Sexuality and Policy: Reproduction

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Sexuality and Policy Reproduction
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What is Reproductive Freedom?

• Access to abortion, freedom from forced abortion
• Freedom from sterilization abuse
• Contraceptives
• Education? Culturally competent?
• Ability to become a mother? Father? Parent?
  (gender-neutral?)
• Right to healthy baby? Health care?
• Maternity leave? Child care?
• What about disabled parents? Right to support?

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A Global View of Reproductive Freedom

• Reasons for restrictive or enabling national
  policies on reproductive issues
• Population Explosion concerns (restrictive)
• Varying Norms about sexuality across countries,
  religions/sects/denominations
• Making Race and Nation
• Pronatalism/Anti-Natalism
• Eugenics
• Womens movement strength, unity (class)

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History of US Abortion Policy

• In the Colonies Common Law-Quickening
• Late 1800s Criminalization of Abortion
• exceptions for womens life and health
• 1950s Abortion on Public Agenda
• Thalidomide and Rubella
• ALI Reforms
• 1967 Protests by Womens Rights Activists
• 1973 Roe v. Wade

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History cntd.

• 1960s, 70s Sterilization of women of color,
  disabled
• 1978 Hyde Amendment
• 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey
• New Pro-life Legal Strategy PBA WIC Fetal
  murder
• Establish personhood in law