From choice to capabilities: the case of abortion and reproductive justice

Choice has been a central tenet of feminist movements advocating for access to abortion. The pro-choice framework has been central notably in the United States and has also significantly influenced feminist movements and health movements worldwide. However, it has also encountered criticism from various social movements and currents, particularly the reproductive justice movement. The reproductive justice movement has criticized the narrow focus on choice and, instead, emphasized the diverse social, political, and economic factors influencing reproductive choices and outcomes. This article argues for a further expansion of the reproductive justice framework, integrating insights from feminist economics research and the capabilities approach. It surveys economics literature, notably feminist and development economics, to demonstrate how economics has contributed and can further contribute to the reproductive justice framework. It focuses on the case of abortion, which has been closely associated with the pro-choice framework, to illustrate how these contributions can materialize. In this article, we propose to draw on feminist economics, capabilities approach and empirical research to rethink reproductive justice. We argue that economics research can enhance global reproductive justice, both normatively and empirically, in at least three critical ways: first, by situating reproductive justice within the broader context of social justice; second, by recognizing how reproductive choices can empower individuals and promote well-being and development beyond reproductive health and rights; and third, by accounting for reproductive injustice.