Dr. Denise Spitzer - 2020 Cluster Recipient


KIAS Spotlight Researcher

Forced Sterilization and Coerced Contraception: Towards a Multi-National Agenda

Project Lead: Dr. Denise Spitzer

Professor
School of Public Health

FSCC underscores the notion that some people, most often Indigenous, migrant, and rural poor women, are less deserving of bearing children than others. We will generate a comparative multi-national research agenda on FSCC led by survivors and grounded in local contexts.

 

Project Description:

Nonconsensual control over women’s reproduction comprises a continuum of practices including forced sterilization and coerced contraception (FSCC), where women are rendered unable to permanently or temporarily procreate. FSCC underscores the notion that some people, most often Indigenous, migrant, and rural poor women, are less deserving of bearing children than others. Our team, comprised of researchers, advocates, and health practitioners in Canada, Indonesia, and Peru, is engaging survivors, researchers, advocates, and health professionals to learn more about FSCC in these three countries. Starting with multi-lingual web-based discussions with health professionals, advocates, and survivors to determine how to ethically and sensitively approach this topic, we will engage survivors using arts-based methods to learn more of their stories of FSCC. These artistic expressions and discussions will anchor a summit with survivors, advocates, and researchers to generate a comparative multi-national research agenda on FSCC led by survivors and grounded in local contexts.

University of Alberta Team Members:

  • Dr. Denise Spitzer (PI)
  • Dr. Vera Caine
  • Dr. Amy Kaler
  • Dr. Joll Konkin
  • Dr. Susanne Luhmann

External Team Members:

  • Alejandra Ballon
  • Tania Pariona Tarqui
  • Marieliv Flores Villalobos
  • Yuni Asriyanti
  • Karsiwen
  • Budi Wahyuni