Symposium: Feminist Perspectives on Medical Bodies

March 2, 2015

Symposium: Feminist Perspectives on Medical Bodies

The political, social, ethical and regulatory dimensions of assisted reproduction, genetic therapies and gender-specific surgical interventions around the world were key issues discussed at a symposium held at UOW in February.

Attracting PhD candidates and established academics from a range of institutions and areas of expertise, the symposium, Feminist Perspectives on Medical Bodies, showcased the broad scope of interdisciplinary research being conducted in the areas of biopolitics and biomedicine by members of three academic groups: Legal Intersections Research Centre (LIRC), the Feminist Research Network (FRN) and the Forum on Human Rights Research (FHRR).

“It was a forum for critical engagement with diverse feminisms and cutting edge political, legal and bioethical issues in the specific context of medicalised bodies,” law lecturer Dr Linda Steele, who helped organise the event, said.

Presenters from UOW, Monash University, University of Sydney and University of Technology Sydney addressed the symposium’s theme via a broad range of contemporary issues, including animal to human transplantation, sterilisation and in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

keynotes
Two keynote speakers addressed the symposium: Professor Catherine Waldby, Department of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Sydney, presented on the historical conditions under which oöcytes (mammalian eggs) became experimental objects, as the reproductive sciences tinker with their functions, capacities and potentials. Professor Isabel Karpin, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney, on gendered assumptions around behavioural disabilities in the context of access to preimplantation genetic diagnosis for medical sex selection.

keynotes

Two keynote speakers addressed the symposium:

Professor Catherine Waldby, Department of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Sydney, presented on the historical conditions under which oöcytes (mammalian eggs) became experimental objects, as the reproductive sciences tinker with their functions, capacities and potentials.
Professor Isabel Karpin, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney, on gendered assumptions around behavioural disabilities in the context of access to preimplantation genetic diagnosis for medical sex selection.

Dr Steele shared her research looking into the sterilisation of women and girls with a disability and related questions of discrimination.

Dr Nicola Marks, who specialises in understanding social aspects of science and technology, spoke about an Australian Research Council Discovery Project titled ‘IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technologies: The Global Experience' that she and colleagues Professor Vera Mackie and Associate Professor Sarah Ferber are in the early stages.

“We are exploring the global dimensions of IVF and patterns of reproductive travel, which are often unpredictable and need to be understood in their changing historical, social and cultural contexts,” Dr Marks said.

Also on the subject of reproduction, medical anthropologist Associate Professor Andrea Whittaker from Monash University shared details of her research into the topical issue of reproductive travel to Thailand – an area which is highly topical in light of recent controversies such as ‘Baby Gammy’.

“Events like this enable scholars to share their research and receive feedback from people with different perspectives and areas of expertise; it encourages ongoing interdisciplinary and cross-institutional research connections,” Dr Steele said.

Other speakers at the event included: Dr Nadine Ehlers and PhD candidate Zoe Barker from UOW; Dr Macarena Iribarne, an independent scholar; Rachel Carr, a PhD candidate at USYD; Professor Catherine Waldby of University of Sydney; Professor Isabel Karpin from University of Technology Sydney; and Associate Professor Catherine Mills of Monash University.

A program with more information about each speaker can be found online.