Feminist Intersections: Reproductive Genome Editing at a Crossroads

March 28, 2023

The third panel in CGS' Missing Voices Initiative webinar series, this roundtable conversation explored the perilous prospect of reproductive uses of human genome editing from the perspective of feminist and reproductive justice scholars and advocates. Their intersectional analyses illuminated concerns related to eugenics and the rapidly expanding global fertility industry. Speakers were Kavita Ramdas, Alana Cattapan, and Amrita Pande, and the panel was moderated by Susan Berke Fogel.

A full transcript of the discussion is available.

Speaker Bios

Kavita Ramdas is a globally recognized advocate for gender equity and justice who provides high-level consulting advice and guidance on initiatives to defend democracy and protect human rights both within the US and across the globe.

Alana Cattapan is the Canada Research Chair in the Politics of Reproduction and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Waterloo. She studies gendered inclusion in policy making, identifying links between the state, the commercialization of the body, and reproductive labour. 

Amrita Pande is Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology at the University of Cape Town. Her research revolves around globalization and the intimate, with a focus on reproductive labour and new reproductive technologies.

Susan Berke Fogel, Co-Founder of the Pro-Choice Alliance for Responsible Research, is an attorney and consultant to non-profit organizations working on reproductive health and rights issues.

Resources

Germline Modification Could Be New Frontier of Reproductive and Disability Oppression | Emily Galpern, Biopolitical Times (Jan 2020)

Gene-edited babies don’t grow in test tubes – mothers’ roles shouldn’t be erased | Rachel Adams, The Conversation (May 2019)