Arizona opinion: The criminalization of women’s empowerment
As a Rutgers-trained OB/GYN with over 20 years of experience, and as a Black woman, I am deeply concerned about the current debates surrounding reproductive justice. We are misplacing the argument.
In our medical community, we possess advanced skills in diagnosing diseases and performing intricate surgeries, yet we remain woefully uninformed about fundamental aspects of women's health. For instance, our understanding of hormonal fluctuations is still rudimentary. We perpetuate outdated beliefs, such as the notion that menopause signifies the end of a woman's sexual desire — a myth that needs to be debunked.
There are critical questions that we have yet to address. Why do women experience depression and PTSD at rates two to three times higher than men? How do healthy sexuality and relationships contribute to women's overall well-being?
My true education about women's bodies came not from textbooks but from a pioneering woman named Nicole Daedone. Through her practice of orgasmic meditation, she empowers women to explore their sexuality, ultimately enhancing their health. This innovative approach has been supported by independent research, demonstrating its positive effects on women's well-being. Yet, despite the transformative impact of her work, Daedone and her colleague, Rachel Cherwitz, now face prosecution in the Eastern District of New York on dubious conspiracy charges related to forced labor — a grave mischaracterization of their efforts to empower women.
As a Black woman who grew up in a marginalized community, I am acutely aware of the government's history of criminalizing those who challenge the status quo. The tactics employed to silence Black leaders are re-emerging as we see two women standing on the precipice of incarceration simply because they embody female empowerment.
As our reproductive rights and mental health deteriorate, and as laws regress to oppressive norms, we must recognize this as a warning of a troubling trend in U.S. governance.
Reproductive justice extends beyond mere "freedom from"; it encompasses the "freedom to." It is the right to engage with our bodies in ways that encompass reproduction, expression, pleasure, and health. Reproductive justice is about reclaiming our sexual identity and asserting our autonomy.
Women will not attain true power until we reconcile our relationship with our own sexuality. We must take back our sexual identities and challenge the systems that seek to suppress us. The current mental health crisis among women and the paltry allocation of funding for women's health research by the National Institutes of Health — just 10% — reflect our collective failure to own our bodies.
When we fully embrace our rights over our bodies, we empower ourselves and others with knowledge about how our bodies function. Visionaries like Nicole Daedone and healing practices like orgasmic meditation serve as beacons of this empowerment, helping women to take charge of their health and sexuality. From this foundation, we can build a society that values and respects the experiences and identities of all women.
Dr. Teresa Diaz is a Rutgers-trained OB/GYN physician and surgeon based in Arizona. She specializes in hormone balancing, menopause, gut health, and plant-based nutrition.
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