Events

The History and Politics of Birth Control

Seanna Leath, assistant professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Washington University, will discuss the history and politics of birth control, with a particular focus on Black women and reproductive justice. Reproductive justice (RJ) refers to: (1) the right not to have a child; (2) the right to have a child; and (3) the right to raise and nurture children in safe and healthy environments. She will urge audience members to consider how we can move towards a future where self-determination, healing justice and community care inform our conversations, social practices and governmental policies around Black women’s reproductive rights. Leath is a Black feminist scholar and community-based researcher whose expertise includes intersectional identity development, Black family socialization processes, and wellness practices among Black women and girls. She directs the Fostering Healthy Identities and Resilience (FHIRe) Collaborative, a research group of Black and Latina students and community partners in Charlottesville and St. Louis, and is a member of the Reproductive Justice Working Group, based at the Washington University Center for the Humanities. In-person and livestream viewing options available.