AIGA Design Educators Community (DEC)’s Post

My colleague Edmée Ballif and I are putting together a panel proposal for the upcoming conference Reworlding Reproduction from September 16th to 19th 2024. Find all the information below. Wishing everybody a happy holiday season! CFP – Conference ReWorlding Reproduction Emerging Knowledges , Politics, and Practices of Justice Pretoria, 16-19 September 2024 Virtual presentation possible – see below. Panel "The Child and The Environment: Emerging knowledges, persisting inequalities?" The figure of the child, both imagined and actual, plays a pivotal role in discussions surrounding fertility, infertility, and childcare. Its epistemic significance has gained renewed attention in the face of the current environmental crisis. "The child" is portrayed as an innocent victim, a culprit, a symbol urging responsible action, or even as active agents of ecological change (Sheldon 2016, Phoenix et al. 2017, MacKendrick and Cairns 2019, Lakind & Adist-Morris 2018). In this panel, we want to explore contemporary linking the figure of the child with environmental changes, shedding light on the hegemonic knowledges and structures of inequality they perpetuate. We invite papers addressing the following questions (although these are not exhaustive): Which imaginaries of the child currently circulate in diverse social, cultural and geographical contexts in relation to environmental change? How do these imaginaries relate to global and local structures of social inequality? We also invite critical perspectives on the centrality of the child in environmental discussions: How may the figure of the child, whether actual or imagined, limit our imaginaries of an environmentally just future by reproducing hegemonic notions of the “good” life? Can we leverage the image of the child to challenge hegemonic framings of the family and of gender relations to move towards an environmental reproductive justice? We encourage submission of paper abstracts presenting perspectives from the Global South and/or that challenge American and Euro-centric perspectives.   Submission Details:   Please submit a 200-word abstract and short bio to Dr. Edmee Ballif (e.ballif@ucl.ac.uk) and Dr. Julieta Chaparro-Buitrago (jac308@cam.ac.uk) by January 15th 2024.   Note: According to the conference website, presenters can indicate if they are interested in a virtual presentation (https://lnkd.in/eR58bJEn). Kindly indicate your preference for in-person attendance or virtual participation.

Drafting my abstract today!

Just another example of #SVI alum walking the walk and making impact! Longtime SVI alum and support Nia Impact Capital has released their impact report “Investing to Close the Women’s Health Gap"  As the focus on women’s reproductive health and overall health continues to escalate, Nia's work is more important than ever. Nia is led by Kristin Hull, PhD, who joined us at SVI 2023 for a True Confessions panel on Women who Rock Finance 🤘🏼 "In our investment approach we aim to promote access to quality healthcare, preventative care, and protections for reproductive rights for women. Our investment approach delivers benefits that ripple out to communities and to the overall economy. When it comes to research, investment and direct care, closing the women’s health gap could boost the global economy by at least $1 trillion per year by 2040. At Nia we actively seek companies addressing this gap in research and relevant data, as well as solutions for reducing barriers in access to care. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gPdSzv7H #BCorp #womeninfinance #socialventure #impactinvesting

Wyoming has joined the states denying medical treatments to trans youth. Really, it is their attempt to deny the existence of trans youth. These laws present families with a dilemma - stay in increasingly hostile locations or uproot the whole family to the safety of states and communities that are welcoming and provide protective laws for ALL of their children. A MoveIndigo link in the comment section below highlights the states and communities that both welcome these families AND where they can have impactful votes, helping to prevent any federal laws from being passed and shoring up votes in toss-up districts. For those leaving Wyoming, Colorado and Washington are the nearest states with strong protections for trans youth. #transrights #lgbtqrights #moveindigo #elections2024 https://lnkd.in/eRdBBjx4

🤰🏽 As we observe Black Maternal Health Week, it's vital to highlight the disparities in maternal health outcomes and advocate for a reproductive justice framework that addresses these issues head-on. Reproductive justice extends beyond pro-choice or pro-life debates; it's about ensuring everyone has the right to have children, not have children, and parent the children they have in safe and sustainable communities. This framework is essential in addressing the systemic inequalities faced by Black women and Black trans men in healthcare. Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, a disparity that remains consistent across income and education levels. Similarly, Black trans men who seek reproductive care face unique challenges in accessing competent and compassionate healthcare, further exacerbated by systemic racism and transphobia. These statistics aren't just numbers; they represent lives lost and families shattered due to systemic failures. 📖 The path to equity involves culturally responsive education in healthcare that recognizes and respects all patients' diverse needs and experiences. Healthcare providers must be educated on the unique health risks and barriers faced by Black women and Black trans men, ensuring they receive the care and support they deserve. 👨🏽⚕️ As we reflect on the importance of Black Maternal Health Week, let's commit to advocating for policies and practices that promote reproductive justice. Let's strive for a healthcare system that upholds the dignity and rights of all, ensuring that every individual can thrive in their reproductive health and wellbeing. Our founder and principal, Courtney Johnson-Benson, conducts research in human sexuality, including health disparities and systemic barriers to culturally responsive care access. #BlackMaternalHealthWeek #ReproductiveJustice #HealthEquity #SisterSong #BirthingBeautifulCommunities #OhioDoulas

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Seventy-one percent of currently enrolled and prospective college students say that states’ reproductive healthcare policies are at least somewhat important in their enrollment decisions, according to the Lumina Foundation-Gallup 2024 Higher Education Study. This figure is up slightly from 67 percent who said the same in late 2022. An even greater increase in the relevance of this issue to prospective and current students is seen among those indicating these policies are highly important in their enrollment decisions (38 percent today compared with 30 percent in 2022). Both surveys were conducted after the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision on abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on June 24, 2022. #abortion #reproductiverights #reproductivehealth #highereducation #collegesanduniversities #highered

I had the privilege of writing an informational blog post for a great organization, Representation in Rehab, regarding a topic I’m passionate about. “About 12% of U.S. women of childbearing age (7-8 million women) have a physical, hearing, vision, or cognitive disability - most of these women have typical fertility (Horner-Johnson et al., 2018). Therefore, exploring barriers to reproductive & sexual health for women with disabilities is vital to ensure that every woman receives comprehensive healthcare and exercises her rights to personal choices. Unfortunately, women with disabilities face substantial disparities in accessing reproductive and sexual healthcare compared to their non-disabled counterparts. These disparities are often rooted in issues such as physical inaccessibility, social stigma, limited reproductive and sexual health education, lack of personalized healthcare, and financial challenges.Through identification and awareness of these barriers, physiatrists can enhance inclusivity, offer education and resources as needed, and provide comprehensive patient support. We can strive to create an inclusive and equitable society where women of all abilities can access service, information, and help to make informed decisions about their reproductive and sexual well-being.” check it out! https://lnkd.in/e_6CEWdH

Dark Ages Don’t think for one minute you have heard the last of Project 2025. Anything written by 110 extreme conservative groups and untold number of officials from the previous Trump administration is not going away. Paul Dans who led this group to its dangerous blueprint for the next “Republican” administration left the Heritage Foundation.  Project 2025 would drastically change America and is under attack by national columnists and commentators, Democrats and Republicans across the country.     Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation said their policy work was done. That may be, but he left no doubt the work will continue. He stated, “Our collective efforts to build a personnel apparatus for policymakers at all levels – federal, state and local – will continue.” Until now it appeared the focus was just on Washington. However, this comment should set off an alarm from city councils to governor’s offices. Remember it takes committed people to implement. They will not give up until all ideas in the 925-page document have been implemented. Here are just a few examples of what to expect from Project 2025. *BAN abortion and contraception nationwide. *Weaponize the Department of Justice to go after political enemies. *Strip millions of Americans of their healthcare coverage and privatize Medicare. *Maintain a biblically based, social science-reinforced definition of marriage and family. *Target Diversity, Equity and Inclusions (DEI) in higher education and government. *Eliminate or reform dietary guidelines published by USDA for 40 years. *Proposed large-scale immigration raids and deportations. All of us need to get involved in the 2024 presidential election to keep our country from returning to the dark ages.

Curious about the impact of the Dobbs decision on birth rates and health outcomes? Be sure to register for tomorrow's webinar to get the latest on data and research challenges.

I was interviewed about my latest doc "My So-Called Selfish Life" in the The New York Times and talked about why I and others choose not to have children. LINK: https://lnkd.in/g_YHzQyi Amazing confluence of: (1) a rapidly growing childfree demographic and (2) the resurfacing of some dumb-ass comments by JD Vance, a gift that keeps on giving. Media folks: My So-Called Selfish Life could not be more timely. Reach out for context and commentary on people without children in this cat lady moment. About the study: According to the just-released Pew Research Center study, the most popular response from 18 to 49 year olds was "They just don't want to." That's 57% of respondents, which is a lot . And listen, it is a perfectly good reason. It certainly was my reason. There are lots of other reasons as well. For all the responses, and how those percentages differed for people over 50 go to: https://lnkd.in/gDKyKtnj MY SO-CALLED SELFISH LIFE is a revolutionary new documentary about reproductive freedom through the experiences of childfree women. *WATCH* 👉 Global home video rental on demand is at: https://lnkd.in/ePbSzB3m 👉For broader information on how to access the film for groups, events, etc: https://lnkd.in/gGgFAXsT