Abortion & the Reformation: Women, Witchcraft, & Repression

The Human Context of Science and Technology Program presents Mary Fissell, professor, Department of the History of Medicine, with appointments in the History of Science and the History Departments, Johns Hopkins University , who will speak on Abortion & the Reformation: Women, Witchcraft, & Repression.

The Protestant and Catholic Reformations of the sixteenth century prompted increased restrictions on abortion. While we associate anti-abortion politics with the Catholic Church today, Protestant reformers were eager to reform gender relations, including abortion access. They created legislation that criminalized abortion in new ways. At the same time, witchcraft prosecutions sometimes linked abortion and sorcery.

Admission is free.

Organized by the Human Context of Science and Technology Program. Co-sponsored by American Studies; Gender, Women’s, + Sexuality Studies; History; Sociology, Anthropology, & Public Health; & the Dresher Center for the Humanities.