PROJECTS
"Reproductive Histories and Material Cultures" Research Day (2024)
Reproductive Histories and Material Cultures: an interactive research day using creative methods to explore material cultures of reproductive health from past and present
During my PhD placement last year at the Wellcome Collection with the Research & Enquiry Team, I completed in depth archival research around (In)fertility. I also got to work with the fabulous @mis.conceptions.project by @drbeldavis , with @annasuzanneburel and #AnyaGleizer. Together, with brilliant art historian Rebecca Whitely, we convened: “Reproductive Histories and Material Cultures: an interactive research day using creative methods to explore material cultures of reproductive health from past and present”
This brought together historians of the body, medical sociologists, and creative practitioners for a day of viewing rare archival materials, lightning talks, and creative workshops. Manuscripts included a French birthing girdle from 1485, an 18th century painting of “A woman Breastfeeding two puppies”, a sanitary towel leaflet from 1916, and Middle English charms on stopping and starting menstruation "the flowers". Lightning talks covered the science of folic acid, supernatural eagle stones, nun’s piss in fertility testing, and more, whilst an interactive keynote took on us around journeys of missed endings. Workshops invited audiences to explore the (Mis)Conceptions fertility conversations card deck around pregnancy ambiguity, create a fetal paper doll from 19th century obstetrics, and (my workshop) to deconstruct historically loaded terms of infertility on their own in/fertile roll.
The day held some wonderful stimulating conversations as well as raising important issues in discussing sensitive topics within institutional settings. A very rich event, with lessons that I’m taking forward in my research. Massive hanks to all involved!
(Images 1-5 Copyright© Wellcome Collection, image 6 Copyright © (Mis)Conceptions)
This brought together historians of the body, medical sociologists, and creative practitioners for a day of viewing rare archival materials, lightning talks, and creative workshops. Manuscripts included a French birthing girdle from 1485, an 18th century painting of “A woman Breastfeeding two puppies”, a sanitary towel leaflet from 1916, and Middle English charms on stopping and starting menstruation "the flowers". Lightning talks covered the science of folic acid, supernatural eagle stones, nun’s piss in fertility testing, and more, whilst an interactive keynote took on us around journeys of missed endings. Workshops invited audiences to explore the (Mis)Conceptions fertility conversations card deck around pregnancy ambiguity, create a fetal paper doll from 19th century obstetrics, and (my workshop) to deconstruct historically loaded terms of infertility on their own in/fertile roll.
The day held some wonderful stimulating conversations as well as raising important issues in discussing sensitive topics within institutional settings. A very rich event, with lessons that I’m taking forward in my research. Massive hanks to all involved!
(Images 1-5 Copyright© Wellcome Collection, image 6 Copyright © (Mis)Conceptions)
