Welcome to the Reproductive Justice - Special Topic community! We’re so happy you’re here and we want you take full advantage of the opportunities our new platform provides. Please read over the code of conduct so we can continue to ensure a safe and supportive space for all. Thank you for your dedication to the Popular Culture Association!

 

Call For Papers

Reproductive Justice in Popular Culture
National PCA Conference

 

This area focuses on reproductive justice issues as they appear in popular culture (film, television, social media, music, literature, etc.). Reproductive justice is a term that goes beyond the term reproductive rights, something that typically focuses on contraception and abortion.   According to the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, “it’s ‘the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities” (Abrams). Reproductive justice is more expansive and intersectional and explicitly examines the systemic obstacles that make it hard for some people to control their own bodily autonomy and get access to basic reproductive health (contraception, sex education, STI prevention, alternative birth options, prenatal pregnancy care, among others). 

 

Papers examining any aspect of global reproductive justice in popular culture will be considered. Paper topics might look like some of the titles below:

Happily Ever After? Adoption on U.S. Television

Medication Abortion: The Continuing Lies in SVU

After Roe v. Wade–Abortion Plotlines

Modern Horror Films and Forced Pregnancy

Crazy Childless Cat Ladies–Television Reinforces Stereotypes

Abortion Narratives in European Television

The Challenges of Adoption on Trying

Potential for Medically Accurate Sex Education in Everything Now

How Foster Care is Misrepresented on Television

Demonizing Single Mothers on Film

 

Submission requirements: 

Interested individuals are asked to submit an abstract of no more than 250 words (including presentation title) and complete contact information through the PCA website. Individuals must be current, paid members to submit to the conference.

 

Please include your full name, affiliation, mailing address, email address, and telephone number.

 

Contact:  Questions may be addressed to the area chair:

Brenda Boudreau

McKendree University

brenda@pcaaca.org

 

Important Dates to Remember:

 

• Database opens for Submissions - Sept. 1, 2025
• Early Bird Registration Begins - Sept. 1, 2025
• Deadline for Paper Proposals - Nov. 30, 2025
• Travel Grant Applications Due - Dec. 15, 2025
• Early Bird Registration Ends for Presenters - Dec. 31, 2025
• Regular Registration Begins for Presenters - Jan. 1, 2026 
• Travel Grant Decisions / Notifications - Jan. 31, 2026
• Regular Registration Ends for Presenters - Jan. 31, 2026
• Late Registration Starts for Presenters - Feb. 1, 2026
• Preliminary Program draft available - Feb. 6, 2026

 

Those Presenters Not Registered by Feb. 15 Will be Dropped from the Program

 

CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA, GA - April 8-11, 2026