This helpful how-to guide introduces the practices, history, and politics of youth movements for justice in the United States.

Grounded in the struggles and worldmaking of queer and trans youth and people of color, Youth Organizing for Reproductive Justice shows us how all youth organizing is reproductive justice as young people resist systems of oppression that limit bodily autonomy and self-determination. Through case studies, activist spotlights, and organizing “how-tos,” this book provides a powerful tool for understanding the interconnected struggles at the center of youth activism.

From the school-to-prison pipeline to transgender youth’s access to gender affirming care to support for pregnant and parenting teens, Chris Barcelos shows that reproductive justice inspires political organization across a range of issues. Rich with practical tips and a supplemental teaching guide, Youth Organizing for Reproductive Justice will help mobilize scholars, activists, policymakers, reproductive justice nonprofit workers, and youth organizers toward collective liberation.

About the Author

Chris Barcelos is Associate Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and core faculty in Critical Ethnic and Community Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. They are author of Distributing Condoms and Hope: The Racialized Politics of Youth Sexual Health.

Reviews

"Chris Barcelos has written a beautifully sophisticated, yet highly readable introduction to the vibrant world of youth organizing around reproductive justice issues. This primer expanded my vocabulary, deepened my understanding, and inspired me beyond measure."—Khiara Bridges, author of Reproducing Race: An Ethnography of Pregnancy as a Site of Racialization

“By centering youth activists as agents of social change, Youth Organizing for Reproducing Justice offers critical insight into the realities and potential of youth activism. Written in accessible language, Barcelos widens our political horizons by masterfully demonstrating the intertwined nature of political issues that may initially seem unrelated. A must-read for anyone interested in social change and how we can work together to craft a better future.”—Florence Ashley, author of Gender/Fucking: The Pleasures and Politics of Living in a Gendered Body

"What a gift! Chris Barcelos’s wonderfully evocative, accessible new book unearths the power, urgency, and promise of youth organizing. Pairing key concepts and frameworks with case studies and discussion guides, Barcelos provides an essential introduction to what autonomy and freedom look like for young people today. This should be required reading for anyone ready to learn about reproductive justice from the next generation."—Mia Kim Sullivan, Executive Director, Collective Power for Reproductive Justice