Send us a text

In this episode, I’m joined by Lourdes A. Rivera, President of Pregnancy Justice and a leading voice in the fight to ensure that no one loses their rights because of pregnancy. Lourdes has spent over three decades advancing reproductive freedom, gender justice, and human rights through her work in law, philanthropy, and advocacy.

Together, we unpack what it means to live in a country where pregnancy itself can lead to punishment, and what that reveals about our broader criminal and political systems.

We dive into:

• Why and how pregnancy is being criminalized across the U.S.
• What it really means to be “pro-choice” in today’s legal and cultural landscape
• The impact of criminalizing substance use during pregnancy
• The realities of being pregnant behind bars
• What we can all do to protect reproductive freedom and dignity

This conversation will challenge the way you think about rights, justice, and the politics of care, reminding you of what’s at stake when we criminalize bodies instead of supporting them.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Lourdes A. Rivera and Pregnancy Justice
02:54 Personal Journey into Reproductive Justice
04:13 Defining Fetal Personhood
07:01 The Conflict of Rights in Pregnancy
10:53 Debunking the Crack Baby Myth
14:35 Public Health vs. Criminalization
18:31 Pregnancy in Jails and Prisons
21:55 The Criminalization of Pregnancy Loss
23:05 The Broader Implications of Reproductive Rights
23:48 Reproductive Justice vs. Pro-Choice
26:31 Impact of Ideology on Healthcare Access
28:33 Consequences of Criminalization on Families
30:18 Social Determinants of Health and Reproductive Justice
31:43 Criminalization of Pregnancy and Healthcare Needs
36:12 Legal Consequences of Pregnancy Criminalization
38:49 Community Action and Advocacy for Change
42:58 Challenging Pro-Life Narratives
44:56 Prioritizing Care Over Criminalization
48:59 Lourdes Outro.mp3

Credits:

Created and hosted by Abbie Henson
Edited by Isabelle Kerby-Mcgowan
Website by Sarah Lords

Support Critical Conversations

I would love to hear your feedback, takeaways, and questions. Please text at the link above or email [email protected]
.

Follow Whatsjust on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter to stay updated on upcoming live Critical Conversations.

And as always, please review, subscribe, and share with everyone you know :)

Become a supporter of the show with a monthly subscription (amount of your choice) and get a shoutout in upcoming episodes!

Visit our website at abigailrhenson.com/podcast

Support the show