BC Voices

TODAY’S THE DAY! Join BC Voices x Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics North America for an inspiring afternoon of self-care, empowerment, and community!? ?? Today, March 23rd ? 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM ?? Lush Upper West Side (2177 Broadway, NYC) Let’s come together to discuss women’s rights, advocacy, and making meaningful change—because self-care and activism go hand in hand!? See you there! #BCVoices #LushCosmetics #WomensRights #Empowerment #SelfCareAndActivism #StandUpSpeakOut

53 years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in ???????????????????? ??. ?????????? that unmarried individuals had the same right to contraception as married couples. This decision was a groundbreaking moment in the fight for reproductive freedom, reinforcing that privacy and bodily autonomy should not be contingent on marital status. This victory was made possible by ?????????????? ?????????? (b. 1932), a reproductive rights advocate who was arrested in 1967 for distributing contraceptives to an unmarried woman at Boston University. His activism challenged the Massachusetts statute that prohibited distributing birth control to single individuals. Building upon ???????????????? ??. ?????????????????????? (1965)—which had established contraception rights for married couples—this ruling expanded reproductive autonomy at a time when birth control access was deeply tied to a woman’s economic and social standing. For middle-class women, it meant the ability to delay marriage, pursue higher education, and enter professional careers on their own terms. But for working-class women, the stakes were different. Many already labored in low-wage jobs with little job security, no paid maternity leave, and limited healthcare access. For them, the right to contraception wasn’t just about career advancement—it was about survival. It meant fewer unplanned pregnancies in an economy that offered them little support, the ability to plan their families despite financial instability, and the chance to fight for better wages and working conditions without the added burden of forced motherhood. Yet, even with Eisenstadt v. Baird, access remained deeply unequal. Birth control was legal, but affordability and availability were still major barriers. Many low-income women could not afford contraception, with birth control pills costing $50–$100 per month and IUDs requiring hundreds of dollars upfront. Publicly funded family planning clinics were often the only source of affordable contraception, but these clinics faced constant attacks—such as the 2011 Texas family planning budget cuts, which forced over 80 clinics to close, disproportionately harming Black, Latina, and rural women. Employer and religious exemptions, upheld in Supreme Court cases like ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??. ???????????????????????? (2020), allowed companies to deny birth control coverage, making contraception inaccessible for many low-wage workers. Medicaid restrictions, such as requiring monthly prescription renewals, added yet another hurdle. While Eisenstadt v. Baird was a step forward, true reproductive justice remained out of reach for those who needed it most.

Only 4 Days Left! ? Don't miss this critical conversation: ?? Democracy in Peril! Looking Back to Go Forward ?? Wednesday, March 26th | ? 7:00 PM EST ?? Online Event Join feminist scholars and social justice activists Marlene Fried, Loretta Ross, and Ruth Reichard as they dive into the challenges facing democracy today and how history can guide the way forward. ?? Secure your spot now! https://bit.ly/92ndStreetY #4DaysToGo #BCVoices #92NY #Democracy #HumanRights #WomensHistoryMonth

Today’s the Day!? Join BC Voices x Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics North America for an afternoon of empowerment & self-care! ?? Today, March 22nd ? 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM ?? Lush Union Square (28 E 14th St, New York) Let’s come together for inspiring conversations about women’s rights, empowerment, and equality—because advocacy and self-care go hand in hand! Explore Lush products, connect with changemakers, and take action for a better future! Stop by and say hi—we can’t wait to see you!? #HappeningToday #BCVoices #LushCosmetics #WomensRights #Empowerment #SelfCareAndActivism

Bath Bombs & Bold Voices? Absolutely! BC Voices and Lush are coming together for a powerful in-store event, blending self-care with activism! Join us on Sunday, March 30th, from 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM at Lush Spa Lexington for an inspiring conversation on women's rights, empowerment, and equality. Let’s celebrate progress, discuss the challenges ahead, and find ways to make a difference—because advocacy and self-care go hand in hand! #BCVoices #LushCosmetics #WomensRights #Empowerment?

Join Us for BC Voices x Connecting the Dots! We’re bringing voices together for an inspiring online event on Friday, March 28th, from 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm. Let’s explore the power of connection, conversation, and community. Reserve your spot now: https://lnkd.in/gEEEg4CQ #BCVoices #ConnectingTheDots #CommunityConversations #OnlineEvent #StayConnected

The fight for gender equality in the workplace has been long and complex, marked by victories and setbacks. One such setback occurred on this day in 1991 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ??. ?????????????? ????????????????, ??????., a decision that weakened protections against workplace discrimination by allowing employers to exclude women from certain jobs under the pretext of protecting their health and potential pregnancies. The ruling directly impacted manufacturing and industrial jobs, particularly those where workers were exposed to hazardous chemicals like lead. Johnson Controls, a battery manufacturing company, had a policy that barred women of childbearing age from jobs involving lead exposure, claiming it was to protect potential pregnancies. This decision reinforced outdated notions that women’s reproductive capacity made them liabilities in the workplace and set a dangerous precedent for similar policies in other industries, including chemical and industrial manufacturing, mining, heavy labor, aerospace, engineering, and even certain healthcare roles that involved radiation treatments or hazardous pharmaceuticals. The ?????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ?????? (??????) of 1978 was meant to prevent employers from discriminating based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling legitimized so-called “?????????? ???????????????????? ????????????????”, which disproportionately affected working-class women in male-dominated fields. Women in industries like manufacturing, mining, and heavy labor—where exposure to hazardous materials was common—were often lower-wage workers with fewer employment options. Unlike women in professional or office-based jobs, they could not easily transition to a different role within the same company. These exclusions meant that women who relied on physically demanding jobs to support themselves and their families were effectively shut out of higher-paying positions or forced into lower-wage, less stable work. The ruling also reinforced the long-standing economic disparity between men and women in blue-collar industries. Many of these physically demanding jobs offered better wages, union benefits, and job security compared to traditionally "feminine" roles in retail or service industries. By allowing employers to bar women from such jobs under the guise of health concerns, the ruling perpetuated cycles of economic disadvantage, particularly for women who lacked higher education or access to alternative career paths. Historical context matters. Less than two decades before this ruling, ???????? ?????????? ???????????????? (1933–2020) co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the ACLU in 1972 and led landmark legal battles against sex-based discrimination. Her work laid the foundation for legal cases that challenged gender-based workplace restrictions.

Only 2 Days Left! Get ready for an afternoon of empowerment & self-care with BC Voices x Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics North America! ?? Saturday, March 22nd ? 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM ?? Lush Union Square (28 E 14th St, New York) Join us for inspiring conversations about women’s rights, empowerment, and equality—because advocacy and self-care go hand in hand. Let’s learn, connect, and take action together! Plus, explore some amazing Lush products while supporting a great cause! Tag a friend and mark your calendar! #2DaysToGo #BCVoices #LushCosmetics #WomensRights #Empowerment #SelfCareAndActivism

Only 3 days left! BC Voices x Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics North America are teaming up for a special in-store event to celebrate Women’s History Month!? ?? Sunday, March 23rd ? 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM ?? Lush Upper West Side (2177 Broadway, NYC) Join us for an afternoon of self-care, empowerment, and community as we discuss women’s rights, advocacy, and making meaningful change—together! Don’t miss out—spread the word and tag a friend!? #BCVoices #LushCosmetics #WomensRights #Empowerment #SelfCareAndActivism #StandUpSpeakOut

For decades, “family planning” was weaponized against marginalized communities. From the 1930s to the 1970s, eugenics-based government programs designed to prevent “undesirable” people from having children pressured immigrant women, women of color, and low-income women into using birth control or getting sterilized—decisions made without true choice. Beverly Golorsky shares her mother’s defiant stand against this coercion. When a social worker urged Beverly’s? mother to stop having children because of financial hardship, she refused, insisting that “each child brings its own luck.” Her resistance speaks to a larger fight: the right to reproductive autonomy. True family planning is about education and empowerment—not control. Understanding this history reminds us why reproductive rights remain a human rights issue today. Watch the full Stand Up, Speak Out – Episode 3: Reproductive Rights – Family Planning docuseries. #ReproductiveRights #WomensHistory #HumanRights #FamilyPlanning #StandUpSpeakOut