Four Women’s Impact on the Reproductive Justice Movement
Lorretta J. Ross
Lorretta J. Ross is an activist, feminist, author, and professor who helped coin the term “Reproductive Justice” and founded SisterSong, a reproductive justice advocacy organization. Ross has published multiple books and articles on reproductive justice, many of which are taught at collegiate levels. Ross has been a changemaker and leader in the reproductive justice movement for years and her contributions and activism have lifted the voices of women of color and helped to launch multiple initiatives including the Women of Color Program for the National Organization of Women and the National Center for Human Rights Education. Currently, Ross teaches at Smith College on topics including reproductive justice, call-out culture, and white supremacy.
LORETTA J. ROSS (lorettajross.com)
Byllye Avery
Byllye Avery is a health care activist and founder of the National Black Women’s Health Project (now known as the Black Women’s Health Imperative). In 1974, Avery and her colleagues opened the Gainesville Women’s Health Center (GWHC) in Gainesville, Florida after a petition to open a Planned Parenthood was denied. GWHC was the first abortion and gynecological care facility in Gainesville. In 1989, Avery was awarded the MacArthur Foundation’s Fellowship for Social Contribution due to her incredible activism for women of color and reproductive justice. Currently, Avery lives in Massachusetts with her wife.
Life Story: Byllye Avery - Women & the American Story (nyhistory.org)
Marie Sanchez
Marie Sanchez (Cheyenne name Otseohtse’e) was a lifelong advocate for native people and for the Cheyenne language. Sanchez lived in Lame Deer, Montana for most of her life, and was a Chief Judge of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and a professor at Montana State University and Chief Dull Knife College. Sanchez became known in the reproductive justice movement after speaking at the Conference on Indians in the Americas of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland in 1977. During the conference, she spoke out against the forced sterilization of around 25% of Native American women in the 70s. Sanchez’ work against forced sterilization, in tandem with other women of color, led to federal laws that helped to protect native women from unwanted procedures. Sanchez passed away in Lame Deer in 2019.
Marie B Sanchez age 80 of Lame Deer, MT (stevensonfuneralhomes.com)
The Native American Women Who Fought Mass Sterilization | TIME
Faye Wattleton
Faye Wattleton is an activist, author, tech leader, and all around badass! In 1978, he became the first ever black president AND the youngest president ever elected to lead Planned Parenthood. During her 14-year tenure as Planned Parenthood President, she founded the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, an organization that Planned Parenthood still uses to engage in public education campaigns, grassroots organizing, and legislative activity. Without Wattleton’s stellar leadership, Planned Parenthood wouldn’t be what it is today. After dedicating decades of her life to lifting up reproductive justice and rights, Wattleton now spends her time running a tech start up!