FEMINISM, SCIENCE, & REPRODUCTIVE TECH

Reproductive technologies can refer to a wide range of techno-medical tools—contraceptives, pharmaceuticals, prenatal/genetic testing, ultrasound imaging, assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs)—all of which powerfully influence reproductive experiences across the spectrum of pregnancy. We’ll analyze the sociocultural dimensions of these often highly controversial reproductive technologies. How does reproductive technology shape how we relate to reproduction—how we imagine, experience, and construct identities around reproductive processes? How do they both perpetuate and disrupt notions of race, gender, class, and ability? What freedoms do these reproductive technologies promise, and for whom? Course material will focus on the intersections between feminist science and technology studies, critical race and ethnic studies, and reproductive health.