The state of reproductive rights in the United States has never been so precarious. Now, more than ever, it is vital for young people to understand their rights, protect their health, and make decisions based on accessible and factually accurate information. IANGEL’s Teen Information Project strives to do just that.
What does the curriculum cover?
The Teen Information Project’s curriculum was first created in 1992 by the Reproductive Rights Committees of the Queen’s Bench Bar Association and the San Francisco Women Lawyers Alliance. The original curriculum included information about Supreme Court rulings, laws pertaining to reproductive rights, and how to respond to hypothetical situations. IANGEL updated the curriculum in 2021 to cover changes in the law and the most recent statistics. The curriculum was also transformed into a visually engaging presentation for students to follow.
IANGEL is once again updating the TIP’s curriculum following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Changes in the 2022 Teen Information Project include a breakdown of the Dobbs decision, existing privacy and abortion rights in California, threats to rights based on the Fourteenth Amendment, and ongoing federal legislation and foreign policy decisions. The curriculum covers both federal and state laws and rights, but the 2022 curriculum has a particular focus on rights in California given that abortion is no longer a federally guaranteed right. The curriculum covers the right to privacy, the right to contraception, and the right to have a child or place one’s child for adoption, as well as definitions of important legal terms that remain relevant to understanding reproductive justice concepts.
Why should teenagers care?
While reproductive rights in the United States have become increasingly fragile over the past few years, the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs overturned the previously established federal constitutional right to abortion. With the revocation of the federal right to abortion, states are now free to make their own laws. As a result, abortion rights are no longer uniform and in some states, the practice is criminalized.
During this unprecedented time, teenagers in California must understand their rights in the state, the implications of various choices and actions, and the practices California state law protects in order to make informed decisions.
The Goal of the Teen Information Project
The Teen Information Project aims to educate teenagers about their legal reproductive rights and activate the next generation of gender justice advocates. With the Dobbs decision, media coverage has been extensive and teenagers may feel overwhelmed or confused by the massive amount of legal commentary that exists.
The Teen Information Project will empower students with accurate and up-to-date information about their existing reproductive rights in California and the challenges and opportunities to expand these rights locally and throughout the U.S. IANGEL will be working with UC Berkeley Law School’s Reproductive Justice Project as well as pro bono attorneys to present this curriculum to high school-age students in local schools and after-school programs this academic year. To get involved, sign up to volunteer here, and email info@iangel.org of your interest.
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