Reproductive Violence Research Network
WHAT IS REPRODUCTIVE VIOLENCE?
Reproductive violence is any type of abusive behaviour relating to reproduction or reproductive health.
It includes:
- Reproductive coercion and abuse – Any deliberate attempt to dictate a person’s reproductive choices or interfere with their reproductive autonomy. It can include physical, psychological or sexual tactics and occurs in a context of fear and/or control, usually in an interpersonal relationship (e.g. intimate partner, family member).
- Obstetric violence – Violence against women perpetrated by healthcare providers during pregnancy, childbirth and the post-partum period. It can include mistreatment, physical abuse, neglect, and non-consensual procedures or treatments.
- Reproductive health coercion – Studies show that health services and systems can behave in ways that are coercive and harmful to people seeking reproductive healthcare, particularly in regard to contraception. People with disabilities, Indigenous and First Nations peoples, and younger people can be at particularly high risk.
- Conflict-related reproductive violence – The use of sexual and reproductive violence (e.g. forced pregnancy) as a strategy of war or genocide.
Whilst we recognise that these issues are primarily perpetrated against women, we acknowledge that reproductive violence can also be perpetrated against men and gender-diverse people. Our network is interested in reproductive violence against any individual.
ABOUT THE NETWORK
The Reproductive Violence Research Network (RVRN) is an interdisciplinary, global network of scholars, policymakers and community sector workers with an interest in reproductive violence. Our goal is to create interdisciplinary connections, share ideas and foster research collaboration opportunities, promote new research across the network, and increase the visibility of our members’ work. The RVRN is hosted by the Department of General Practice and Primary Care at The University of Melbourne, Australia.
COORDINATOR
The RVRN is coordinated by Professor Laura Tarzia (The University of Melbourne). Laura leads a research program focused on sexual and reproductive violence with a particular interest in reproductive coercion and abuse.
HELP US PROMOTE YOUR WORK
Do you have a new publication that would be of interest to our members? Are you announcing a call for papers or organising a conference panel? Get in touch with us at rvrn-admin@unimelb.edu.au and let us know!
We’re keen to promote new research on reproductive violence and facilitate discussion between academics, community sector researchers, policy-makers and practitioners.
WHO CAN JOIN?
If you are a researcher (at any career stage) or a doctoral student working in an area related to reproductive violence, feel free to join our network by signing up here. Reproductive violence is an issue relevant to many areas of scholarship and we therefore welcome members working across diverse fields including sexual and reproductive health, violence against women, law, cultural studies, social work, nursing, anthropology, medicine and criminology.
We particularly welcome members from diverse cultural, sociopolitical, and global contexts. A key aim is to foster greater exchange between scholars, policymakers and practitioners. We encourage those working in community organisations, the health sector and government to join our network.
Lived experience experts are very welcome to join, although it is important to note that this is not a forum for support or advice.
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE NETWORK?
To get in touch directly, send an email to rvrn-admin@unimelb.edu.au
You can also sign-up to our mailing list to receive occasional emails about new research articles, collaboration opportunities, and upcoming international conferences. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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