Reproductive Rights National Network

The Reproductive Rights National Network formed in 1978 in response to the nationwide abortion debate launched by Roe v. Wade. It eventually included about 50 feminist organizations and devoted itself to making reproductive choices available for all women. R2N2 campaigned for safe abortions; for the right of gay couples to adopt and raise children; and against the sterilization of poor or "unfit" mothers. It disbanded in 1984.

The Reproductive Rights National Network formed in 1978 in response to the nationwide abortion debate launched by Roe v. Wade. It eventually included about 50 feminist organizations and devoted itself to making reproductive choices available for all women. R2N2 campaigned for safe abortions; for the right of gay couples to adopt and raise children; and against the sterilization of poor or unfit mothers. It disbanded in 1984.

Reproductive rights advocacy group

The Reproductive Rights National Network (R2N2) began as a "non-organization" brought together informally late in 1977 by the Chicago-based New American Movement. It was a coalition of local grassroots organizations formed to counter right-wing anti-abortion movement's lobbying, activism, and propaganda and to provide visibility for a reproductive rights perspective in the women's and health movements. In February 1979, the coalition decided to form a centralizing national organization to support local efforts and coordinate strategy. More than 80 autonomous member groups eventually joined the Network, committing to its "principles of unity."

Illustration from Reproductive Rights National Network brochure, circa 1980

R2N2's goal was to bring women together from diverse groups that had not worked successfully together before. While early efforts focused on abortion access and sterilization abuse, over time the group came to define its work more broadly including work against racism and all forms of oppression, infant mortality, and violence; and advocacy for quality health care, child care, sufficient income, and lesbian and disability rights. R2N2's work included publishing the Reproductive Rights Newsletter, organizing national meetings, and promoting direct action on a wide range of issues. Periodic national conferences served as the "main political and organizational decision-making body" for the Network.

"Chronic decline in the movement" during the politically conservative Reagan Administration challenged the Network's ability to sustain its funding and membership which in turn made tensions over racism and heterosexism within R2N2 particularly difficult to address. In the face of burnout and dwindling participation, R2N2 organized a national conference in November 1984, "Beyond Rhetoric: The Realities of Multi-Racial Organizing," with "serious doubts about survival of the network." Women of color at the conference challenged R2N2's failure to address internal racism as a priority issue and ultimately decided to leave the Network to form a separate women of color group. According to a report of the conference, "total communication breakdown" and pressure from women of color, prompted white women at the conference to commit to come together early in 1985 to discuss the conference and their roles and responsibilities in addressing racism within themselves and their local groups. They ultimately decided they did not want to continue as a Network of white women.