Events

• Ideas for events that WGH organizes can be proposed in multiple ways:
  • at the WGH monthly meetings or summer meeting,
  • at the WGH events subcommittee meetings, and
  • via emails sent directly to the WGH event subcommittee or to the WGH staff, who then shares them with the WGH event subcommittee
• Any event that WGH proposes to organize (i.e., be the lead organizer) must be reviewed and approved by the WGH events subcommittee (in relation to both content and budget) before it is proposed for WGH approval at a WGH monthly meeting.
• At the WGH monthly meeting the final decision about whether to approve the proposed event will be obtained (with time for discussion and vote)
• If there is an emergency request to organize an event that cannot follow the usual timeline (e.g., response to a crisis for which planning cannot be carried out in advance), the WGH event subcommittee and/or WGH chair can request the WGH staff to send out an emergency request for approval by email to the WGH Working Group members with at least a 24-hour time window to allow for voting for approval or not (via a Doodle Poll)
• Whenever possible, we encourage events to be planned far enough in advance to allow for approval at a regularly planned WGH monthly meeting rather than via email. We will not accept last-minute requests that are late due to poor planning.
• The same steps apply to events which WGH is invited to co-organize (i.e., has active involvement in shaping the content of the event, and typically contributes to the costs of the event)
• No event can list WGH as an organizer or co-organizer without explicit approval from the WGH working group (which includes the WGH chair)

• For WGH to co-sponsor an event, the terms of co-sponsorship must be clear:
  • will WGH be provided with full information as to the content of the event (including topic, speakers, or materials to be shown, e.g., film)?
  • is WGH being asked to contribute funds? (and if so, how much?)
  • is WGH being asked to help publicize the event?
  • if WGH agrees to co-sponsor, will WGH be listed formally as a co-sponsor on the event publicity & event materials?
  • NOTE: if WGH being asked to help plan the event (i.e., shape its content), the status of the request changes to that of WGH as co-organizer, hence shift to above rules for “Events that WGH organizes (or is invited to co-organize)”
• The WGH event subcommittee then reviews the content of the proposed event and the terms of co-sponsorship and makes a recommendation at the next WGH monthly meeting about whether or not WGH should co-sponsor the event
• At the WGH monthly meeting the discussion and vote will be taken regarding the request for co-sponsorship
• If there is an emergency request to co-sponsor an event that cannot follow the usual timeline (e.g., response to a crisis for which planning cannot be carried out in advance), the WGH event subcommittee and/or WGH chair can provide a preliminary review of the event content and terms of co-sponsorship, and if the content and terms are consonant with the WGH mission and protocols, they can request the WGH staff to send out an emergency request for approval by email to the WGH Working Group members with at least a 24-hour time window to allow for voting for approval or not (via a Doodle Poll)
• Whenever possible, we encourage requests for co-sponsorship with enough advance notice to allow for approval at a regularly planned WGH monthly meeting rather than via email. We will not accept last-minute requests, however, that are last minute due to poor planning.
• No event can list WGH as a co-sponsor without explicit approval from the WGH working group (which includes the WGH chair)

Winter Social – February 1st, 2024 5:30-7pm

WGH faculty, staff, and students gathered to kick of the semester at the New American Café at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

20 people attended this event.

All Our Relations: Care and Indigeneity – February 28th, 2024 1:00-1:50pm

WGH co-organized this event with the Chan Native and Indigenous Student Forum, hosting a live conversation on Native health and Indigenous approaches to healing featuring Theda NewBreast from the Native Wellness Institute (NWI).

29 people attended this event.

International Women’s Day – March 8th, 2024, 1:00 – 1:50pm EST, Kresge G2

The Women, Gender, & Health Interdisciplinary Concentration hosted its annual International Women’s Day Celebration, with a discussion about the radical history of IWD, and its deep ties to issues of gender and reproductive justice with Professor Nancy Krieger, Chair of WGH, and featured speaker Dr. Lisa Bowleg, a scholar on intersectionality.

39 people attended this event.

Climate Change Planning through a Black Feminist Ecological Lens – April 4th, 1:00-1:50pm, FXB G-11

WGH hosted Dr. Fushcia-Ann Hoover, 2023-2024 Radcliffe-Salata Climate Justice Fellow, for a brief presentation followed by a lunch and learn-style discussion on Black Feminist Ecology theory.

9 people attended this event.

Environment, women, and children: Experiences from the Fukushima nuclear disaster – April 24th, 1:00-1:50pm, FXB G-12

WGH hosted speakers Dr. Aya Goto and Dr. Michio Murakami for a lunchtime talk and Q&A on their work surrounding the environmental and human health impacts of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

14 people attended this event.

Reproductive Justice in the Context of the Upcoming 2024 Elections – Thursday September 19, 1:00 – 1:50pm, Kresge G2

This panel discussion will featured a representative from the Movement Voter Project, Boston University Law Professor Dr. Aziza Ahmed, and WGH faculty member Dr. Liz Janiak.

WGH Fall Social – Thursday September 5, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Penguin Pizza (735 Huntington Ave, Boston)

Social event at Penguin Pizza to connect and network with WGH staff and faculty.

WGH Welcome Event – Wednesday September 4, 1:00 – 1:50 pm, Kresge 110

WGH faculty introduced themselves and the WGH concentration, discussed WGH course offerings, and met new and returning students. Lunch will be provided. All are welcome!

Project 2025: Implications for Public Health – Wednesday October 9, 1:00 – 1:50 (FXB G13)

During this WGH lunchtime talk, we discussed elections as social determinants of health & health equity, along with the importance of voting. In keeping with this year’s WGH theme of “The politics of gender & health: social, economic, and democratic challenges”, Dr. Elizabeth Sommers (Assistant Professor in Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine) and Dr. Chris Chanyasulkit (Immediate past-president of the American Public Health Association) offered a public health perspective on the proposed recommendations of Project 2025, specifically examining sections related to genders, health and healthcare but also considering broader issues related to peace & justice, nuclear development and environmental concerns.

Fannie Lou Hamer’s America: Film Screening – November 20, 2024 in the Jonathan M. Mann Conference Room (FXB Building, 7th Floor)

In keeping with this fall’s event theme revolving around the politics of gender & health: social, economic, and democratic challenges, the WGH Concentration hosted a post-election film screening of Fannie Lou Hamer’s America to highlight the political and humanitarian impact of this extraordinary Mississippi civil rights activist. Through public speeches, interviews, and archival footage, the film offers a profound insight into Hamer’s tireless fight for racial and gender justice.

This event was co-sponsored by the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights.

Passing the Maternal Health Bill in Massachusetts: How Community Activism Transformed the Maternal Health System in the State – Thursday, December 12th in Kresge G3

This event highlighted the power of advocacy and grassroots organizing in shaping equitable health policies. We heard from experts, including midwives, activists, and community health leaders, as they discuss how the groundbreaking maternal health bill ensures equitable access to doulas, community midwives, and critical prenatal and postnatal care.  

Winter Social – January 26th, 2023 5:30-7pm

WGH faculty, staff, and students gathered to kick of the semester at the New American Café at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

WGH tour of the Schlesinger Library exhibit: “The Age of Roe: The Past, Present, and Future of Abortion in America” – Wednesday, March 1st, 2023, 4pm

Schlesinger describes the exhibition as rethinking “… what Roe has meant to American society, culture, and politics. It tells the story of abortion in the United States, from criminalization to constitutionalization and back again, through the eyes of those who created and defended Roe and those who mourned and unmade it, those at the center of politics and those at the margins. Battles over Roe upended party politics, changed medical practice, and divided faith communities. Roe offered lessons about what it meant to treat abortion as a right or to rely on the courts to achieve change. Conflicting visions of justice—for people of color, for women, for life in the womb—shaped what Roe meant”. 6 WGH students, staff, and faculty gathered for a tour of this exhibit with faculty lead Professor Elizabeth Janiak.

International Women’s Day – March 8, 2023 1:00 – 1:50pm EST, Kresge G2

The Women, Gender, & Health Interdisciplinary Concentration hosted its annual International Women’s Day Celebration with 45 attendees for a discussion about the radical history of IWD, and its deep ties to issues of gender and reproductive justice with Professor Nancy Krieger, Chair of WGH, and featured speaker Nashira Baril, the founder of Boston’s Neighborhood Birth Center. Lunch will be provided!

Co-sponsors: GenderSci Lab; Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies; Harvard Chan Office for Student Affairs; Harvard Chan Office of Diversity and Inclusion; Harvard Chan Student Organization for Sexual & Reproductive Health; Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences Committee on Degrees in Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality; Harvard Graduate Student Union HGSU-UAW Local 5118; Harvard Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Health Equity Research Collaborative; Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers; Harvard University Office for Gender Equity; Parents@Harvard Chan; The François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights; The Harvard Gender and Sexuality Caucus.

Sexual violence and women’s health: How rape affected the women I study and my life with Professor Karestan Koenen – April 18th, 2023 5:30-6:45pm EST

Sexual violence is common globally and its effects on mental and physical health are well established.  Dr. Koenen led a conversation about how her experience of rape at age 22 altered the course of her life and shapes her research to this day. Discussion included considerations of how lived experiences of trauma can both challenge and motivate an academic career as well as the complexity of disclosure in an academic research context. The discussion was an intimate in-person conversation with 18 attendees. 

The US Supreme Court: Gender, Sexuality, and Health Justice – Pending & Past Decisions – May 4, 2023 1:00 – 1:50Pm (hybrid event)

Sara Rosenbaum, a US health law expert, discussed past and upcoming US Supreme Court decisions and their implications for gender, sexuality, and health justice. The event was delivered in a hybrid format with 40 attendees joining virtually, and 17 attendees joining in person.

Event Recording

Resources used by Professor Rosenbaum in the during the event (NYT maps of legal status of abortion across states

The Role of Misinformation in Blocking Access to Sex- and Gender-Specific Healthcare – September 20th, 2023, 1:00-1:50pm – FXB G10

This panel discussion was the first event of WGH’s Fall series “Navigating and Resisting Mis/Disinformation,” featuring Sean Cahill, Councilor Kristen Strezo, and Dr. Liz Janiak.

Teaching in the Storm: Academic Freedom, Scientific Integrity, and Best Pedagogic Practices – October 11th, 2023, 5:30-7:30 – Kresge G1

Co-hosted with the Population Health Sciences PhD program, WGH held a panel discussion and open conversation discussing best practices in relation to academic freedom, scientific integrity and teaching around topics such as population health, global anti-racism and LGBTQ+ rights in a context of local, national, and worldwide backlash, including recent controversies at HSPH involving teaching, LGBTQ+ rights, and health.

Truth Talk: Strategies for Difficult Dialogues in an Age of Challenging Communications – November 21st 2023, 1:00-1:50pm – Kresge G3 

WGH hosted the Harvard Longwood Ombuds office in a session where attendees acquired skills for engaging in effective conversations in various settings, including scientific discussions, classroom interactions, and personal conversations at home.

International Women’s Day – Tuesday, March 8, 2022

The Women, Gender and Health Interdisciplinary Concentration hosted a celebration to learn about the radical history of IWD, its deep ties to issues of gender, work & health justice. After an introduction to the history of International Women‘s Day by the chair of WGH, and a brief presentation by June Barnett, representing the National Domestic Workers Alliance, speaker from co-sponsoring groups briefly shared what this day means for them. Several student organizations and school departments co-sponsored the event, and their representatives shared what IWD means to them: Center for Population and Development Studies; Environmental Justice Student Organization; Feminist Working Group HGSU-UAW Local 5118; François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights; GenderSci Lab; Harvard Chan Students for Choice; Harvard SOGIE Health Equity Research Collaborative; Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers-(HUCTW); Office of Diversity and Inclusion; Parents@Harvard Chan Student Group; FAS Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies; & UNITE HERE! Local 26. The event concluded with a virtual group sing-a-long to “Bread and Roses”!

64 people attended. This event was not recorded.

Climate, Migration, & Gender – Wednesday, April 27th, 2022

This event featured guest speakers Caleb Dresser (HSPH C-CHANGE Climate & Human Health Fellow) and Natalia Linos (Executive Director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights) who discussed the connection between climate change and migration from a gender and public health perspective.

25 people attended. This event was not recorded.

Abortion After Roe: Getting the Facts re Abortion Methods, Technologies, & Access, and Countering Misinformation – Tuesday, May 10th, 2022

Liz Janiak, ScD (she/her) answered questions about abortion access in the United States today and following the anticipated reversal of the Roe v Wadeprecedent in spring/summer 2022. An Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and the Chan School, Dr. Janiak is an expert in domestic abortion epidemiology, access issues, and related health inequities. She answered questions regarding when, where, and how people can terminate pregnancies now and in the future.

40 people attended. This event was not recorded.

Abortion Access Demonstration in Boston – Saturday, May 14th, 2022

WGH hosted a poster making session before traveling together to participate in abortion access protests in the Boston Commons.

10 people attended.

In Our Own Hands: how self-managed abortion can — and can’t — promote reproductive autonomy in a post-Roe world – Monday, September 12th, 2022

WGH welcomed guest speakers Dr. Elizabeth Janiak, ScD,  and Brianna Keefe – Oates, MPH for an event on self-managed abortion in a post-Roe context. In June 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the Roe v Wade precedent that protected a limited legal right to abortion in the United States for 49 years. This seismic shift in reproductive rights will severely exacerbate existing reproductive health inequities according to race/ethnicity, geography, and age. Self-managed abortion–abortion outside the formal medical system–is one strategy to promote reproductive autonomy in a post-Roe context. We discussed what SMA is, how it has worked in other legally restricted environments, and what the evidence shows regarding safety, quality, and acceptability of different models.

10 people attended.

LGBTQIA+ Youth Health & Policy – Tuesday, October 11th, 2022

Dr. Kimberly Nelson, Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences at Boston University School of Public Health, and Dr. Kristen Underhill, Professor of Law at Cornell University Law School, joined WGH on National Coming Out Day for a discussion facilitated by Dr. Sabra Katz-Wise, Associate Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health & Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, on the implications of school legislation, such as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” and other bills that restrict the inclusion of LGBTQIA+  content, on the health of LGBTQIA+ youth.

45 people attended.

Post-Election Breakfast – Thursday, November 10th, 2022

WGH hosted a light breakfast to debrief the results of the 2022 midterm elections.

Reproductive Justice and Carceral States: Undermining Rights for Birthing People – Monday, December 5th, 2022

WGH and the FXB Center for Health & Human Rights hosted a discussion led by Dr. Brittney Butler about mitigating the impacts carceral systems have on the rights of birthing people, and how we can begin to dismantle these systems to improve population health.

28 people attended.

Challenges to Gender Justice & Health: Abortion Rights – Thursday, December 9, 2021

This event covered U.S. legal challenges to abortion rights. Specifically on challenges to Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey in current Supreme Court hearings on anti-abortion laws in Mississippi (Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization) and Texas (Senate Bill 8).  Guest speakers David S. Cohen, Esq (he/him/his; professor of law at Drexel University’s Kline School of Law) and Liz Janiak, ScD (she/her/hers; professor and instructor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health) provided legal and public health perspective, with a following open discussion.

32 people attended this event.

Challenges to Gender Justice & Health: Trans Health – Thursday, October 28, 2021

This event addressed various Anti-Trans bills from both civil society and public health perspectives, with presentations from guest speakers Malita Picasso (American Civil Liberties Union, LGBT/HIV Project) & Dr. Kacie Kidd (Adolescent Medicine & Pediatrics @ WVU Medicine Children’s & WVUSM).

20 people attended this event.

Challenges to Gender Justice & Health: LGBTQ+ Family and Adoption Rights – Wednesday, September 29, 2021

This WGH event discussed a Supreme Court ruling this year that upholds the right for private organizations contracted to provide government services and receiving taxpayer-funding to discriminate and refuse individuals based on religion, race, gender/sex, and/or sexual orientation under the based on the First Amendment free exercise clause.

In particular, an organization hired by the city of Philadelphia to provide foster care services to children will not, based on religious objection, accept same-sex parent(s) as foster parents. Guest speakers, Shelbi Day (Family Equality) & Wendy Becker (Rhode Island College/Rhode Islanders for Parentage Equality coalition), discussed the case from a grassroots and legal perspective, with a follow-up discussion.

Notes and the event recording will be added after the event.

26 people attended this event.

Cultivating Joy and Collective Restoration: (Re)Imagining and (Re)Claiming Pleasure and Liberation Conference – Saturday to Sunday, April 24-25, 2021

This graduate student conference was sponsored by the Mahindra Humanities Center, with additional co-sponsorship from the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights and the Women, Gender, and Health Interdisciplinary Concentration. Organized by Sherine Andreine Powerful (DrPH ’21) and Onisha Etkins (PhD ’21), it brought together graduate students, early career scholars, community activists, educators, and creatives to explore how Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities are reimagining and reclaiming pleasure and healing, and how this is liberatory and restorative work, particularly during times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, please visit the conference website.

435 people registered.

International Women’s Day In a Time of COVID-19: The Ongoing Fight for Health Justice- Monday, March 8, 2021

The Women, Gender, and Health Interdisciplinary Concentration hosted its annual International Women’s Day Celebration! Students, faculty, staff, and alumni joined us via Zoom for an informal get-together and a bit of radical history. Reflections on COVID-19, gender, structural racism, and health justice were shared by our guest speakers: Zinzi Bailey, Sarah Richardson, and Cristina Alonso. Several student organizations and school departments co-sponsored the event, and their representatives shared what IWD means to them: Brazilian Student Association; Center for Population and Development Studies; Committee on the Advancement of Women Faculty; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences; Environmental Justice Student Organization; FAS Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies; François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights; Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Auto Workers (HGSU-UAW); Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers-(HUCTW); Office of Diversity and Inclusion; Parents@Harvard Chan Student Group; UNITE HERE! Local 26; Women and Health Initiative; and Women in Leadership. The event concluded with a virtual group sing-a-long to “Bread and Roses”!

43 people attended.

Black Femmes in the Fight for Food Justice- Monday, February 22, 2021

This panel on Black food and land sovereignty, community wellbeing, and collective liberation included Ali Anderson, MPH and Lyric Zhané from Feed Black Futures and Ashley Gripper, MPH from Land Based Jawns. The conversation explored the role that mutual aid has played in supporting communities at the intersections of state-sanctioned violence, food apartheid, and food insecurity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Feed Black Futures is a mutual aid organization serving Black mamas and caregivers impacted by parole, probation, and/or caring for incarcerated loved ones in Los Angeles. Land Based Jawns is a spiritually rooted, skill-building project helping Black Philly jawns to reconnect and deepen relationships with the earth.

43 people attended this event. 

Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color: December 10, 2020

On December 10, Human Rights Day, the Women, Gender, and Health Interdisciplinary Concentration hosted a talk by Andrea J. Ritchie that centers the experiences of Black women, Indigenous women, and women of color, in the context of the twin epidemics of police brutality and mass incarceration, to demand a radical rethinking of our visions of safety. 20 people attended via Zoom.

Post-Election Breakfast: November 4, 2020

This event was a debrief session with students, faculty, and staff on the U.S. November 2020 election cycle. 6 people attended via Zoom.

‘Finish the Fight’: A Special Digital Theater Performance Celebrates 100 Years of Women’s Right to Vote: October 14, 2020

The Women, Gender, and Health Interdisciplinary and the Project on Race and Gender in Science (at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research) screened the Digital Theatre Performance. this screening shines the light on Black, Asian, Native American and Queer women who were at the forefront of the suffrage movement. Afterward, a discussion was led by Nancy Krieger and Evelynn Hammonds. 21 people attended via Zoom.

To watch the screening click here.

International Women’s Day Luncheon: March 9, 2020

The Women, Gender, and Health Interdisciplinary Concentration hosted its annual International Women’s Day Lunch! Students, faculty, and staff joined us in Kresge 110 for an informal lunch and a bit of history. Thoughts on the meaning of the day were shared by representatives from HUCTW: Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers, Unite Here Local 26, and HGSU-UAW: Harvard Grad Students Union-UAW Local 5118. The lunch concluded with a decadent chocolate cake and a group sing-a-long to “Bread and Roses”! 40 people attended.

Past and Present White Nationalism, Eugenics, and Threats to Reproductive Rights: March 2, 2020

This panel, with Dr. Evelynn Hammonds, Dr. Alexandra Minna Stern, and Dr. Nancy Krieger offered insight on how to stand up for social justice and public health in relation to the lethal ideas and practices of white nationalism, eugenics, threats to reproductive rights, and more. Given the internet-linked amplification of white nationalism as an ideology and its deadly expressions globally (e.g. mass shootings, controlling reproductive rights, etc.), making these connections is needed now more than ever. About 30 people attended this event.

Check out the recording here: to be posted

Impact of the 2020 Census on Immigrant Health Across Gender: February 6, 2020

The 2020 Census is an opportunity to ensure that our communities are accurately represented and have access to vital resources for the next decade. Eva Millona, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigration and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) and Chair of the Massachusetts Complete Count Committee, spoke on the importance of the 2020 Census and its meaning for the health of immigrants across the gender spectrum here in Massachusetts. 22 people attended.

Check out the recording here.

Contraceptive Justice and the Need for Community-Driven Contraceptive Access Projects That Are Rooted in the Reproductive Justice Framework, Friday, December 6, 2019 

Check out the recorded event here

Thinking causally about genders & sex-linked biologies – a critical interdisciplinary dialogue for population health sciences, Tuesday, November 19 

Check out the recorded event here

Positive Stories of Black Motherhood: Fri. October 11, 2019

Tariana V. Little, MS and Fatima Dainkeh, MPH, co-producers, and Monica McLemore, PhD, MPH, RN, reproductive justice researcher and associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco joined us for a screening of the short film “Stories of Black Motherhood” with a panel discussion on resilience and positive representation.

Check out the recorded event here.

Abortion as a Moral Good: A Conversation with Katie Watson, JD: Wed. May 22, 2019

Katie Watson joined us for an intimate teatime discussion of major themes of her award-winning book Scarlet A: The Ethics, Law and Politics of Ordinary Abortion. Katie Watson currently teaches law, ethics, and humanities to medical students and students in the Northwestern University masters program in bioethics and medical humanities. 12 people attended this event.

I, A Black Woman, Resist: Film Screening and Discussion with Sharrelle Barber: Tues. May 7, 2019

Dr. Sharrelle Barber joined us for a screening of her film I, A Black Woman, Resist, a short documentary film project honoring the life and legacy of Afro-Brazilian activist Marielle Franco. Dr. Barber is a graduate of HSPH and is currently an assistant research professor at the Drexel School of Public Health. She studies the effects of racism on health inequities. 41 people attended this event.

Check out the recorded event here

Research and Advocacy in the #MeToo Era: Thurs. April 18, 2019

The Women, Gender, and Health Interdisciplinary Concentration hosted a panel to discuss research and advocacy related to sexual assault and #MeToo.  Nina Harris (education specialist, Harvard Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response), Brian Corr (executive director of the Peace Commission and member of Mending Cambridge), Anne Banducci (military sexual assault coordinator at the Boston VA) presented followed by discussion moderated by Diane Rosenfeld (lecturer, Harvard Law School). This event took place in Kresge 200 and 30 people attended.

International Women’s Day Luncheon: Fri. Mar 8, 2019.

The Women, Gender, and Health Interdisciplinary Concentration hosted its annual International Women’s Day Lunch! Students, faculty and staff joined us in Kresge 110 for an informal lunch and a bit of history. Thoughts on the meaning of the day were shared by representatives from the following organizations: Africa Health Forum, Black Students Health Organization, Committee for the Advancement of Women Faculty, Health Equity and Leadership, Muslim Students’ Association, Native American Students Organization, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Women and Health Initiative, Women in Leadership, and Women of Color Collective. The lunch concluded with a decadent chocolate cake and a group sing-a-long to “Bread and Roses”! 60 people attended.

WGH Holiday Cider Social (Wed. Dec 12, 2018)

The Women, Gender, and Health concentration had its first ever holiday cider social. We sipped cider and enjoyed sweet treats over light conversation. It was a lovely way to end the year! 10 people attended.

Women Leading Action on Climate Change w/ Gina McCarthy (Mon. Nov 26, 2018)

Gina McCarthy joined us in Kresge 200 to discuss the importance of women’s participation at the leadership level in developing policies and making business decisions on climate change. This event was cosponsored by the Harvard Chan Environmental Justice Student Organization. 30 people attended.

Challenges and opportunities in American Indian/Alaskan Native Health w/ Dennis Norman (Wed. Nov 7, 2018)

Dennis Norman joined us to discuss his work in American Indian/Alaskan Native communities and his course Nation Building II offered this spring.  This event was cosponsored by SBS and WGH. 22 people attended.

Post election breakfast (Wed. Nov 7, 2018)

Faculty and students joined us to debrief the 2018 midterm elections, enumerating the wins and losses across the country.  The theme for the discussion was “making hope practical”. 22 people attended.

Wins and losses enumerated below:

Transgender health and rights in Massachusetts (Thurs. October 4, 2018)

Sari Reisner (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health WGH faculty), Mason Dunn (Mass Trans Political Coalition), and Corey Prachniak (MA Commission on LGBTQ Youth) joined us in Kresge G2 to discuss the upcoming transgender ballot initiative (vote yes!) and the history of transgender rights in Massachusetts.  Williams Institute study mentioned: https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/research/ma-public-accommodations/. About 30 people attended this event.

Following a 2017 symposium at the University of Southern California, the USC Law & Global Health Collaboration has produced several resources to further the discussion of sexual and reproductive health and rights of transgender populations. This toolkit includes an article and two videos intended for use by transgender activists, lawyers, policy-makers, programmers, epidemiologists, economists, social workers, clinicians and all other stakeholders who want to drive the conversation forward through training, research and advocacy.

Public Health Wins in Ireland: Reflections on Same-Sex Marriage and Abortion Rights (Wed. September 26, 2018)

Sean Cahill (Fenway Health) and Irvienne Goldson (Action for Boston Community Development) joined us in Kresge 202A for a reflection on same-sex marriage and abortion rights in Ireland and implications for public health.  Sean Cahill presented a brief history of politics and religion in Ireland, as well as Irish communities here in the United States.  Irvienne Goldson presented on women’s health and abortion rights.  A lively discussion on the lessons the United States can learn from Ireland followed. About 15 people attended this event.

Measuring Violence Against Women Globally: The effects of embedded social theory on quantification (Fri. Sept 14, 2018)

Sally Engle Merry joined us in FXB G-10 for a discussion on the social theories underlying approaches to measuring violence against women.  Using the example of a United Nations project to develop indicators for measuring violence against women around the world, this talk will examine the ways in which quantification simplifies, decontextualizes and homogenizes what is counted. About 20 people attended this event.

Fall Social (Wed September 5 5-7pm)

Students, faculty, and staff joined us for drinks and appetizers at the Puddingstone Tavern to celebrate the start of the new school year. About 7 people attended this event.

Incarceration, Genders and Health (Thurs. April 5, 2018)

Panelists Andrea James, Founder of Families for Justice as Healing; Sabra Johnson, Case manager at Whittier Street Health Center’s Women’s Post Prison Services;  and Jaclyn White Hughto, Faculty Investigator, Brown University School of Public Health and Fenway Health, joined us in a discussion moderated by Rahsaan Hall (Director of the Racial Justice Program for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts).  The panelists discussed the unique issues trans and cis women face in prisons, prison abolition, and the incarceration system in the United States in general.  The panelists and moderator were introduced by Professor Nancy Krieger. About 15 people attended this event.

International Women’s Day Luncheon (Thurs. March 8, 2018)

Faculty, students, and friends joined us for an informal luncheon to celebrate International Women’s Day.  Dr. Nancy Krieger opened with a presentation on the history of the day and the event closed with a sing-a-long to “Bread and Roses”. Thanks to all who joined us!

Project UNICXS: Addressing Violence Against Transgender People in Peru (Thurs. March 1, 2018)

Alfonso Silva Santisteban, MD, MPH joined us for a discussion on structural violence toward transgender people in Peru. 

Dr. Sarah Richardson – The Maternal Imprint (Thurs. February 8, 2018)

The WGH concentration invited Sarah Richardson to join us to discuss her forthcoming book, The Maternal Imprint, on the history of theories of maternal-fetal effects in heredity.  Beginning with a brief history of the study of maternal imprinting (that is, the theory that pregnant woman’s health, behavior, and milieu can have intergenerational effects on her descendants), Dr. Richardson went on to discuss current issues in genomics and maternal imprinting.  She presented a critical analysis of conceptual and ethical issues provoked by the striking rise of epigenetics and fetal origins science in postgenomic biology.  The session took place in Kresge 502. 

Dr. Jocelyn Kelly – Researching Gender in Fragile States: Experiences from Central Africa (Thurs. November 30, 2017)

Jocelyn Kelly is the director for Harvard Humanitarian Initiative’s (HHI) Women in War program, where she designs and implements projects to examine issues relating to gender, peace, and security in fragile states. She joined us for an interactive discussion on her extensive work in Central Africa, focusing on the health needs of vulnerable populations.  This event was cosponsored by the concentrations of Humanitarian Studies, Ethics and Human Rights (HuSEHR) and took place in FXB G-11. Lunch was served.

Dr. Dennis Norman – Indian Health: Challenges and Opportunities (Thurs. September 28, 2017)

Dr. Dennis Norman has served as Faculty Chair of the Harvard University Native American Program since 2005. He is the chair for the Harvard University Native American Program and Health Initiative and teaches field research for Native communities at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He joined us to discuss internship and job opportunities in Indigenous health.  This event was cosponsored by the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS), and the DrPH program and took place in FXB G-12.

Dr. Jennifer Potter & Dr. Kenneth Mayer – The Fenway Institute: A Community Based Center for LGBT Health Policy Research, Education and Discussion (Thus. September 12, 2017)

The National LGBT Health Education Center provides educational programs, resources, and consultation to health care organizations with the goal of optimizing quality, cost-effective health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.  Dr. Jennifer Potter & Dr. Kenneth Mayer joined us to discuss this arm of the Fenway Institute, sponsored by the WGH. This event took place in Kresge 502.

Welcome Social (Tues. September 5, 2017)

The WGH hosted a Welcome Social on Tues. Sept 5, 2017 at 5:30pm at the Squealing Pig.  Students, postdocs, staff, and faculty who are interested in WGH joined together for some food and drink to celebrate kicking off the new semester!

Orientation Lunch (Tues. August 29, 2017)

The WGH hosted a lunch in Kresge 110 for faculty and students interested in becoming involved with the WGH.  Lunch was provided.

End of Year Luncheon (Tues. May 2, 2017)

The WGH celebrated the end to another semester, as well as the graduation of some of our WGH concentrators!  This took place is Kresge 202A.

Brown Bag: Women, Power, & The Workplace (Thurs. April 27, 2017)

Students and faculty joined together for an informal lunch and discussion in FXB G-12.  This event was brought to you jointly by the HSPH’s WGH, and Women In Leadership organizations.

Dr. Roona Ray – Why Unions Matter for the Healthcare of Marginalized Populations: A Case Study from an LGBT Health Center (Wed. April 19, 2017)

The WGH invited Dr. Roona Ray to join us for a lunchtime event (lunch provided) on the unionization for healthcare, particularly among marginal populations.  This event  took place in FXB G-13.

Dr. Lisa Iezzoni – “How did that happen?” Pregnancy Among Women with Disabilities (Wed. April 5, 2017)

Lisa I. Iezzoni, MD, MSc, is a professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the Mongan Institute for Health Policy at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.   The WGH invited her to join us in Kresge 201 to discuss sexual violence and consent among women with disabilities. Lunch was served.

Dr. Willie Parker – The Radicalization of Abortion: A Dirty Jedi Mindset (Mon. March 27, 2017)

Dr. Willie J. Parker is an OB/GYN specializing in abortions and a reproductive justice advocate. He is a graduate of Berea College in Kentucky, and holds degrees from the University of Iowa College of Medicine, the Harvard School of Public Health, the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Michigan.  His work includes a focus on violence against women, sexual assault prevention, and reproductive health rights through advocacy, provision of contraceptive and abortion services, and men’s reproductive health.  The WGH invited him to join us in Kresge G-2 to discuss the radicalization of abortion.  This event was cosponsored by the Women in Health Initiative (WHI), and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion ODI.  Light snacks were provided.

International Women’s Day Lunch (Wed. March 8, 2017)

The WGH brought you its annual International Women’s Day Lunch! Students, faculty and staff joined us in Kresge 708 for an informal lunch and a bit of history on International Women’s Day.  The lunch concluded with a group sing-a-long to “Bread and Roses”!

WGH Winter Social (Wed. February 22, 2017)

The WGH hosted a Winter Social on Feb 22, at 5:30pm at The Puddingstone Tavern.  Students, postdocs, staff, and faculty who are interested in WGH joined together for some food and drink to celebrate kicking off the new semester!  Drinks and apps were provided.

Brown Bag: Dr. Anne Lusk – Bicycle Environment Design Choices and Gender (Friday February 10, 2017)

As part of the WGH’s and Women in Leadership’s Brown Bag Lunch series, Dr. Anne Lusk joined us in Kresge 708 for an interactive discussion on the association between bicycle environment design and the prevalence of biking among women.

Women’s March 2017 (January 21, 2017)

December 2016

Women, Power and the Workplace (Wed. December 7, 2017)

In the second edition of the Brown Bag Lunch Series, Amy Cuddy joined us for a discussion on women, power and the workplace. This event was cosponsored by the Women in Leadership Initiative and took place in Kresge 606.

October 2016

“Bitch” – Term of Empowerment or Microaggression? (Tues. October 27, 2016)

In the first edition of the Brown Bag Lunch Series, we discussed the implications of the word “bitch” in today’s society, and how, we, as public health professionals, think about this word.  This event took place in Kresge 708.

Monica Simpson: Sister Song and Reproductive Justice (Mon. October 24, 2016)

September 2016

Dr. Dennis Norman: Indian Health: Challenges and Opportunities (Thus. Sept 29, 2016)

This event took place in Kresge 502.

Michael Helquist Book Tour – Marie Equi: Radical Politics and Outlaw Passions (Mon. Sept 19, 2016)

Michael Helquist joined us in Kresge G-2 for a discussion on their new book, Marie Equi: Radical Politics and Outlaw Passions. There was an opportunity to purchase books, and get them signed.

Dr. Ahmed Ragab – Legible Bodies, Erased Identities: Medical Certainty, Religious Authority, and Gender Identity in the 19-21st Century (Thurs. September 8, 2016)

Dr. Ahmed Ragab is the Richard T. Watson Associate Professor of Science and Religion at Harvard Divinity School, affiliate associate professor at the department of the history of science, and director of the Science, Religion and Culture program at Harvard Divinity School. His research on the history of science, medicine and culture in the Islamic world includes his history of medieval Islamic hospitals, and his research on the epistemic authority of medieval Muslim women with a focus on women-reporters of prophetic traditions.  He joined us in Kresge 201 for an interactive discussion on Medical Certainty, Religious Authority, and Gender Identity in the 19-21st Century.

May 2016

Dorothy Roberts – Race, Gender and the Biopolitics of Health in the Gene Age (Thurs. May 5, 2017)

Dr. Dorothy Roberts joined us from the University of Pennsylvania.  This event was cosponsored by Harvard FAS Studies of Women, Gender and Sexuality, the Women of Color Collective of Students and Scholars, and the Project on Race & Gender in Science & Medicine at the Hutchins Center and took place in Kresge 110.  Lunch was served.

April 2016

Amaya Perez – “Transgender” Category Construction and the HIV Biomedical Industry: The Role of Public Health Imaginaries (Wed. April 6, 2016)

This event took place in Kresge 201.

March 2016

International Women’s Day Interactive Message Board Event

On Monday, March 7, 12:30-2:30pm in the Kresge Cafeteria we got the chance to hear what International Women’s Day means to our students! Students stopped by the WGH IWD poster to share their thoughts.  The Office of Diversity and Inclusion raffled off copies of the acclaimed book, Presumed Incompetent. Co-sponsored by the Women and Health Initiative, Women of Color Collective, and WGH.

International Women’s Day Celebratory Lunch

The WGH celebrated International Women’s day on Tues, March 8 from 12:30-1:20pm in Kresge 708 with a lunch and discussion. Dr. Nancy Kreiger provided a historical overview of International Women’s Day followed by discussion time.

No Más Bebés Screening and Discussion

On March 2nd, 2016 the Harvard Chan Women Gender and Health Concentration, in conjunction with the Women of Color Collective and the Office of Diversity & Inclusion sponsored a screening and discussion of Renee Tajima-Peña’s 2015 film No Más Bebés. This documentary tells the shocking story of Mexican immigrant mothers who were sterilized while giving birth at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

February 2016

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (Weight of Stigma)

On Tues, Feb 23, 2016 from 12:30-1:20pm in FXB G12 the WGH co-sponsored an event with STRIPED. We screened the film “Stigma: The Human Cost of Obesity” and hosted a discussion on the implications for public health research and practice. This event was co-facilitated by: Allegra Gordon, ScD, MPH, Erica Kenney, ScD, MPH, and Flora Or, MHS.

Winter Social

The WGH hosted a Winter Social on Tues, Feb 2, at 5:30pm at the Squealing Pig. Students, postdocs, staff, and faculty who are interested in WGH joined together for some food and drink to celebrate kicking off the new semester!

December 2015

Muscles and Male Violence: What’s the Connection?

On December 7, 2015, WGH, the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED), and the Harvard Injury Control Research Center sponsored a talk by Jerel Calzo, PhD, called “Muscles and Male Violence: What’s the Connection?” Calzo, a developmental psychologist, led a discussion on the connection between male body image and violence, using clips from the documentaries “The Mask You Live In” and “Shredded.” Steroid use, muscular body ideals, and the basis of violence were addressed.

November 2015

Body Politics: Current perspectives on reproductive rights and abortion access in U.S. and Latin American contexts

On Thursday, November 12, 2015 WGH hosted the lunchtime event “Body Politics: Current perspectives on reproductive rights and abortion access in U.S. and Latin American contexts.” Two featured speakers presented an overview of their work on these themes. Dr. Jocelyn Viterna, Associate Professor of Sociology at Harvard University, outlined her work on the history and sociology of abortion bans in Latin America, with a focus on El Salvador and the recent rise in the prosecution and incarceration of women for abortions or miscarriages interpreted by authorities as “fetal homicides”. Jill Clark, Acting Director of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Program at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, discussed and contextualized the recent political attacks on Planned Parenthood and Title X funding in the U.S., including a discussion of the significance of Title X funding for racial equity, gender equity, and reproductive justice. The event drew a crowd of nearly 50 and closed with a lively Q&A discussion.

July 2015

Traditional health care practices of women in the Himalayan communities of India

WGH sponsored a talk with Dr. Anjali Capila, Associate Professor at Lady Irwin College in New Delhi, on July 29, 2015. In her talk, “Traditional health care practices of women in the Himalayan communities of India: A Qualitative perspective,” Dr. Capila offered insights into women’s holistic understanding of health in the Kumaon region. Dr. Capila highlighted the interconnectedness of family, society, and health, noting that culture is an important determinant for addressing the health needs of any community. She illustrated through her qualitative research that women’s health is affected by their status in the family, their daily work, men’s participation, and their own agency and voice in decision-making processes. Women are repositories of traditional health care practices in the region, and Dr. Capila noted that the integration of their voices is essential for sustainability of health care interventions. As such, Dr. Capila advocated for a blend between traditional health practices and modern medical systems in India. She also outlined a program resulting from her participatory research which led to the creation of a training center for local adolescent girls on Reproductive and Child Health issues and skill-building.

May 2015

End of the Year Luncheon

WGH hosted our end of the year luncheon on May 21st at 12:30pm. A nice lunch was served for the celebration, and we heard reports from all of our conference stipend awardees, presented concentration certificates to our graduates, and all reflected on the role of WGH in our experience.

April 2015

The End Of Aids–But For Whom? How Policy And Community Mobilization Can Promote Equality In HIV Prevention

To continue WGH’s Trans-Disciplinary Series on Justice & Health, WGH was pleased to host Kenyon Farrow on April 2, 2015. Farrow is a writer and activist, the U.S. and Global Health Policy Director of the Treatment Action Group, and former Director of Queers for Economic Justice. Farrow offered insights about how policy and community mobilization can promote equity in HIV prevention in a talk entitled “The end of AIDS—but for whom?”

Health Resiliency And Risk In A Sample Of House And Ball Community Members

Concluding WGH’s Trans-Disciplinary Series on Justice & Health was a lecture by Sean Cahill, Director of Health Policy Research at the Fenway Institute, on April 8, 2015 titled “Health Resiliency And Risk In A Sample Of House And Ball Community Members.” Cahill discussed health resiliency and risk in a sample of House and Ball community members.

March 2015

Reproductive And Sexual Rights: Changing Perspectives From Cairo & Beijing (1990s) To Transgender Populations & The International Classification Of Diseases (2015)

In the spring, WGH hosted a Trans-Disciplinary Series on Justice & Health. Sofia Gruskin, Professor of Law & Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California and Adjunct Professor of Global Health here at the Chan School, kicked off the series on March 23, 2015 with a talk about reproductive and sexual rights. She discussed the changing perspectives from Cairo & Beijing (1990s) to transgender populations and international classification of diseases (2015).

February 2015

Community Works Practicum Opportunities

On February 17, 2015, WGH hosted an event to help students find internships, practicums, and volunteer opportunities. Several groups from Community Works that do work with a gender focus or gender analysis presented briefly on what they are doing and suggested ways that students could get involved. Students came from a number of different departments and programs including a number from biostatistics who wanted to find opportunities for making a public health impact.

Afghanistan’s Neglected Humanitarian Crisis: War, Women, and Health

WGH sponsored a talk with Nargis Usman on February 19, 2015. Usman is an Afghan Community Organizer, Gender Activist, Fulbright Scholar and Masters Candidate at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management of Brandeis University. The talk, “Afghanistan’s Neglected Humanitarian Crisis: War, Women, and Health,” was co-sponsored by The Group on Reproductive Health and Rights.

Winter Social

We were excited to have other School of Public Health groups that have co-sponsored events with us this year joining us for our Winter Social at the Squealing Pig including BSHO, HealthRoots, NASO, RACE, WHI, & WOCC.

January 2015

Film Screening of Silkwood

On January 21, 2015, WGH held a screening of the classic documentary “Silkwood,” which touched on many themes including gender, environmental justice and labor. Dinner was served, and Dr. Rose Goldman, Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Health, led an engaging discussion post-film.

December 2014

Multi-media Interventions to Address Racial Bias among Children & Youth

On December 2, 2014, WGH co-sponsored a talk by Dr. Naomi Priest, an outstanding scholar from University of Melbourne and Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. She was a visiting scholar at the Chan School in the fall working with Dr. David Williams in the Dept. of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Her talk was titled “Multi-media interventions to address racial bias among children & youth” and focused on her work in antiracism interventions with children, adolescents and young adults. She discussed a whole array of fascinating research, including a new study using an app to help young adults become more aware of the way implicit racism may be affecting their beliefs and interactions with marginalized communities in Australia. Co-sponsors of this event included the Black Student Health Organization, Student Government, Healthroots, Native American Students Organization, Response Action Committee for Equity (RACE), and the Women of Color Collective.

October 2014

Reproductive Justice and Health with Loretta Ross

On October 9, 2014, WGH hosted Loretta Ross, co-founder of the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, to discuss issues of reproductive justice and health, as well as the national anti-abortion billboard campaign aimed at African Americans. Co-sponsors of this event included the Committee on Degrees in Women, Gender, and Sexuality and RACE.

September 2014

Fall Social

We met at The Squealing Pig to kick off the year and welcome new students! We had students from just about every department and program including a number of folks from Health Policy and Management so we’re looking forward to a year with representation from across the School.

Film Screening of After Tiller 

On September 25, 2014, WGH held a screening of the award-winning documentary “After Tiller” by Martha Shane and Lana Wilson. The film explores the topic of third-trimester abortions in the wake of the 2009 assassination of practitioner Dr. George Tiller leaving behind only four doctors in the United States who perform this procedure. The screening was followed by a panel discussion with Deborah Bartz, Elizabeth Janiak, Jennifer O’Donnell, and Alicia Ely Yamin and was introduced by Ana Langer with diverse global and domestic perspectives from medicine, public health and policy. Norma Swenson helped to moderate the discussion.

May 2014

Nikumbuke–Health by Motorbike, An Integral Model of Health, Gender and Sustainable Development

On Wednesday, May 14, 2014, WGH sponsored a lecture given by Dr. Araceli Alonso, an Associate Faculty at the University of Wisconsin – Madison in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies and the School of Medicine and Public Health.  The lecture was followed by a discussion, and lunch was provided.  Nine people attended, in addition to Dr. Sabra Katz-Wise, who facilitated the event.  Dr. Alonso presented information on Nikimbuke-Health by Motorbike (N-HbM), an NGO that she founded and directs, which provides a comprehensive model of health and well-being for women and girls in rural Kenya.  Her lecture included an overview of the variety of programs within N-HbM (e.g., a “train the trainers” program to train local health promoters, a mobile medical clinic, a tailoring school for girls, and others) and a discussion of some of the challenges inherent to this type of work.  Attendees asked questions regarding how Dr. Alonso balances her work in Kenya with her academic work as a professor, what changes she has seen in men in Kenyan communities through her work with this program, how she navigates her role as an outsider, and how she has dealt with language barriers.

April 2014

The Future of Activism in a Time of Shrinking Abortion Access

We were pleased to welcome scholar-activist, Marlene Gerber Fried, Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of Civil Liberties and Public Policy at Hampshire College. Dr. Fried offered insights into the causes and consequences of shrinking abortion access in the United States from the passage of Roe v. Wade to the present day. She spoke to activist efforts in the reproductive justice movement, focusing in particular on the work of women of color, showing a clip from a forthcoming film being produced by the Sophia Smith Archive Collection at Smith College. She outlined recommendations for future public health leaders interested in reproductive health and rights.

Economics, Visibility, and the Health of LGBT Populations

WGH sponsored a panel and discussion of issues related to economics, visibility, and the health of LGBT populations. The event began with presentations by three experts in the fields of economics, public health research, and policy: Lee Badgett (UMass Amherst), Scout (The Network for LGBT Health Equity), and Diego Sanchez (PFLAG National). The panelists shared their viewpoints and work on the visibility of LGBT populations in health research and policy, the marketing of health behaviors to LGBT populations, and economic inequality and discrimination in employment and health insurance sectors. The panelists then met with audience members for roundtable discussions about how the issues discussed relate to their own work and the steps they can take to promote economic justice, LGBT rights, and health equity.

March 2014

Rebeca Grynspan Lecture in Celebration for International Women’s Day

IN CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!!!!

WOMEN AND HEALTH: A CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM

Over 100 people joined us for presentation by Rebeca Grynspan, Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The over-arching theme of the talk concerned the Sustainable Development Goals after 2015, with attention to new movements within reproductive health, the gender dimensions of universal health coverage, experiences from HIV and emerging pandemics such as noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

The event took place on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 from 12:30-1:20 pm at  Harvard School of Public Health, Kresge G1. It was open to the public so all were welcome and a free light lunch was provided! 

Sponsored by HSPH’s

Women, Gender & Health Interdisciplinary Concentration

Co-sponsored by: Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies; Harvard Global Health Institute; Harvard Center for Health and the Global Environment; François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Right; Harvard School of Public Health Women & Health Initiative; Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology; Harvard FAS Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality; Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study; Harvard University Native American Program; Harvard University David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies; Women and Public Policy Program, Harvard Kennedy School; Human Rights Program, Harvard Law School

February 2014

HIV Risk Reduction for Incarcerated Women with Interpersonal Violence

Dr. Jennifer Johnson, an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University, was the invited speaker for a lunchtime talk and discussion about the intersection of HIV, incarceration and gender. This event was particularly timely, as it was held two weeks prior to National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 10).

Dr. Johnson provided an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding incarceration and gender, specifically discussing health issues that incarcerated women experience, such as drug dependence, HIV/STIs and interpersonal violence. She also presented quantitative and qualitative data from several of her NIH-funded studies for women who are incarcerated, focusing primarily on a study designed to adapt and tailor an integrated intervention to reduce HIV/STI risk behavior among women who have experienced interpersonal violence.

December 2013

Informal Discussion with Makani Thema

With a focus on health justice, community organizing, media advocacy, and policy advocacy to advance health equity, we hosted an informal discussion with Makani Themba, Executive Director of the Praxis Project, and a leading and longstanding organizer and activist for health justice and media justice. The discussion took place on Thursday, December 12th, from 2:30-3:30pm in FXB G13. It was sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Concentration on Women, Gender, and Health (WGH), and the chair of WGH, Dr. Nancy Krieger, will be the moderator. Learn about the Praxis Project.

Gender and Consumerism Film Clips and Discussion

We hosted an event titled “Starting Early…Gender, Culture and the Media” with lunch on December 11th from 12:30-1:20pm in Kresge 201. We viewed excerpts from the documentary “Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood,” examining the impact of child-directed advertising, and “The K-Pop Effect,” a look into how the music scene is fueling Korean youth’s obsession with a particular image of beauty. Dr. David Bickham, a developmental psychologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, moderated a discussion of the clips and their implications for public health.

November 2013

Trans Awareness Week Film Screening (Red Without Blue) and Discussion

On November 12, 2013, WGH and the HSPH Queer Student Alliance co-sponsored a screening of the documentary “Red Without Blue” by Brooke Sebold, Benita Sills, and Todd Sills as part of Transgender Awareness Week. The film follows a pair of identical twins for three years as one transitions from male to female. The film documents the twins, their parents, and their struggle to redefine their family. WGH faculty member Jerel Calzo and postdoctoral fellow Sabra Katz-Wise moderated a lively discussion about privilege, social inequality, and the unique experience of twins. The discussion also focused on the film’s implications for understanding the development of transgender identities and supporting families of transgender individuals.

May 2013

End of the Year Social

WGH hosted our end of the year luncheon on May 23rd at 12:30pm. A nice lunch was served along with party festivities and our concentration graduates were especially honored.

April 2013

Aging & (In)Visibility: A Forum on Aging in LGBT Populations

On April 4th, 2013, WGH co-organized an evening forum in partnership  with the HSPH Queer Students Alliance. The evening started with a screening of Gen Silent, an award-winning documentary on the experiences of older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults in the U.S.. The film was followed by an expert panel, moderated by WGH chair Professor Nancy Krieger, and including presentations by two local experts, Dr. Aimee Van Wagenen, a sociologist at The Fenway Institute who discussed current knowledge and gaps in the research base on LGBT older adult health, and Lisa Krinsky, LICSW, Director of The LGBT Aging Project (and also featured in the film), who described some of the advocacy work currently underway in Massachusetts. Additional co-sponsors of this event included the HSPH Office of Diversity, the Harvard Office of BGLTQ Student Life, and the Open Gate Fund.

March 2013

International Women’s Day Celebration

WGH and the Women and Health Initiative hosted a celebration of International Women’s Day. This included remarks from Nancy Krieger, Ana Langer, and Felicia Knaul as well as a dance performance and the presentation of the Maternal Health Task Force Summer Internship Program Scholars.

RiseUp! A Celebration of Life

The Rise Up! A Celebration of Life event took place on Thursday, March 7, 2013 and was put on by 16 collaborating organizations and agencies from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), Harvard Medical School (HMS), Harvard College, local Native American communities, New England and Boston. Rise Up! took place in the HMS Atrium and Amphitheatre in Boston, MA and commemorated International Women’s Day on March 8^th, National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 10^th, and National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 20^th.

The event started at 5:00pm with 20 attendees participating in a poetry workshop led by featured poet Tanaya Winder (Southern Ute, Duckwater Shoshone, and Pyramid Lake Paiute Nations), who taught an Indigenous model of storytelling through spoken word and poetry. Seven organizations and individuals set up tables to give out materials and information about their work that ranged from Native/Indigenous programs and services in Boston to HIV education and awareness. Participants had the opportunity to sign up for free, rapid HIV and/or Hepatitis C testing provided by Fenway Health.

The spoken word and poetry performance portion of the event kicked off at 6:30pm with Shelly Lowe (Diné), president of Harvard University Native American Program, welcoming attendees to the event and giving opening remarks. She was followed by Elizabeth Solomon (Massachusett at Ponkapoag), the Assistant Director of Academic Affairs in the HSPH Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, who gave an opening blessing. Jennifer Kreisberg (Tuscarora, North Carolina) then gave a stunning singing and hand drum performance for the opening song. Mexican food from El Pelón Taquería was served for dinner, and included vegan tamales and fair trade coffee from Blue State Coffee. Despite a snow storm lowering numbers of attendance, a total of 100 people participated in this year’s Rise Up! event, with 6 people getting tested for HIV and 1 tested for Hepatitis C.

Emcees Hannabah Blue (Diné) and Tanaya Winder led the open mic, during which 6 people from the audience shared poems and stories. Many were relevant to the topics of the night, HIV/AIDS, Indigenous/Native peoples, women and girls, and social and reproductive justice and rights. Featured poet Tanaya Winder also hit on these topics when she delivered a powerful performance of spoken word and poetry pieces.

The emcees announced at the event that through the efforts of members of the Rise Up! Planning Committee, the City of Boston passed a proclamation recognizing March 7, 2013 as Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the City of Boston. The Proclamation was offered by Councillor Michael P. Ross in District 8 where HSPH and HMS are located, and was signed by the President of the City Council, Stephen J. Murphy. The Proclamation was read by planning committee members Younyoung Lee, a Student Ambassador from the HSPH Office of Diversity, and Carole Blodgett, local Native community member.

Q’orianka Kilcher (Quecha), who was the featured speaker, gave a motivating speech discussing the work she has been doing in bringing about awareness to sex trafficking of women and girls in the United States. She showed the trailer of the upcoming web series she is producing, “The Life,” which is about sex trafficking of young girls in New York City. She also showed a video showing a coming of age ceremony for young boys in an African county that has one of the highest rates of HIV, and talked about the importance of incorporating traditional Indigenous practices into teachings today for young people.

A representative from all of the collaborating organizations was called to the stage and thanked by receiving a small gift and items that were raffled off as door prizes. The event concluded with a closing song from Jennifer Kreisberg, and a closing blessing from Shelly Lowe.

February 2013

Film Screening of Shredded

On February 19, 2013, WGH and the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED) co-sponsored a screening of the documentary “Shredded” by Richard Gaudio and Douglas Taplin. The film followed a group of teenage boys as they try to emulate the muscular physique of their media heroes and exposes the lengths that they will go to do so. The filmmakers offer a candid portrait of the physical, mental, financial, and social consequences of unrealistic appearance pressures and fear of fat in the lives of teenage boys. The screening was followed by a thought-provoking discussion moderated by WGH/STRIPED faculty member Jerel Calzo and MPH student Matias Irarrazaval on the distinctions between healthful physical activity and disorder, potential risk factors, and implications for research and prevention.

Masculinities and Health Talk with Dr. Josie Lehrer

On February 5th, Dr. Josie Lehrer gave a lecture on “Masculinities and Health” from 12:30-1:20pm in FXB G12.

Dr. Lehrer spoke about her work regarding masculinities and health, in particular her founding of the Men’s Story Project (www.mensstoryproject.org) – a scalable, testimonial-based initiative that brings critical dialogue about masculinities into mainstream forums.

January 2013

Winter Social

We met at The Squealing Pig to celebrate the end of our Fall semester and to kick off our Spring semester!

November 2012

Get Out the Vote Table

During the week of Oct 10th, WGH sponsored a Get Out The Vote event at Harvard School of Public Health to encourage students and faculty to register to vote. WGH created a large-scale map of the US with respective voter registration deadlines listed for each state as a reminder to send in documents in time. WGH also staffed a lunchtime table in Kresge Cafeteria to encourage students and faculty who had not yet registered to vote. Table staffers also had Massachusetts registrations forms to assist those who wanted to register in state.  All students and faculty encouraged to place a sticker on the map to represent state where they had registered to create a pictoral representation of the incredible diversity and voting power that the HSPH community represent.

October 2012

Film Screening of Taking Root

We invited all to a screening of “Taking Root.” The film told the story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracy.

The screening was followed by remarks from Dr. Joni Seager, Professor and Chair of Bentley University’s Global Studies Department, and a student led discussion.

Co-sponsored by the Sustainability and Environmental Management Program at Harvard Extension School and the HSPH Climate Change and Health Forum.

Film Screening of Absolutely Safe

On October 9, 2012, WGH and the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED) co-sponsored a screening of the documentary “Absolutely Safe” by filmmaker Carol Ciancutt-Leyva. This film investigates the multibillion dollar cosmetic surgery industry and its complicated — and sometimes thorny — relationship with women, who make up more than 90% of its consumer base. The screening was followed by a lively discussion moderated by STRIPED Program Assistant Grace Kennedy and HSPH doctoral student Allegra Gordon on the public health implications of the growing industry in cosmetic surgical procedures.

May 2012

End of the Year Social

WGH hosted our end of the year luncheon on May 15th at 12:30pm. A nice lunch was served along with party festivities and our concentration graduates were especially honored.

April 2012

Film Screening of Miss Representation

On Thursday, April 5^th, WGH and the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED) co-sponsored a documentary and discussion of  Miss Representation.  This star-studded film explored how the media’s misrepresentations of women have led to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence.  Two SHDH doctoral students, Shaniece Criss and Monica Wang, facilitated the conversation.  The participants were grappling with how to change the sexualized portrayal of women in the media.  For instance, the film highlighted that there are links between violent images towards women and actual violence actualized on women.  Yet, with the evidence, there has still been a lack of policy to in the government to address this problem.  One line of conversation focused on the importance to translate research in a way that attains the attention of media and policy-makers.  The film highlighted the need for more women in government in order to add a much needed voice to all levels of decision-making and provide powerful role-models for girls.  Several discussants shared about the potential for media literacy, and how could that be incorporated in a wider capacity for children in schools and the parents who set the tone for their households.  This event highlighted that many aspects of the media do not represent a full canvas of women, and that we have to involve women and men in this effort.

The Inter-Conference: Engaging Interdisciplinary Intersex Perspectives

This free conference united world-renowned experts in medicine, anthropology, law, and Intersex support groups on Harvard’s campus for the first time.

With expert panelists and break-out sessions, this conference was a hands-on opportunity to discover more about Intersex conditions and work directly with these leaders to progress Intersex scholarship, medicine, and social awareness.

Panelists included:

Katrina Karkazis, PhD/MPH- author of Fixing Sex
Elizabeth Reis, PhD-author of Bodies in Doubt
Anne Tamar-Mattis, JD Exec Director of Advocates for Informed Choice
Arlene Baratz, MD, Physician and parent
And many more!

Lunch was provided and featured performances by Harvard VoxJazz and Speak Out Loud.

Co-sponsors: Harvard College Women’s Center; Harvard Bioethics Society; Harvard Pre-medical Society; Harvard Queer Students and Allies; Harvard School of Public Health Women, Gender, and Health Interdisciplinary Concentration; the Committee on Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Harvard College

March 2012

Celebration of International Women’s Day

On Thursday, March 8, WGH cosponsored a series of events with the Women and Health Initiative and the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights to celebrate International Women’s Day. During a lunchtime seminar, dynamic panelists Audrey Porter from My Life My Choice and Charles Clements from the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy spoke about strategies to prevent and understand human trafficking. They discussed the topic from different, complementary lens that highlighted both the personal and policy implications of trafficking on a local and global scale. At an evening reception, Dean Julio Frenk encouraged everyone to reflect on the history of International Women’s Day as well as the current successes that can be seen within and outside the walls of our school. The reception was also a night of artistic expression: the Cambridge Dance Company performed and winners from a photo contest of women and health were announced by Ana Langer. Norma Swenson and Bekka Lee of WGH closed the evening with an activity that showed attendees the ways that International Women’s Day 2012 was being celebrated around the world and screened a brief film clip on the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. A donation drive was also organized throughout the week to collect healthy, non-perishable food items to support Rosie’s Place.

February 2012

Sex-Positive Health with Dr. Carol Queen: How public health professionals can promote intimate sources of wellbeing

WGH kicked off the spring semester with its biggest event of the year, “Sex-Positive Health with Dr. Carol Queen: How public health professionals can promote intimate sources of wellbeing” on February 13^th.  The event featured dinner and discussion and was attended by over 50 students, faculty, and guests from various institutions. Dr. Carol Queen is a renowned sexologist, writer, activist and educator. She broached various topics during the event and fielded a number of fascinating questions from audience members in the packed lecture hall. She outlined the more “obvious” issues of sexuality in public health including sexually transmitted infections. She described pregnancy as a sexually transmitted condition and pregnancy prevention and achievement as an important part of sexuality and public health. Dr. Queen highlighted the pharmaceutical industry’s interest in sexuality, particularly female sexuality. Further, Dr. Queen discussed society’s misunderstandings of sexual activities and gender.  She elaborated by stating that society conflates sexual orientation and gender and discussed the shame that is placed on all members of society, not just those considered “deviant.” Additionally, Dr. Queen spoke about how individuals who are not sexual enough and individuals who are too sexual (slut shame) are all shamed. She also elaborated on funding for sexual research, assumptions about sex workers, and a cultural understanding of gender, and the intersection of drug use and sex.  Dr. Queen ended her talk by answering questions from the audience and speaking with attendees one on one. This event was also sponsored by the HSPH Queer Student Alliance.

January 2012

Winter Social

We met at The Squealing Pig to celebrate the end of our Fall semester and to kick off our Spring semester!

December 2011

White Ribbon Campaign

This past December marked the first ever White Ribbon Campaign at HSPH.This weeklong event, part of an international campaign geared towards engaging men in ending violence against women (www.whiteribbon.ca), was sponsored by the Women, Gender, and Health Interdisciplinary Concentration and the HSPH Women and Health Initiative. Over 100 students, staff, and faculty signed a white ribbon banner, signifying their pledge to never commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women. A speaker series included Craig Norberg-Bohm (Director of the Men’s Initiative at Jane Doe Inc.) who talked about the history of the White Ribbon Campaign, Professor Jutta Lindert who presented on the global impact of violence against women, and SHDH master’s student Robert Buelow who spoke about the sex/gender distinction and the role of men and masculinity in violence prevention.

November 2011

Speak Out About Abortion Week

The week of November 14, WGH co-hosted Speak Out About Abortion Week, which was a series of events related to abortion and reproductive rights. Of particular interest was the input from groups whose voices are typically not represented in pro-choice public discourse: such as men, minorities, and people of faith. The first event of the week, “Bro Choice,” was a round-table discussion in which a group of 30-35 men discussed what it means to them to be pro-choice, and how their differing philosophies on reproductive rights (for example, from a libertarian vantage point or from a women’s rights vantage point) could affect policy and health care.  An evening panel discussion addressed the topic of women of color and the pro-choice movement, emphasizing the roles and opportunities available to them in the abortion dialogue. A lunch discussion on sharing abortion stories emphasized discussion of first-hand experiences, and sharing of these stories was encouraged throughout the week. On Wednesday, there was a screening of the HBO documentary “12th and Delaware”.  The film documented the struggle between two clinics on opposite sides of the street, an abortion clinic and a crisis pregnancy center (CPC).  The documentary focused on the strategies that the CPC’s use to get women into their services instead of going to the abortion clinic.  After the film, there was a brief discussion of the film.  A woman from NARAL then spoke about their recent release of a report on the CPC’s in Massachusetts.  Women went undercover and attempted to get services from the CPC’s.  The report describes the visit and false information that was given to them during each visit.  The report can be found on NARAL’s website. The final event was a panel discussion featuring a variety of different religious representatives—including a Protestant reverend, Catholic priest, rabbi, and professor of Catholicism—discussing how their religions allowed for pro-choice interpretation of different sacred texts, the evolution of the pro-choice movement within different religious groups, and how to use religion to guarantee freedom of choice.  All events were held at Harvard Law School and each had large student turnout, with lively, open discussions. The events were co-sponsored by Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, the Journal of Law and Gender, the Harvard Law School Society for the Separation of Church and State, the Women’s Law Association, Group of Reproductive Health and Rights, Harvard Center for Development and Population Studies, and the Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy Fund.

October 2011

Film Screening of Beauty Mark

On October 20th, WGH held its kick-off event for the 2011-12 year: a screening of the documentary film “Beauty Mark” followed by a lively and thought-provoking discussion. The film explores the relationship between culturally- and commercially-constructed beauty standards and the presence of body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, and exercise bulimia in the US. In “Beauty Mark”, the filmmaker (psychotherapist and former world-class triathlete Diane Israel) also traces her own struggles with body image and self-acceptance. Following the screening, Bernice Raveche, MPH, and Kendrin Sonneville, ScD, moderated an engaging discussion with audience members. Topics included the role of culture and place in understanding eating disorders, research on eating disorders around the globe, concerns about current anti-obesity messaging, and ideas for attempting to integrate eating disorder prevention with obesity prevention efforts within a public health framework. The event was co-hosted by HSPH’s Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED), which was also celebrating its new name and website. Congratulations to STRIPED!

Reportback from the WHO World Conference on Social Determinants of Health

On October 28th, Dr. Nancy Krieger gave an informal reportback from the WHO World Conference on Social Determinants of Health. As one of the two U.S.-based speakers invited to present at the conference, Dr. Krieger offered a unique perspective on the event. Highlights of Dr. Krieger’s reportback included an overview of key elements of the Rio Political Declaration (the primary output of the conference), as well as the three alternative documents produced concurrently by the People’s Health Movement, the Asociación Latinoamericana de Medicina Social (ALAMES), and the International Federations of Medical Students’ Associations (IMFSA), respectively. These documents were designed to constructively build on, and also address gaps and weaknesses, in the primary Declaration, and provide concrete action steps for both activists and governments to explicitly address moving forward. Dr. Krieger also shared selected video clips, offering a glimpse into the look and feel of the conference. During the reportback, discussion topics included the presence and absence of gender and sexuality at the conference, and the significance of bringing together participants from many countries and many contexts (government and different groups from civil society, including academia, NGOs, and others advocates), both for the official programming and the extensive organizing that surrounded the conference. For more on the alternative/supplemental documents, check out ALAMES, and IMFSA. This event was also co-sponsored by the Department of Society, Human Development and Health and HealthRoots.