THE SCIENCE AND POLITICS OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

GEN&WS 529

Course Description

Explores the contemporary science and politics of reproductive health in North America. Taught from a reproductive justice (RJ) perspective, a framework for analysis and action developed by Black women health organizers and scholars. Examines several aspects and applications of the reproductive justice framework itself; RJ approaches to pregnancy and birth; RJ as a diagnosis and refusal of eugenics; and RJ and abortion. Engages with case studies, scholarship, and theory from a variety of literatures relevant to public health: epidemiology, feminist and queer theory, critical race studies, gender/sexuality studies, activist and policy analyses, and historical and contemporary primary sources. Explores a variety of experiences and meanings of reproductive health and illness, as well as the relationships between health/disease and racism, poverty, sexism, hetero- and cis- normativity, colonization, incarceration, and environmental degradation.

Prerequisties

Sophomore standing

Satisfies

This course does not satisfy any prerequisites.

Credits

Not Reported

Offered

Not Reported

Grade Point Average

Not Reported

Could not calculate change

Completion Rate

Not Reported

Could not calculate change

A Rate

Not Reported

Could not calculate change

Class Size

Not Reported

No change from Historical

No data available

Instructors (2025 Fall)

Sorted by ratings from Rate My Professors

Similar Courses

GENDER, SEXUALITY, AND GLOBAL HEALTH

GEN&WS 104

Provides an introductory overview to critical global health studies, linking past trends to current research and health inequalities. Examines current trajectories in disaster relief and public health interventions through a gendered lens, with a solid grounding in the historical context. Explores social, demographic, political, economic, and ecological determinants of global health, and the ways that these factors interconnect with biomedicine to create and affect health outcomes, both within and across countries. Uses an intersectional approach to analyze how public health policies prioritize whose lives represent "save-able" or "salvageable" ones in the public, political, and corporate eye.

CHILDBIRTH IN THE UNITED STATES

GEN&WS/HISTSCI 537

Using a reproductive justice framework, analyze contexts, experiences, practices, ideologies, and historiographies of childbirth in the United States from roughly the 17th century to the present, with the heaviest emphasis on the 20th and 21st century. Examines the ways that colonization, genocide, enslavement, racism, capitalism, heterosexism, patriarchy, and ableism have shaped all of these aspects of childbirth. Inquire how key movements and groups resisting some of these forms of oppression have had the power to reshape birth, as well as locating in birth a source of transformational power.

GENDER AND GLOBAL HEALTH IN CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE

GEN&WS 525

Examines the contemporary global health project in historical and cultural context, highlighting some of the greatest sources of tension and struggle. Using a feminist lens and focusing on gender as key analytic category, explores the ways that the distribution of global wealth and power impacts health and well-being around the world. Explores social, demographic, political and economic determinants of global health, and the ways that these factors interconnect with biomedicine to create and affect health outcomes, both within and across countries. Drawing on critical theories, situates the study and practice of global health in an intersectional framework.

GENDER, SEXUALITY, AND REPRODUCTION: PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVES

GEN&WS 534

Explores several theoretical lenses, disciplinary approaches, and substantive topical areas relating to reproductive and sexual health. Begin by investigating the development of "sexual health" as a phenomenon in public health research, policy, and programs looking back to feminist responses to population control policies of the 1970s. Covers substantive topical areas in the field (e.g., adolescent sexual development, contraception, and AIDS).

RACE, GENDER, HEALTH, AND MEDICINE

GEN&WS 524

Uses race and gender theoretical frameworks to understand peoples' experiences with health and medicine. Conceptualizes race and gender as social categories and applies these frameworks to how people experience health, wellness, and disease. Examines how healthcare and medicine are structured according to racialized and gendered frameworks. Surveys a wide range of issues including reproductive health, body size, mental health, COVID, among other topics. Uses an intersectional approach to analyzing key debates in scholarship on health and medicine.