development, and stronger family dynamics.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that paid leave is a critical public health issue and should be a guaranteed right — not a privilege dependent on employer generosity. Access to paid leave promotes economic equity, particularly for women and people of color, who are less likely to have it through their jobs. Expanding paid parental leave is essential to a society where individuals can choose to become parents without fear of economic penalty.

Protection from Pregnancy Discrimination: Safeguarding Fairness in the Workplace

Reproductive freedom also includes the right to be free from discrimination based on pregnancy or caregiving status. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to workers affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. 

Despite this fact, many workers still face stigma and retaliation. It’s important to keep in mind that pregnancy discrimination can take many forms, such as not being hired, being denied promotions, being forced into taking unpaid leave, or even being laid off altogether. These practices disproportionately impact women in low-wage jobs, especially women of color, and it’s a key reason many are pushed out of the workforce or into poverty. 

Enforcing protection from pregnancy discrimination doesn’t just support gender, racial, health, and socioeconomic equality — it’s advantageous for employers, too.

Comprehensive Reproductive Freedom for All: A Vision for the Future

True reproductive freedom is about dignity, autonomy, and equality. It means being able to choose when and how to start a family — or not to have one at all — without facing unnecessary legal, economic, or social barriers. It’s about building a future where everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, has the freedom to control their own body, life, and future.

By supporting reproductive rights in all their forms, we can build a stronger, more just society for everyone.

Organize for Reproductive Freedom With Michigan United’s Project 3.5

Michigan United is a broad, statewide coalition working to fight for reproductive freedom, reform our broken health care and immigration systems, protect our environment, end mass incarceration, and make essential services accessible to all. To build that kind of power, we need to organize 3.5% of the state’s population. Starting with you.

We are at a critical moment in our nation’s history as we prepare to confront the troubling realities of the current White House administration. Women and working families are under attack — from Lansing to DC — and we’re fighting back. If you’re wondering what you can do, Michigan United is here for you. We have campaigns in place to protect Michiganders from all forms of injustice, which means you can make a difference in all the areas that matter to you, right here, all in one place.

As a member of Project 3.5, you will gain the listening, communication, and planning skills to become an effective advocate for the people in your neighborhood. This is your chance to become the leader you've always wanted to see. Join us in our quest to create a more just and inclusive society for all.

You can do this in whichever way works best for you. You can also join us as a Michigan United member, volunteer with us, or donate today!