Critical Social Inquiry 0217 - The Battle Between Science and Religion in Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy

This course explores past and current debates over the role of religion and science in public policy, specifically in the areas reproductive rights, health and justice. We look both at claims that science and religion are inevitably in conflict, as well as arguments for their compatibility. Topics may include: claims that abortion is linked to breast cancer and causes a form of post-traumatic stress disorder; the refusal of some public officials to issue marriage licenses to people who identify as LBGTQ; the debates over public funding for abstinence-only sexuality education, and coverage of abortion and contraception in the Affordable Care Act. We will look at these issues in the context of broader societal debates over the teaching of creationism and intelligent design in public schools and challenges to claims about the objectivity of science. Keywords:reproductive health, rights, science, religion

In/Justice This course is fully remote. Students should generally expect to spend 6-8 hours per week on work outside of class.