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Decolonizing Feminism: from Reproductive Abuse to Reproductive Justice

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Decolonizing Feminism: from Reproductive Abuse to Reproductive Justice Decolonizing Feminism: From Reproductive Abuse to Reproductive Justice There is presently much discussion among Karen Stote is an Assistant Professor of Women and scholars, activists, and social policy researchers over the Gender Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. She teach- meaning, methodology, and theory of intersectionality. es courses on the history of Indian policy and Indig- What began as a critique by women of colour and Indig- enous-settler relations, feminism and the politics of enous women of social movements that overlooked the decolonization, and issues of environmental and repro- realities of life for those marginalized because of their ductive justice. She is the author of An Act of Genocide: gender, but also because of their race, class, sexuality, Colonialism and the Sterilization of Aboriginal Women indigeneity and/or (dis)ability (Crenshaw 1991; Com- (Fernwood 2015). bahee River Collective 1983; Collins 2000; Davis 1983; Smith 2000; Smith 2005c; Lorde 1984), has expanded Abstract to include a vast literature on the multifaceted aspects This paper asks why reproductive gains have sometimes of oppression and how laws, policies, and social struc- amounted to reproductive abuse for Indigenous women tures are experienced differently based on the social in Canada. Guided by an intersectional and decolonial location one occupies. Intersectionality is now increas- approach, it provides a historical material critique of ingly incorporated into Women’s and Gender Studies the individualized rights discourse and reformist goals programs as a legitimate approach to social theory and that tend to underlay feminist struggles in Canada. It is being adopted by mainstream scholars and activists explores how Western feminism might support decolo- as a tool guiding research, organizing, and analysis nization and reproductive justice. (McCall 2005; Hankivsky 2011; Mason 2010; Simpson 2009). Through this mainstreaming process, much of Résumé the radical potential that comes from understanding Cet article demande pourquoi les gains en matière de the interlocking social relations that oppress risks be- reproduction se sont parfois traduits par des abus en ing blunted or misunderstood as a plea by marginalized matière de reproduction pour les femmes autochtones populations for assimilation into the current system au Canada. Guidé par une approche intersectionnelle et (Dhamoon 2011; Puar 2007). Worse still, this approach décoloniale, il fournit une critique matérielle historique is in danger of being used to reify identities into objects du discours sur les droits individualisés et des objectifs of study, or of it becoming the object of study, rather réformistes qui ont tendance à sous-tendre les luttes than a prescription for transformative action (Hillsburg féministes au Canada. Il explore comment le féminisme 2013; Jordan-Zachery 2007; Simien 2007). Although no occidental pourrait soutenir la décolonisation et la jus- definitive conclusions have been reached, current dis- tice reproductive. cussions confirm the need to keep “intersectionality” grounded in the struggle for social justice by developing politics of liberation that seek explicitly to challenge, on a material level, the social relations that oppress while paying attention to our interconnectedness and differ- ences, or the different work required of us to ensure jus- tice for our communities. For this thematic cluster, I contribute to ongo- ing discussions by outlining a grounded politic of lib- eration that employs an intersectional approach and 110 Atlantis 38.1, 2017 www.msvu.ca/atlantis focuses on issues of reproductive justice as one aspect tive rights movements and settler feminism in general. I of a larger project of social justice. Starting from the apply these in conjunction with other feminist works to lived experiences of Indigenous women in Canada, better understand what it means for Western feminism this essay refers to rarely acknowledged instances of to adopt a justice approach in its struggles for bodily coercion, like forced sterilization, abusive abortions, self-determination with hopes that it can also become and the promotion of birth control for population a tool of decolonization. To take a reproductive justice control ends, which took place while mainstream fem- approach necessitates a change in conversation and a inism was fighting for or celebrating increased access broadening of the nature and scope of the struggles we to these same services. Seeking to develop a decolo- face. Our physical and reproductive bodies are intrin- nial analysis useful to non-Indigenous peoples living sically connected to the broader social world in which on Indigenous lands, this work provides a historical we live, the structural relations that inform our social and material critique of what could more accurately be locations, and our consequent experiences of privi- termed a form of settler feminism and the individual- lege and/or oppression. To improve our reproductive ized rights discourse and reformist goals that, by and lives in ways that avoid reinforcing these polarities of large, underlay the movement. It is a central premise experience, we must understand the interconnections of this paper that reproductive rights gained from between these and the social relations that create them within an inherently unjust system have reinforced re- and intersectionality as a tool of analysis is useful here. lations of exploitation and subjugation for all women Insights gained by doing so hold the possibility of rad- despite the improvement in quality of life some may ically transforming our struggles in ways that could experience from these. Conceding these rights has al- allow us to cultivate necessary and decolonial allianc- lowed the state to shape our movements in ways that es with others. Taken together, this work asks us to re- has limited their relevance for many. This has restrict- flect on the meaning and purpose of intersectionality ed the ability of Western feminism to call for a radical as a tool for social justice. It pushes us to think beyond transformation of the social relations of oppression in identity politics by re-centering a systemic analysis and ways necessary to ensure justice for anyone. I argue a focus on structural change as key aspects of justice that by falling short of fundamentally revolutionizing work, goals which have always been central to the crit- the relations of exploitation upon which the current ical scholars whose thinking is often credited with in- capitalist, heteropatriarchal, and colonial system is forming the term. based, what is being offered to women as reproduc- tive rights pales in comparison to the knowledge and Reproductive Rights or Reproductive Abuse? It self-determination women could hold and have held Depends on Who You Ask over our bodies under different modes of social orga- I recently completed research on the coercive nization. At the same time, these options have helped sterilization of Aboriginal women in Canada (Stote reinforced reproductive regulation and relations of co- 2015). This work confirms that up to 1200 sterilizations lonialism for Indigenous women and their peoples. To were carried out from 1970 to 1976 on Aboriginal wom- achieve reproductive justice requires that we explicit- en from at least 52 northern settlements and in federal- ly challenge the larger social relations that have led to ly-operated Medical Services Hospitals. There are many our lack of bodily self-determination in the first place. aspects of this history that make these sterilizations co- It also requires that we grapple with the longstanding ercive, including the failure of health officials to follow criticisms waged against our movements. guidelines on when sterilizations could be performed In discussing possible ways forward in our and the lack of informed consent and inadequate use struggles, as settlers, this work engages Indigenous of interpreters when these took place. There also exist- critiques that highlight intersecting issues, which are ed a general climate of paternalism that sometimes led central to Indigenous understandings of reproductive doctors to perform the procedure on women “for their justice, a concept directly connected to questions of own good” (70-73). As this research progressed, it be- decolonization and Indigenous resurgence. These cri- came clear that Aboriginal women experienced abuse tiques have direct implications for western reproduc- through the provision of other reproductive services as 111 Atlantis 38.1, 2017 www.msvu.ca/atlantis well. The documents reviewed tell us that prior to the attempt to alleviate strain on inadequately funded pub- 1969 amendment to the Criminal Code decriminalizing lic health and social services (Hawaleshka 2005; Smith contraceptives, the first high dose hormonal birth con- 2005a; Tait 2000, 14-15). trol pill was distributed to Indigenous women in areas While these injustices were being carried out, across Canada as a part of a “departmentally directed whether forced sterilization, abusive abortions, or the course of instruction” in an attempt to reduce the birth promotion of birth control for population control ends, rate in Indigenous communities (60-70). At least some others were mobilizing, and in some cases continue to officials hoped this would translate into savings by -al mobilize, for increased access to these same services. lowing government to decrease the size of the homes Voluntary sterilization is a popular form of birth control it would need
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