Eugenic Legacies:
LARC and Contraceptive Coercion

This module explores the history and current patterns of contraceptive coercion in the U.S., and their roots in eugenic and white supremacist theories of population control. The module is part of RHEDI’s Justice & SRH Unit, which focuses on Reproductive Justice in sexual and reproductive health.

The module can be used for self-study or as part of group didactic sessions. Learners have the opportunity to discuss the material with their peers in RHEDI’s Curriculum Discussion Forum, to share their responses anonymously, and to submit their answers to their instructor. The module is also available on the RHEcourse learning management system.

CHOICE/LESS: The Backstory, Episode 2: Loretta Ross on the Dalkon Shield Disaster

How an experience of contraceptive coercion and medical gaslighting helped launch the Reproductive Justice movement.   

[transcript]

Brandi K, Woodhams E, White KO, Mehta PK. An exploration of perceived contraceptive coercion at the time of abortion. Contraception. 2018 Apr;97(4):329-334. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2017.12.009. Epub 2017 Dec 15. PMID: 29253582.

Brandi K, Fuentes L. The history of tiered-effectiveness contraceptive counseling and the importance of patient-centered family planning care. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Apr;222(4S):S873-S877. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2019.11.1271. Epub 2019 Nov 30. PMID: 31794724.

Carvajal DN, Gioia D, Mudafort ER, Brown PB, Barnet B. How can Primary Care Physicians Best Support Contraceptive Decision Making? A Qualitative Study Exploring the Perspectives of Baltimore Latinas. Womens Health Issues. 2017 Mar-Apr;27(2):158-166. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2016.09.015. Epub 2016 Nov 4. PMID: 27825590.

Higgins JA. Celebration meets caution: LARC’s boons, potential busts, and the benefits of a reproductive justice approach. Contraception. 2014 Apr;89(4):237-41. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2014.01.027. Epub 2014 Feb 10. PMID: 24582293; PMCID: PMC4251590.

Holt K, Reed R, Crear-Perry J, Scott C, Wulf S, Dehlendorf C. Beyond same-day long-acting reversible contraceptive access: a person-centered framework for advancing high-quality, equitable contraceptive care. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Apr;222(4S):S878.e1-S878.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2019.11.1279. Epub 2019 Dec 3. PMID: 31809706.

Manzer JL, Bell AV. “Did I Choose a Birth Control Method Yet?”: Health Care and Women’s Contraceptive Decision-Making. Qual Health Res. 2022 Jan;32(1):80-94. doi: 10.1177/10497323211004081. Epub 2021 Apr 17. PMID: 33870772.