Call for papers: BASAS Annual Conference 2017

19^th April to 21^st April 2017

University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University

Panel Title: REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND MATERNAL HEALTH IN SOUTH ASIA

Organizers: Sayani Mitra and Nishtha Lamba

This session seeks to juxtapose the growing popularity of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) like IVF, surrogacy, egg and sperm donation, artificial insemination etc. to some of the cardinal concerns around access to reversible fertility treatment, contraception, abortion and maternal health care in South Asia. The rapid privatization of healthcare accompanied by transnationalisation of fertility treatment in several South Asian countries like India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, to state a few, has enabled women to participate in reproductive labour, seek fertility assistance and redefine meanings of kinship and family. At the same time, a shifting interest on (in) fertility assistance has led to the neglect of other domains of reproductive health and psychological well-being, further depriving women of their basic entitlements and rights. We are hoping to explore the emerging discourses around reproduction and its encounter with the complexities of tradition, technology, market, justice and ethics that are often at loggerheads with each other. Topics and themes could include:

• Kinship and Fertility
• Religion and childbirth
• Politics of pregnancy and birth
• IVF, Surrogacy and Gamete donation
• Reproductive and maternal health(care)
• Role of caste and class in reproduction
• Embodiment
• Use of contraception and ‘family planning’
• Abortion

Please send a 100-150 words abstract to Sayani Mitra (sayani.mitra@medizin.uni-goettingen.de) by Friday, November 18 at the latest. Please contact Sayani Mitra (sayani.mitra@medizin.uni-goettingen.de) or Nishtha Lamba (nl316@cam.ac.uk) with questions.

There will be a limited number of bursaries to the value of £50 available to students and unwaged participants. Those who wish to be considered for these bursaries are requested to mention the same in the accompanying email, detailing any additional institutional support for conference participation for which they may be eligible.

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