WEEK 2 NOTES

Tuesday, September 13, 2021

Universal Declaration on Human Rights

1. What is a “human right” according to the UDHR?

A “human right” according to the UDHR is “the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable
rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the
world”.

2. What are two rights guaranteed under this Declaration?

Two rights guaranteed under this declaration are: “Everyone has the right to work, to free choice
of employment, to just favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment' '
and “Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and
fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional
education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to
all on the basis of merit”

3. For each of these rights, come up with an example of this right being respected/violated
in your life?

The article 23: “Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just favorable
conditions of work and to protection against unemployment” has been greatly violated in both
Eastern and Western society. According to this declaration everyone has the right to attain a
professional working life all under the same and equal conditions. An example of this violation
in our society is with the differences in wages between gender and ethnicity. Still in our society
men and women do not make an equal wage when completing the same jobs. This can also be a
big cause of glass ceiling, which is a direct cause to this right violation. Article 26, explaining the
right to education, is continuously being violated in our society today. Due to the information
being put out in Western societies most people do not realize the lack of education rights that
some people face. According to the declaration everyone has the right to education based on their
own merit. This is very clearly violated throughout Western societies as race, ethnicity, and
social economic ranking can greatly impact a person’s accessibility to education. For example, it
has been known that some universities will not accept certain people into their institutions solely
based on their non Eurocentric name. Another example of how this right is being violated is
through the pricing of programs. Specifically, certain programs have stayed primarily white due
to their extremely high yearly tuition prices. This is a violation because it allows for the program
to stay primarily in the higher social classes.

4. If this right is being violated, why do you think this violation occurs? If this right is being
respected, why do you think this is the case?

In my opinion, both of these rights have been violated throughout both Eastern and Western
society. I think that these articles violation happens due non progessive people being in prower.
In these large companies that have the ability to pay equal wages, they keep a glass ceiling. This
is because the main people in power have non-progressive and unequal views. Using these views
they will continue to hire similar people to take over, thus never allowing for change to be made.
In these big companies most women or people of colour are not able to make their way to these
powerful positions to the bias in hiring.

Thursday, September 16, 2021

What is reproductive oppression?

● The control and exploitation of of women, girls, and other individuals through our bodies,
sexuality, labour and reproduction
● It is both a tool and a result of systems of oppression
● Is used to regulate entire populations
○ Forced sterilization
○ Control on birth control
What is reproductive justice?

Loretta Ross, founder, SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective

● “Reproductive justice is an analytical framework or theory, a movement, and a practice

that works to protect and guarantee women’s rights and the full achievement of human
rights. The reproductive justice analysis understands that women, and particularly women
of colour and their communities, experience reproductive oppression”
● SisterSong and the founding principles of reproductive justice:
○ The right to have a child
○ The right to not have a child
○ The right to parent our children, to raise them in our communities

● Based on a Human Rights Framework and Praxis

● Based on an Intersectional Approach
● Based n a critique of “choice”
● Makes links between the individual and community
● Addresses social (government and corporate) responsibility for ensuring safe, just lives
● Puts marginalized communities at the center of analysis

Native Youth Sexual Health Network - Jessica Yee, Founder

Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice “Forward Together” - Evelyn Shen, Founder

● What is the difference between a reproductive health approach, a reproductive rights

approach, and a reproductive justice approach to reproductive oppression?
● What are the guiding principles of a reproductive justice framework?

National Black Women’s Health Project

 ● “Black women deserve to live longer”
● If health equity were a reality =
○ 2400 fewer deaths from breast cancer each year among Black women
○ 35% decrease in infant mortality rates for Black women
○ 50% increase in high school graduation for Black girls
○ $250 billion cost saving impact US economy

Women of All Red Nations

● To ensure health of Indigenous Women

○ The restoration and securing of treaty rights
○ Eliminating Indian mascots and combating commercialization of Indian culture
○ End state and domestic violence
○ End forced sterilization of Indian women
○ End the adoption of Indian children by non-Indians
○ End nuclear mining and storage on Indian land

National Latina Health Organization

Health for Latina women =

● Immigration reform
● Keeping families together
● Access to health insurance
● No mandatory HIV testing
● Access to education
● Self help and empowerment

Examples

● Women of african descent forced into reproduction

● Margret Sanger is considered the mother of birth control (1930s)
● She went into urban slums to help provide birth control (mainly to the black community
in poverty)
● Men got tested for “bad blood” (actually for phyllis). Half of them tested positive but
Western medicine still did not provide the proper care required.
● Indeginous people were given a type of birth control which is long lasting (up to three
months) but it can be very dangerous for young adults, as it affects bone growth. The
government claimed that it would be easier to take care of women in these communities
if they were on this form of birth control, which is incorrect.