Research: Feminist outlaws and the abortion trails
Examining how activists providing access to abortion shape worldwide political debates about reproductive justice.
Summary
Research summary
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January 2016 - ongoing
This project explores abortion trail activism and the global evolution of reproductive justice.
Abortion trails are national and transnational activist networks that enable access to safe abortions.
Research has often focused on the practical role of the trails in places where access to abortions is severely limited or denied.
Through analysis of the trails and activism, the project examines the historical and contemporary contribution they have also made to reproductive justice worldwide.
It includes examples of activist groups in Argentina, Colombia, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Uganda and the UK.
Activist organisations have long supported safe access through practical action such as offering transport to services, providing financial support, hosting and escorting abortion seekers, and ensuring they have accurate information.
The project will also explore the relationship between these groups and other forms of reproductive justice activism.
Statistic
Output
Research outputs
Academic papers
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Duffy, DN (2020) From Feminist Anarchy to Decolonisation: Understanding Abortion Health Activism Before and After the Repeal of the Eighth Amendment Feminist Review, 124, Issue 1
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Duffy, DN, Pierson, C, Myerscough, C, Urquhart, D and Earner-Byrne, L (2018) Abortion, emotions, and health provision: Explaining health care professionals’ willingness to provide abortion care using affect theory, Women’s Studies International Forum, 71, 12-18
Team
Research team
Lead researchers
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Dr Claire Pierson, University of Liverpool
Co-researchers
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Caroline Myerscough, Edge Hill University
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Prof Diane Urquhart, Queen’s University, Belfast
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Prof Lindsey Earner-Byrne, University College Cork
Funding
With funding from
Leverhulme Trust
Wellcome Trust
Contact
Contact us
For general enquiries about our sexual and reproductive health research, you can contact its leads Dr Natalie Hammond and Dr Deirdre Duffy.
