International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, Vol 13(3), 2024, 115-118; doi:10.1027/2157-3891/a000106
What are the critical issues faced by women worldwide? At the 2022 meeting of the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 52’s (International Psychology) International Committee for Women (ICfW), we recognized the wide scope and severity of the challenges women face, including threats to their physical and mental health, economic well-being, social equality, education, employment opportunities, and the ability to lead a peaceful existence. Reproductive justice was identified as a critical theme that connects many of these issues. In 2010, members of the ICfW and members of APA Division 35’s (Psychology of Women) Global Issues Committee (GIC) undertook a joint project: publication of a book entitled Reproductive Justice: A Global Concern (Chrisler, 2012). Chapter authors reviewed relevant literature related to reproductive justice, pointed to gaps in knowledge, and urged psychologists to conduct research with reproductive justice in mind. Ten years after the book’s appearance, it seemed timely to revisit this pressing topic. A special issue of International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation was the most fitting forum to showcase this important work, and we thank the Editor, Ines Meyer, for her agreement and support. The call for papers led to an enthusiastic response of 26 submissions on a variety of pertinent and interesting topics. This special issue represents the culmination of our initial selection, constructive reviews by generous expert peer reviewers, multiple revisions by engaged and persistent authors, and final publication of the five outstanding articles you find here. Those articles represent a variety of cultural and geographic settings, including diverse populations in North America, action research from South Africa, and a cross-national study of Mexico, India, the United States of America (US), and the United Kingdom (UK). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)