Exhibition Opening Discussion: The Age of Roe: The Past, Present, and Future of Abortion in America
In this opening discussion for the exhibition The Age of Roe: The Past, Present, and Future of Abortion in America, curator Mary Ziegler will engage in conversation with Andrew R. Lewis and Kimberly Mutcherson.
Roe v. Wade has had an impact on American society, culture, and politics far greater than the simple wording of the decision in 1973. The Age of Roe exhibition—timed to coincide with a marquee conference at Harvard Radcliffe Institute on January 26–27, 2023—shares perspectives on abortion in the US through the stories of people who have supported, and those who have opposed, Roe. These include many whose lives, beliefs, and needs are often ignored by those wielding political power. In the wake of the recent Dobbs decision overturning Roe, deeply felt debates on ideas of reproduction, rights, justice, and their practice continue. The exhibition seeks to enhance and challenge our understanding of the past and our present as we, together, begin to find ways forward.
Speakers
Andrew R. Lewis, associate professor, Department of Political Science, University of Cincinnati
Kimberly Mutcherson, co-dean and professor of law, Rutgers Law School
Moderator
Mary Ziegler, Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law
The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study gratefully acknowledges the Helen Blumen and Jan Acton Fund for Schlesinger Library Exhibitions, which is supporting this exhibition.
Event Video
Related Events
The exhibition The Age of Roe: The Past, Present, and Future of Abortion in America is on view October 24, 2022–March 4, 2023, in the Schlesinger Library at Harvard Radcliffe Institute.
Harvard Radcliffe Institute will hold a major public conference January 26–27, 2023, to probe the complex and unpredictable ways that Roe v. Wade and its aftermath shaped the United States and the world beyond it for nearly half a century. The existential issue of abortion—and the galvanizing impact of Roe in particular—transformed the nation’s politics and public policy and its social movement energies, as well as the operations of the courtroom and the clinic. See "The Age of Roe: Voices from the Front Lines" and "Conference: The Age of Roe" for additional information and to register.
For those interested in additional programming related to this topic, the Boston University School of Law and School of Public Health are cosponsoring a conference, timed to coordinate with the Radcliffe programs, “After Roe and Dobbs: Seeking Reproductive Justice in the Next Fifty Years,” on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at BU.
