The Invisible Classes in Highstakes Reproduction

This essay argues that what separates poor mothers from their middle class counterparts are many factors — not simply couples\u27 ability to plan, the power of their choices, and agency. For example, power, social clout, and access to health care (and health information) influence status and parenting. Historically, for white women choice has been about abortion; for many women of color, choice is about being able to be a mother. This essay begs the question whether real parallels can be drawn on questions of contraception, abortion, and ART simply by examining class and to what extent race and sexual orientation matter in research on parenting