Beyond Choice: The Social Dimensions of Reproduction
Course Description
Should we have children? How, when, and with whom should we have children? How should we avoid having children? While issues related to reproduction are often framed as individual choices, they are also political, cultural, and social. In this class, we will examine how individual choices are shaped by the social world, analyzing how norms, relationships, policies, and laws influence reproduction. We will discuss contemporary issues of reproduction—such as pregnancy and birth, abortion, contraception, and reproductive technologies—through the lenses of race, class, and gender inequality. In our discussions, we will consider different perspectives and experiences. No sociology experience is necessary; just bring curiosity about the social world!
We will learn and apply sociological theories—think of them as “lenses” or “big ideas”—to critically examine contemporary reproduction topics. Some topics from the course include: the historical legacy of policies controlling who could have children (eugenics); movements for and against abortion; the “birth control revolution;” technologies (like IVF) that facilitate parenting for infertile, single, and queer people; how feminists and tradwives shape reproduction narratives; parenting and reproductive labor; and the history and culture of birth in the US. Through such topics, we will learn theories about gender and inequality.
Students will read academic texts and news articles, listen to podcasts, and watch films. We will take a trip to an off-campus museum exhibit related to reproduction. In class, we will work through ideas in writing, small group activities, and large group discussions. Throughout the quarter, students will research a reproduction topic of their choice, culminating in a presentation to the class. We will use a form of contract grading to encourage improvement over time to master the material.
Meet the Instructor: Meghan Warner
"I am a sociologist, which means I like to think about interactions, institutions, and social structures that shape who we are. I am interested in how individual choices and agency are shaped by the social world. I wrote a dissertation on childbirth choices, examining how women’s preferences for birth, and experiences giving birth, are shaped by narratives around birth and the norms of clinical settings. I also study sexual violence and identity; how young people think about their futures as lawyers and parents; and as an undergraduate, I studied abortion on television. Uniting these topics is a focus on agency, choice, and gender. I first became interested in these issues in my introductory sociology and gender studies classes. I am excited to discuss these issues and learn with students!
"When I’m not thinking about these topics (and sometimes even when I am), I watch women’s basketball, knit, practice yoga, and hang out with my family."
