As a reproductive justice activist in Missouri, I had a lot of
“preach, sister!” moments while reading Delirium. I’ve seen the
damage wrought from the relentless assault on reproductive
rights…the unplanned pregnancies resulting from a lack of
comprehensive sex education and access to contraception, the
emotional and economic toll taken as women navigate a seemingly
endless series of hurdles to access reproductive health care,
and the devaluing of pregnant women resulting from legislative
attempts to cast them solely as reproductive vessels who forfeit
their rights once pregnancy has been confirmed. I’ve also seen
the transformative power of activism, particularly in my home
state of Missouri where the masses hold far more nuanced views
on the politics of sex than those elected to represent us. For
every challenge to access to birth control or abortion care,
there is a fired up response that gives me hope for the future.