Module 5

Materials

  • For virtual facilitation, you can use a tool like the Zoom virtual whiteboard or Mural (free) to begin the Reproductive Socialization Exercise. Participants can add their answers via the sticky notes feature, or via their own text boxes. You can also use different-colored sticky notes to delineate responses. Be mindful of people who may be color-blind in your group.  
  • If you are new to using virtual whiteboards and similar tools, you can learn more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0nMPqe10GE
  • Prepare access to the responses to Module 4’s Embodiment Socialization Exercise.
  • Prepare access to Fact Sheet 5.1 Female Reproduction and Abortion Realities Fact Sheet.docx
  • Prepare the Diversity of Religious Perspectives on Reproductive Realities and Moralities links

Gather – Pre-Class Work – RJ Show and Tell

Write the prompt before the session begins: 

  • “I see…” – What RJ issues do you see happening in your example?
  • “I think…” – What do you think is happening in this situation?
  • “I wonder…” – Wonder to yourself: How this could be different?

Ground – Opening and Check In

Opening Affirmations

Invite participants to hold their hands over their hearts or abdomens as they recite these words in unison: 

  • My body is a sacred gift.
  • My sexuality is a sacred gift. 
  • My reproductive journey is a sacred gift. 

Invite participants to turn to someone next to them and recite these words:

  • I affirm your body is a sacred gift.
  • I affirm your sexuality is a sacred gift.
  • I affirm your reproductive journey is a sacred gift.

As we speak these truths, we affirm and celebrate the beautiful diversity of sacred bodies, sexualities, and reproductive journeys in this space and around the world.

As we speak these truths, we affirm that all people, no matter the circumstances of their lives, deserve to be honored in their bodies, sexualities and reproductive journeys.

Check In
  • Introduction instructions in the chat: Name, Pronouns, What is one word or sound that represents how you are feeling or arriving?
  • Are there any themes or pressing content that came up in your RJ Show and Tell discussions?
Questions and Learnings from Last Time

As part of your homework from Module 4, we asked you to review Fact Sheet 5.1 Female Reproduction and Abortion Realities Fact Sheet.docx

  • What did you notice from that sheet?
  • What surprised you?
  • What was new information to you?

Study – Values Clarification: Reproductive Realities and Moralities

Worksheet 5.1 – Values Clarification

In your small group, take 10 minutes to compare the responses. Do not try to guess whose paper you have. Then answer the following questions:

  1. Where are there differences between values?
  2. What values are different from your own? Can you imagine why someone might feel those ways? 
  3. What surprised you about the responses? 

Facilitator Note: It may not work for everyone to switch papers. In that case, you can still have small group discussions about the activity. Focus on the reactions participants had to the statements. 

  • How did you feel about the statements? 
  • Was it difficult to identify your answer? Why or why not? 
  • How might you edit the statements? 
  • If felt strongly about a statement, can you imagine why someone might feel different than you do? Avoid using stereotypes or caricatures, but give a good faith effort to imagining how and why someone would hold a belief different from you.
Reproductive Realities and Moralities
  • Prepare access to the responses to Module 4’s Embodiment Socialization Exercise. Prepare two different color post it notes to differentiate between Realities and Moralities for the Reproductive Socialization Exercise.
  • For virtual facilitation, you can use a tool like the Zoom virtual whiteboard or Mural (free) to begin the Reproductive Socialization Exercise. Participants can add their answers via the sticky notest feature, or via their own text boxes. You can also use different-colored sticky notes to delineate responses. Be mindful of people who may be color-blind in your group.  
  • If you are new to using virtual whiteboards and similar tools, you can learn more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0nMPqe10GE
Large Group Discussion of Realities and Moralities
  • What are the key themes that stand out to you? Are there strong differences among our experiences and messages?
  • Do you see dissonance between the reproductive realities people experienced and the moral messages they received?
  • How aware have you been about these beliefs and norms? Do you agree with the messages you received? Why or why not?
  • Do any of these realities impact your sense of the morality of any particular reproductive path or action?
  • What does all of this information tell you about the cultural value of women and people assigned female at birth: their bodies, labor, and lives as whole people?
Journal

Think about this exercise overall and what you learned from the Reproductive Realities Fact Sheet. Take 5 minutes to journal about your key personal takeaways from this module so far. This is just for you and will not be shared. 

  • What is sticking with you and why? 
  • What messages have you internalized and how have they impacted you? 
  • Do you still live with those messages, or have you transformed them? 
  • If you have transformed, how did you go through that process? What informed that change?

Engage – Faith-Specific Approaches to Reproductive Realities and Moralities

Each group should be prepared to respond to these prompts:

  1. Briefly summarize the tradition’s stance on sexuality/and or reproductive health care
  2. Where do you see the influence of  or reaction to systems of oppression (sexism, patriarchy, racism, homophobia, classism, etc)?
  3. On the surface, can you identify ways this tradition’s views support Reproductive Justice and liberation?

[TECH NOTE: Facilitators can use the breakout room feature on your virtual meeting platform to create small groups. Paste the prompts in the chat. Participants can collaborate in a slideshow, chat, or take notes in their journal.] 

  1. UU Statement on Reproductive Justice https://www.uua.org/action/statements/reproductive-justice 
  2. Hindu Perspective on Reproductive Choice – Religious Community for Reproductive Choice https://rcrc.org/hindu/ 
  3. Judaism and Abortion Guide – National Council of Jewish Women https://www.ncjw.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Judaism-and-Abortion-FINAL.pdf 
  4. Muslim Perspective on Reproductive Choice – Religious Community for Reproductive Choice https://www.rcrc.org/muslim/ 
  5. Buddhist Perspective on Reproductive Choice – Religious Community for Reproductive Choice https://rcrc.org/buddhist/ 
  6. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Statement on Affirming Reproductive Justice – 2022 PC-Biz https://www.pc-biz.org/search/3001108 
  7. Your Are Not Alone: Affirmation for Catholics Who Choose Abortion – Catholics for Choice https://www.catholicsforchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/YouAreNotAlone.CatholicsForChoice.web_.14.pdf 
  8. Your own community or religious tradition

Send – Looking Ahead and Closing

Homework
  1. Prepare your RJ Show and Tell item
  2. Please respond to the following journal prompt: Considering all that we have learned so far, especially the Reproductive Realities and Moralities, are there places that you still feel stuck in shame or stigma? What inner work do you need to do in order to be a proud Reproductive Justice advocate? How might you engage some of that shift internally or in your community?
Closing

Litany of Healing (read in unison)

We suffer because of the pain, brokenness, oppression and loss of meaning that too many experience about their sexuality.

We yearn for our spiritual community to celebrate the goodness of creation, our bodies and our sexualities.

We suffer when this sacred gift is abused or exploited.

We affirm that sexually-just relationships express love, justice, mutuality, commitment, consent, and pleasure.

We suffer because of discrimination against people because of sex, gender identity, color, age, bodily condition, marital status or sexual orientation.

We long for a world that reflects God’s love for all of creation.

We suffer because of violence against women, children and sexual minorities. 

We ache for theologies that help us heal the world instead of causing harm. 

We know that sexuality is God’s life-giving and life-fulfilling gift. 

We desire healing that will help us bear one another in love as we learn together how to celebrate God’s gift of sexuality with holiness and integrity. 

Amen, Ameen, Amein, Aho, Axé oooo, and so it is.

Additional Resources

These are optional supplements intended to support participants and facilitators on A SACReD Journey.