My research is in social movements, human rights and reproduction with an emphasis on how intersecting inequalities operate within and across these sites.  My research has been published in multiple journals including Mobilization, Gender and Society, Sociological Inquiry, Feminist Studies, and Societies without Borders: Social Science and Human Rights.  My research has been funded by multiple sources including the National Science Foundation. 

As a reproductive justice scholar, I focus on reproductive justice as a movement, theory and praxis. In the area of social movements, my work explores movement emergence, coalition dynamics and the role of identity. Coalitions play a vital role in movements and my work in this area contributes to better understanding their functions and (lack of) effectiveness within movements. I am Principal Investigator of the Mobilizing Millions Project in which a team of researchers are examining the dynamics of the January 21st, 2017  women's marches worldwide. In the area of law and society, my work explores how human rights are engaged with in a regional context (the US) where human rights are misunderstood and often maligned.  In the area of reproduction, my work contributes to our understanding of how social identities influence whose reproduction is encouraged and discouraged through policies and cultural stereotypes.

I secured various grants for this research, the majority from a National Science Foundation Law and Social Sciences Dissertation Research Grant. The Sophia Smith Collection was a critical resource. My work has also received recognition through invitations to the Law and Society Association Graduate Student Workshop and Midwest Law and Society Retreat.

 

My research has been published in multiple journals including Mobilization, Gender and Society, Sociological Inquiry; Feminist Studies; and Societies without Borders: Social Science and Human Rights. 

 Students: Each term I work with energetic undergraduates on various research projects. Contact me directly to learn more.

Above: Photo taken at the UN Commission on Status of Women, 2009 

Right: Photo of a workshop creating a timeline of event significant to the reproductive justice movement, US Social Forum, Detroit 2010 

 Legislate This!/Trust Black Women press conference, Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta, 2010