Reproductive Rights & The Supreme Court

This course will explore the history and law of reproductive rights in the United States. The majority of the term will be spent analyzing the constitutional framework governing forced sterilization, contraception and abortion and the substantial changes made to that framework by the current Supreme Court.  We will consider the historical, ethical, social and religious context; gender, race and socioeconomic class issues; impact on health and the U.S. health care system; the rationales for the protection of reproductive rights; and the practical impact of the regulations. We will also look ahead to the future of reproductive rights jurisprudence in the U.S. in the post-Dobbs era and discuss broader, intersectional areas of reproductive justice, including issues of access, parenting, maternal health and criminalization of pregnancy.  This course is pass/fail.