Reproductive Justice Policy, Global Health and Religion Mercy Ajuonu, Antoinette Spillers & Ashlyn W. Strozier Students are enrolled in either Public Policy, Religion, and Global Health. Introduction This research project was created to analyze reproductive justice through the lens of religion, global health, and public policy. The aim of the group is to analyze the reproductive choices using the intersections of public policy, global health, and religion. In addition, to researching reproductive justice through these various lens, we seek to analyze people’s interest and knowledge of reproductive justice issues and the trends. Reproductive justice is a social movement so the research involves engaging women on campus to increase knowledge and awareness. The project was composed of three cycles, all included traditional and ethnographic research. We seek to use research and scholarship as a form of activism. Research Question How does religion, public policy, and public health affect reproductive choices? METHODS Cycle 1: Collection 1)Roundtables 2)Collecting Research Materials : Books/Articles Cycle 2 : Reviewing & Reading 1)Lecture Dr. Dionne Bensonsmith 2) Researching for Emerging Issues Cycle 3: Emerging Issues Research Focus 1)Developing Focus Groups Questions 2) Conducting Focus Groups Surrogacy: Global Phenomenon & Ethics of Abortion: Hyde Amendment Results Roundtable Discussion Public Health The impact of health policy on abortion and choice of sexuality -reproductive rights of women The health implications or negative effects of birth control as the alternative to abortion policy (policing the national body Classism: Private vs public health care access Religion Faith influences the decisions and choices women make regarding their reproductive rights. -Pregnancy designed by God, Not impacted ALL by science -Choice is given by God so ALL should have free will. Dignity, Negative effects What or who is human? The church taught only females “Don’t have sex”, mom “don’t be pregnant”. Is it ethical to have abortion rather than adopt in an “unhealthy environment”? Catholicism: Practicing and not practicing; belief vs Practice –Do not match. Public Policy There’s a lack of policy awareness regarding reproductive justice issues. Policy has been used to policing women’s bodies. Women’s rights is based upon society transformation of the workplace. Social justice issues become mixed up with other social justice issues, such as Black Lives Matter movement and abortions. Policy addressing global health issues –Adoption policy Policy tend to focus on the extreme issues such as abortion. One major impact of the Affordable Care Act regarding reproductive justices was access to free birth controls Focus Groups Intersections for Surrogacy Shows how intertwined religion and culture: 1) need to procreate and 2) use people who are economically disadvantage Theological acceptance of God will…..theological views of accept how God made you without feeling inferior…. I agree…it is damaging views life one path not empower to begin Start to question teaching of society and faith communities. Her sister offered help as surrogacy. Opposite of having children first….we are not letting people chose their own path by saying they are missing out. Now driven by culture of importance of appearance and not altering one’s body This agreement does not have plural but singular between one person male or female www.PosterPresentations.com *These are recorded responses from focus group. *These are recorded responses. FOCUS GROUPS DEFINED SURROGACY: *These are recorded responses from focus group. Agreement between a person with a health reproductive system and group or a person who are unable to naturally reproduce RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2012 Results Continued………. Ladies involved in the focus groups watched a portion of the documentary “Rent-A-Womb.” This documentary documents India’s rapidly growing surrogate industry. Policing women’s bodies—who has the right the tell a woman about her choices? Never thought of it as sex work---because of agency Can’t compare it to sex work. The body is being used but the woman has agreed to be a surrogate. Globally: 1) good end to both surrogate and family 2) can be exploitative but economically empowering, ethically good… what is the detriment in it becoming a trend. 3) bias in journalism ( treatment – trigger words) Focus Group Abortion : Hyde Amendment Forces people to have a child /ren, increases illegal abortions and may promote criminal behavior… Economists link crime to reproductive rights. Lack of information among low income is problematic Right to abortion but don’t know how to pay for it…. Cheaper than caring for a child to mother and father who are not economical prepared. Yes government should pay for abortions and birth control. Yes, we pay for government programs aiding single mothers-- fund birth controls first and put condoms in restrooms. Conclusions • Institutions are shaping women’s reproductive realities. Women are being consciously and unconsciously affected by lawmakers, religious leaders and health professionals. • We used an intersectional approach to exploring reproductive justice. Our research urges researcher, advocates, activists, lawmakers, and larger society. • Many of these decisions are made with out facts but information from their mothers and women around them. • This is a developing topic, so this project was one of discovery. We are offering preliminary themes and observations from this short project. Bibliography Berger, M. (2009). The intersectional approach transforming the academy through race, class, and gender. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. Davis, A. (1989). Women, Culture & Politics. New York, New York: Vintage Book, Random House. Ehrenreich, N. (Ed.). (2008). The reproductive rights reader: Law, medicine, and the construction of motherhood. New York: New York University Press. Freedman, E. (2007). The essential feminist reader. 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Too heavy a load: Black women in defense of themselves, 1894-1994. New York: W.W. Norton. Winddance Twine, F. (2001). Outsourcing the Womb: Race, Class and Gestational Surrogacy in a Global Market (Framing 21st Century Social Issues). New York, New York: Taylor & Francis Woliver, L. (2002). The political geographies of pregnancy. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. Acknowledgments Thank you to all the participants, you time and thoughts were priceless. Thank you the Claremont Graduate University and its transdisciplinary emphasis. Special thanks to Laura Schlosberg for all of your help.