HIST 90.18 Reproductive Health in U.S. History

This lecture course surveys the history of reproductive medicine and health in the United States from the nineteenth century to the present. It focuses on histories of childbearing, pregnancy, fertility, contraception, reproductive biotechnology, and reproductive healthcare, centering their significance within overlapping political, social, cultural, medical, and scientific contexts. Topics include the management of reproduction within U.S. slavery and empire, reproductive medicine and concepts of race, competing assertions of professional authority over pregnancy and childbearing, eugenics and sterilization, movements for reproductive rights and community healthcare, technologies of reproductive medicine (including prenatal screening and assisted reproductive technology), and present-day disparities in access to and quality of reproductive care. Throughout the term, we will pay particular attention to intersections with historical and present-day formations of race, gender, disability, citizenship, and kinship.

Degree Requirement Attributes

Dist:SOC; WCult:W

The Timetable of Class Meetings contains the most up-to-date information about a course. It includes not only the meeting time and instructor, but also its official distributive and/or world culture designation. This information supersedes any information you may see elsewhere, to include what may appear in this ORC/Catalog or on a department/program website. Note that course attributes may change term to term therefore those in effect are those (only) during the term in which you enroll in the course.

Department-Specific Course Categories

Class of 2023 and Before Major Dist: US; Class of 2024 and Beyond Major Dist: US, modern.