Women’s Wednesdays: Women’s Bodily Autonomy

Parliamentary consultations on the decriminalization of abortion are taking place in Jamaica. It is important that we take time to consider where we are and where we need to go as a country and as a region regarding women’s bodily autonomy, including abortion. On April 3rd, we’ll be discussing consent, abortion rights, tubal ligation, contraception, and sexual education.

What is consent? Who can give it, and when?
What impact does criminalized abortion have on women throughout the region?
How do these impacts change when we consider factors like economic status, age, and ability?
What role do reproductive rights play in the broader struggle for women’s liberation?
What are the different contraception methods available to women and how can we access these resources?
How can we use the conversation taking place in Jamaica and, subsequently, throughout the region, to advance the rights of women in The Bahamas?
How can we teach bodily autonomy to our children?
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Women’s Wednesdays was founded by Equality Bahamas as a response to community members’ requests for a space to access resources, experts, and practitioners, share knowledge, and engage in conversation with one another. Officially started in May 2017, Women’s Wednesdays highlights Bahamian women and our experiences in The Bahamas, specific to our identities including gender, race, sexuality, age, and ability. Held once per month at minimum, the events draw women together to have conversations that bring our individual lives into focus while connecting to family, community, and national narratives.
#WW242 intentionally centers and prioritizes women and girls, and is open to the public through in-person events, livestreams, and social media activity. With the support of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, we create a safe space for knowledge-building, idea-sharing, critical dialogue, and movement-building.
Inspired by Equality Bahamas’ Women’s Wednesdays, there is now a similar initiative in Guyana, and other countries in the Caribbean are expected to follow.