Reproductive Justice: Research as Advocacy

Reproductive Justice: Research as Advocacy

Workshop

 1:50-2:50pm, Room C

During this session we will explore two questions to understand the role that research can play in advancing the tenets of reproductive justice: - How are research and advocacy linked? - In what ways do they differ? Reproductive justice as a framework is key to the creation of intersectional, collaborative, community-based research. Often, research and advocacy are seen as separate efforts. In this workshop, we will challenge this artificial separation, bridging the gaps between the work of research and the work of advocacy towards the goal of realizing the tenets of reproductive justice for all communities. We will begin the session with an overview of the reproductive justice movement and the utility of the tenets as a research framework. This section will include a brief discussion of the history of the reproductive justice movement and of key organizations in the United States working on reproductive justice topics. The aim of this section will be to introduce attendees to the concept of reproductive justice and to highlight the important work that organizations are conducting each day to improve reproductive health outcomes across the country and the world. We will then engage with reproductive justice as a research framework providing a high-level understanding of the applicability of the framework to a variety of fields of study including medicine, public health, gender studies and more. The presenters will provide concrete examples of past reproductive justice focused research, discussing its impacts and applicability to advancing the reproductive justice movement. The aim of this section will be to highlight existing reproductive justice research to illustrate the key ways in which this work informs other aspects of advocacy, activism and policy change. The presenters will share their experiences and perspectives conducting research as a form of reproductive justice advocacy. This discussion will include an overview of ways that attendees can get involved with research in their own communities and organizations. Attendees will be asked to participate in an interactive and collaborative discussion about the role of research in advocacy efforts to explore how the reproductive justice framework can inform their own work, research, and advocacy. Attendees will also be encouraged to identify and connect to ways that they are already actively utilizing research tools in their work. Attendees will leave this workshop with a deeper understanding of reproductive justice and the role of reproductive justice research in advocacy efforts to improve health experiences, outcomes, and policies.

Dr. Noelle Elizabeth Spencer

Dr. Noelle Elizabeth Spencer PhD, MSc is a global health equity advocate and researcher with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights. She is guided by the principles of health equity and reproductive justice and her work focuses on improving health outcomes and access to health information and education. Dr. Spencer believes in the power of storytelling, and that research provides us with tools to turn the data of our stories, experiences, needs and strengths into action and change. She brings over 8 years of experience and expertise in mixed methods research with a focus on community based participatory research (CBPR) to her role.

Nea Richard