Name: Olivia Gibson
Social Justice Group: 2023-2024, Women’s Access to Reproductive Health Care
Date of Fieldwork: February 14, 2024
Name of Organization and person (people) with whom you met and their title(s):Beth Sousa, Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor at PlannedParenthood
Type of Fieldwork: [69]
What I did and what I learned about my topic, activism, social justice work or civil and human rights work from this fieldwork?:
On Wednesday, Mila, Gabriella, and I met with Beth Sousa, the Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor at PlannedParenthood’s international office in New York. Sousa told us about the actions PlannedParenthood is taking to make sure reproductive healthcare is accessible and available in New York and around the US. Sousa also explained how legislation plays a huge part in how PlannedParenthood challenges abortion bans.
PlannedParenthood is an organization that works to expand access to reproductive and gender affirming healthcare across America and internationally. The organization consists of international offices, where Sousa works, and affiliate programs that provide resources in individual communities. The affiliate programs run health centers to provide care around America. The international offices work to challenge legislation, as well as support affiliates in any way they can. The organization has been preparing for the overturning of Roe v. Wade since 2017. PlannedParenthood always knew that abortion laws were very fragile and that Roe would one day be overturned. In an effort to ease the damage of abortion bans they tried to predict which states would most likely ban abortion. PlannedParenthood got ready for the abortion bans and restrictions that might one day appear in those states by creating patient navigation services. Patient navigation services help people find the closest reproductive healthcare center outside of their state, and help them with travel expenses.
In our interview Sousa, who studied law, told us about the huge part democracy plays in achieving reproductive justice. We learned that ballot measures are a great way to change state abortion laws. Ballot measures are questions at the end of a state ballot where you can vote on important issues. Ballot measures can be submitted by citizens, so PlannedParenthood tries to take advantage of ballot measures to take down abortion bans. Ballot measures make it possible to change state amendments, and are one of the many ways people can fight for reproductive rights. Sousa told us that some of the other ways people can be part of the fight for abortion rights include joining affiliate programs, political work, and just being aware of the issue.
Some of the most important stories are the ones that are not being brought to light. PlannedParenthood is giving voices to those who do not have a voice. Our interview with Beth Sousa was extremely informative. It was very interesting to learn about Planned Parenthood’s trailblazing work.
