Reproductive Justice : The Politics of Health Care for Native American Women

In Reproductive Justice, sociologist Barbara Gurr provides the first analysis of Native American women's reproductive healthcare and offers a sustained consideration of the movement for reproductive justice in the United States. The book examines the reproductive healthcare experiences on Pine Ridge Reservation, home of the Oglala Lakota Nation in South Dakota -- where Gurr herself lived for more than a year. Gurr paints an insightful portrait of the Indian Health Service (IHS) -- the federal agency tasked with providing culturally appropriate, adequate healthcare to Native Americans -- shedding much-needed light on Native American women's efforts to obtain prenatal care, access to contraception, abortion services, and access to care after sexual assault. Reproductive Justice goes beyond this local story to look more broadly at how race, gender, sex, sexuality, class, and nation inform the ways in which the government understands reproductive healthcare and organizes the delivery of this care. It reveals why the basic experience of reproductive healthcare for most Americans is so different -- and better -- than for Native American women in general, and women in reservation communities particularly. Finally, Gurr outlines the strengths that these communities can bring to the creation of their own reproductive justice, and considers the role of IHS in fostering these strengths as it moves forward in partnership with Native nations. Reproductive Justice offers a respectful and informed analysis of the stories Native American women have to tell about their bodies, their lives, and their communities In Reproductive Justice, Sociologist Barbara Gurr Provides The First Analysis Of Native American Women's Reproductive Healthcare And Offers A Sustained Consideration Of The Movement For Reproductive Justice In The United States. The Book Examines The Reproductive Healthcare Experiences On Pine Ridge Reservation, Home Of The Oglala Lakota Nation In South Dakota--where Gurr Herself Lived For More Than A Year. Gurr Paints An Insightful Portrait Of The Indian Health Service (ihs)--the Federal Agency Tasked With Providing Culturally Appropriate, Adequate Healthcare To Native Americans--shedding Much-needed Light On Native American Women's Efforts To Obtain Prenatal Care, Access To Contraception, Abortion Services, And Access To Care After Sexual Assault. Reproductive Justice Goes Beyond This Local Story To Look More Broadly At How Race, Gender, Sex, Sexuality, Class, And Nation Inform The Ways In Which The Government Understands Reproductive Healthcare And Organizes The Delivery Of This Care. It Reveals Why The Basic Experience Of Reproductive Healthcare For Most Americans Is So Different--and Better--than For Native American Women In General, And Women In Reservation Communities Particularly. Finally, Gurr Outlines The Strengths That These Communities Can Bring To The Creation Of Their Own Reproductive Justice, And Considers The Role Of Ihs In Fostering These Strengths As It Moves Forward In Partnership With Native Nations. -- Provided By Publisher. Introducing Our Relatives And Introducing The Story -- Stories From Indian Country -- Whose Rights? Whose Justice? Reproductive Oppression, Reproductive Justice, And The Reproductive Body -- The Ruling Relations Of Reproductive Healthcare -- Producing The Double Discourse : The History And Politics Of Native-u.s. Relations And Imperialist Medicine -- To Uphold The Federal Government's Obligations . . . And To Honor And Protect : The Double Discourse Of The Indian Health Service -- Resistance And Accommodation : Negotiating Prenatal Care And Childbirth -- One In Three : Violence Against Native Women -- Genocidal Consequences : Contraception, Sterilization, And Abortion In The Fourth World Context -- Community Knowledges, Community Capital, And Cultural Safety -- Conclusions : Native Women In The Center. Barbara Gurr. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Commonly Used Acronyms Part I Introductions: The Stories We Tell and Why 1 Introducing Our Relatives and Introducing the Story 2 Stories from Indian Country 3 Whose Rights? Whose Justice? Reproductive Oppression, Reproductive Justice, and the Reproductive Body Part II Tracing the Ruling Relations: Health Care, the Reproductive Body, and Native America 4 The Ruling Relations of Reproductive Health Care 5 Producing the Double Discourse: The History and Politics of Native-U.S. Relations and Imperialist Medicine 6 “To Uphold the Federal Government’s Obligations . . . and to Honor and Protect”: The Double Discourse of the Indian Health Service Part III Consequences of the Double Discourse: Native Women’s Experiences with the Indian Health Service 7 Resistance and Accommodation: Negotiating Prenatal Care and Childbirth 8 One in Three: Violence against Native Women 9 Genocidal Consequences: Contraception, Sterilization, and Abortion in the Fourth-World Context Part IV Reproductive Justice for Native Women 10 Community Knowledges, Community Capital, and Cultural Safety 11 Conclusions: Native Women in the Center Appendix A: Methods and Methodologies Appendix B: A Brief History of Federal Actions Impacting Native Healthcare References Index In Reproductive Justice, Sociologist Barbara Gurr Provides The First Book Examining Native American Women's Reproductive Healthcare. Drawing On Interviews And Focus Group Data, Archival Research, And Discussions With Healthcare Professionals, Gurr Paints An Insightful Portrait Of The Indian Health Service (ihs)—the Federal Agency Tasked With Providing Healthcare To Native Americans—shedding Much-needed Light On Native American Efforts To Obtain Prenatal Care, Childbirth Care, Access To Contraception And Abortion Services.