Advanced Social Policy: Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice

Catalog description

This course is an interdisciplinary exploration of reproductive health, rights, and justice in the U.S., with some international context. It builds upon the basic policy theories and frameworks covered in Social Welfare Programs & Policies I, emphasizing the crucial role of policies in influencing individual and family reproductive choices. The primary objective of the course is to provide students with a foundational understanding of issues related to reproductive justice and injustice in our society. Drawing from both scientific scholarship and popular media, we will explore history, activism, law, politics, cultural and social attitudes, stigma and misinformation, and public discourses related to human reproduction. We will think critically about what reproduction policies are, what they should be, and how to get from "are" to "should." Our analytical foundation is the Reproductive Justice Framework, established in the mid-1990s by Women of Color and rooted in universal human rights principles. This framework envisions fundamental reproductive rights, including full autonomy over one's body, the right to have or not have children, the right to birth and/or parent our children with dignity, and the right to live and/or raise a family in a safe, healthy environment. It's important to note that topics in this course may be controversial and could involve complex moral questions. Emphasis will be placed on thoughtful and respectful discussions, avoiding blame and inflammatory language. We will criticize ideas, not individuals.