300-1 Introduction to Transgender Studies
with Dr. Mikee Inton-Campbell
Registration is open for the Fall 2022 semester.
Download the flyer here:
WGSS 300-1 Flyer
.pdf
Download PDF • 240KB
top of page
WGSS at CSUSM
What's happening in the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department
Search
Updated: May 11, 2022
The recently leaked U.S. Supreme Court decision is a draft representing the court’s conservative majority. If the essential content of the draft remains in the final decision—which is expected—here’s what will happen.
The Roe v Wade SCOTUS decision of 1973 will be overturned, and we will lose our constitutional right to abortion previously assured by Roe. This will allow each state to pass its own abortion laws, however draconian and misogynistic. Counting on the end of Roe’s protections, some states have already passed so-called “trigger laws” that will go into effect when Roe is overturned, restricting or outright banning abortion.
A projected half or more of our states will make the restrictions against abortion even more severe than those currently in place. Some will prohibit abortions under any circumstances—even rape, incest, and risk to the mother’s life. Some will ban medication abortions. At least one state, Louisiana, is already working on legislation to criminalize abortion as homicide.
If you support reproductive justice (RJ)—if you support legal, accessible, and safe abortions—be aware that the court’s likely decision will have far-ranging repercussions beyond bodily autonomy for people able to become pregnant.
Overturning Roe v Wade will further empower the radical right to challenge other civil and human rights: access to contraception, same-gender marriage, transgender rights, LGBTQ+ adoption rights. They might even attempt a national abortion ban.
If you do support reproductive justice—if you do support legal, accessible, and safe abortions—what can you do?
Plenty!
1. Make your reproductive justice voice heard!
Email, write, or phone President Biden and your two U.S. senators to urge them to do whatever is necessary to codify Roe v. Wade. Although the Women’s Health Protection Act passed in the House in 2021, it is unlikely to pass in the Senate without significantly more pro-reproductive rights senators, so a new effort is necessary—as is supporting RJ elected representatives.
Remember, you do NOT need to be a citizen to contact your elected representatives.
President Joe Biden
Contact information: https://www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/write-or-call/ Senator Dianne Feinstein
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3841
Email: https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me
Senator Alex Padilla 112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 (202) 224-3553
Email: https://www.padilla.senate.gov/contact/contact-form/
If you live in another state, find your senators here.
See below for a sample letter or email message.
Find your member of the House of Representatives here.
2. Support RJ candidates.
a. Volunteer on RJ candidates’ campaigns. You do NOT need to be a citizen to support RJ candidates. Here are some websites that will help you identify RJ candidates. NARAL Endorsed California Statewide and State Legislative Candidates:
https://prochoicecalifornia.org/elections/endorsements/
NARAL Endorsed Candidates for Federal Office: https://candidates.prochoiceamerica.org/page/candidates
SD County Democratic Party Endorsements (unfortunately, this is the closest thing to a list of local RJ candidates):
https://www.sddemocrats.org/candidates.html
b. Vote for RJ candidates and incumbents running for reelection. To vote in the June 7, 2022 Primary Election, you must be registered to vote no later than 15 days before the election. So, if you are qualified to register, aim to do so by 20 May.
3. Shout out for women’s bodily autonomy and reproductive justice!
a. Let your friends and family know that you care about reproductive justice.
b. Let folks know, wherever you go, that you’re part of the pro-Roe v Wade majority in the U.S. Wear pro-abortion buttons, put bumper stickers on your vehicle, water bottle, your backpack—everywhere.
d. And, if you’ve had an abortion and are comfortable doing so, shout your abortion!
SAMPLE LETTERS OR EMAIL MESSAGES (You can rewrite these in your own words.)
Sample message to the President:
[date]
Dear President Biden,
Roe v Wade is about to be overturned, so I urge you to do whatever it takes to encode Roe v. Wade to protect reproductive freedom in the United States. Whatever it takes!
I am counting on you to protect our essential right to bodily autonomy, to control each our own destiny. The U.S. majority in support of reproductive justice is counting on you.
Please don’t abandon women to a second-class existence.
Please be bold, use you power, and do the right thing.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
...............................................
Sample message to each of your two senators and your member of the House—one letter or email message to each:
[date]
Dear Senator [Last name],
OR
Dear Representative [Last name],
Roe v Wade is about to be overturned, so I urge you to do whatever it takes to codify Roe v. Wade to protect reproductive freedom in the United States. Whatever it takes!
I am counting on you to protect our essential right to bodily autonomy, to control each our own destiny. The U.S. majority in support of reproductive justice is counting on you.
Please don’t abandon women to a second-class existence.
Please be bold, use you power, and do the right thing.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
..................................................
Now, a moment of levity to spur you on to reproductive justice action:
A WGSS lecturer spoke at the county supervisors' meeting, indicating that those parents least able to cover the cost of a doula tend to be at the greatest risk of pregnancy complications and infant and maternal mortality
From San Diego County:
03/01/22
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors today passed Chair Nathan Fletcher’s policy by a vote of 4 to 0 to create a Doula Pilot Program to support the perinatal needs of underserved San Diego County parents.
“We should do all we can to provide quality, affordable healthcare to all. That starts with opening up opportunities for those with the least access and worst health outcomes. This new pilot program will generate better outcomes by providing doulas to assist in pregnancy, labor, and delivery, and by training the next generation of doulas to serve their communities,” said Chair Fletcher. “The Doula Pilot Program is another action we are taking to create a better life for children and families in San Diego County." Doulas, individuals who are trained to provide guidance and support during labor and the following birth, can significantly improve health outcomes. For Black, Indigenous and people of color there is a lack of access to doulas due to cost, inadequate health care, and an absence of providers from these populations. The passing of the policy calls for the County to develop the parameters of the pilot program and seek contracts with local organizations and Doulas to:
serve more individuals at no cost to the clients,
train more doulas to serve the community, and
promote better health outcomes.
Doulas are effective because they are a constant presence throughout the labor and birthing process and can help empower parents to seek the care and treatment they need. Doulas help to:
decrease the number of cesarean sections (C-sections),
lower the rate of epidural and pain medication use,
increase healthy birth outcomes,
increase breastfeeding rates, and
decrease rates of postpartum depression.
bottom of page