In this podcast episode, I discuss the Puerto Rican status as a colony and the history of La Operación, a program implemented by the US government in the 1950s to sterilize Puerto Rican women without their informed consent. I also interview Elizabeth Estrada, the New York Field and Advocacy Manager for the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, about the importance of family planning education and access to reproductive healthcare in the Puerto Rican community.

I provide a brief overview of the political status of Puerto Rico, including the island's history as a Spanish colony and its acquisition by the United States in 1898. I explain that Puerto Rico is currently a US territory, which means that its residents are US citizens but do not have full voting rights or representation in Congress. I also discuss the impact of colonialism on Puerto Rico's economy and society.

Next, I delve into the topic of La Operación, a program launched by the US government in the 1950s to control Puerto Rico's population growth. The program involved sterilizing Puerto Rican women without their informed consent, often while they were undergoing other medical procedures. I explain that this program was part of a larger eugenics movement in the US, which sought to control the reproductive choices of marginalized communities.

In the second half of the episode, I interview Elizabeth Estrada about the importance of family planning education and access to reproductive healthcare in the Puerto Rican community. We discuss the barriers that many Latinas face in accessing contraception and other reproductive healthcare services, including language barriers, lack of insurance coverage, and stigma. Elizabeth shares some of the advocacy work that the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice is doing to address these issues, including advocating for policies that expand access to healthcare and partnering with community organizations to provide education and resources.

This podcast episode sheds light on the complex issues surrounding family planning education and colonialism. This episode particularly highlights the importance of ensuring that all individuals have access to the information and resources they need to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

***Audio Correction: The institute that Elizabeth works for rebranded as the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice in March 2021. I mention the org by their previous name, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, in the audio.***

Nikki Myers