Lunch and Learn
Safeguarding for Reproductive Coercion and Abuse: Lessons from a UK study of policy and practice
24th January 2024 - 12.00pm - 1.30pm
Speaker: Dr Pam Lowe
Summary:
Reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA) is a specific form of interpersonal abuse which attempts to promote, prevent or control pregnancy through interference, coercion, threats and violence. Whilst it often occurs in the context of other forms of abuse such as domestic abuse or child sexual exploitation, it can also occur in isolation. This session will briefly outline different forms of RCA, before outlining issues that impact on disclosure of RCA. In particular it will highlight how normative assumptions about women, pregnancy and motherhood shape perceptions of whether or not coercion is likely to be an issue, particularly highlighting how this interrelates with stigma around the non-use of contraception and abortion. It will suggest that increasing awareness and support around RCA is important, and this needs to happen alongside recognising and challenging stereotypical assumptions about pregnancy.
| Ticket Type | Price | Cart |
|---|---|---|
| Members Rate - Lunch and Learn - Safeguarding for Reproductive Coercion and Abuse: Lessons from a UK study of policy and practice | £0.00 | |
| Non Members Rate - Lunch and Learn - Safeguarding for Reproductive Coercion and Abuse: Lessons from a UK study of policy and practice | £15.00 |
Dr Pam Lowe is a senior lecturer in sociology at Aston University. Her main area of research is around women’s reproductive and sexual health. Recent research projects include a longitudinal ethnography of UK anti-abortion activism, and the sexual health of online sex-workers. She is currently working on a British Academy Innovation Fellowship which seeks to develop policy and practice for the identification and safeguarding for reproductive coercion and abuse in healthcare settings.
I think Child Abuse Review has gone from strength to strength and is of a consistently high standard. We have held numerous events that have been inspiring and enabling, such as the most recent Congresses and the Trainer's conference and award ceremony, the seminars to disseminate lessons from Serious Case Reviews. As resources get ever tighter, professionals have fewer and fewer opportunities to come together to exchange ideas and to learn together. We move more and more into silos because of work pressures. This is not the way to keep children safe. Association of Child Protection Professionals is needed to bring people concerned about child protection together to learn, to think, to shape policy and practice and to disseminate research. No-one else does this.
