The Reproductive Rights National Network (R2N2) began in November, 1977, as a project of the Chicago-based New American Movement. The group formed in response to right-wing attacks on abortion rights, which R2N2 founders understood as one element of a backlash against recent gains by civil rights, feminist, and labor movements. The goal of R2N2 founders was to defend abortion rights while also advancing a multi-issue movement to ensure reproductive autonomy for all women by incorporating race, class, and sexuality into their work. As such, R2N2 provided an alternative to the single-issue and rights rather than access focus of the pro-choice movement.

R2N2 became a separate organization in February, 1979. More than 80 member groups joined the Network, which was coordinated by a steering committee of regionally elected representatives and one national staff person in New York City. The Network published the Reproductive Rights Newsletter, held national meetings, and promoted direct action on a wide range of issues, including sex education, lesbian rights, child care, a guaranteed income, sexual harassment, militarism, national health care, sterilization abuse, reproductive hazards in the workplace, and clinic defense.

Funding challenges and internal tensions over race contributed to the demise of the national organization in 1984. A Boston affiliate continued until 1995.