Yoony Lee
The History of Contraception and Abortion in the United States
Recent political tensions have been threatening the validity of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 supreme court decision that have constitutionally protected abortion rights for nearly half of a century. However, reproductive justice concerns not only the legal right to not have a child but also the fundamental human right to sexual and reproductive autonomy. This project investigates the history of contraception and abortion in the United States and how the American experience of sexual and reproductive choice differs along racial, gender, and socioeconomic lines. This summer, I will assist the founder of UC Berkeley’s Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice, Professor Kristin Luker on her upcoming book on this subject. My tasks will comprise of synthesizing literature, reviewing research papers, and performing both qualitative and quantitative data collection. Our team also plans to resume collaboration with the Human Rights Center or continue working on other projects relevant to reproductive justice.
Message To Sponsor
I would like to extend my gratitude to the Luker team (you know who you are) and the donors of the URAP program for the opportunity to continue my research this summer. It is impossible to articulate the sheer breadth of intellectual and emotional knowledge I’ve accumulated this past year by working on fulfilling work with such bright, compassionate, and inspirational colleagues. To me, reproductive justice is more than just a heavily politicized issue: it’s about the right for all people to make their own choices about their body, independent of the state.