Tuesday’s BB
consisted of a discussion and personal reflection by visiting Professor Tasha
Kimball on her work in Bolivia. Professor Kimball’s research revolved around
the controversial topic of illegal abortion and unwanted pregnancy in Bolivia.
According to
the talk, there are high rates of abortion and unwanted pregnancies all over
Latin America, and especially in Bolivia, where about 40% of births are
unwanted. This is an important issue to research and discuss because illegal
abortions are often followed by complications in women and/or high maternal
death rates. As one would expect, the topic of (illegal) abortion is a highly
stigmatized and controversial topic, although it is a topic that needs to be
addressed since women may find themselves in dangerous situations or face the
serious, horrifying consequences of medical complications and/or death. For her
research, Prof Kimball wanted to construct the history of abortion from social,
medical and political perspectives, as well as learn about women’s personal
experiences with unwanted pregnancies in Bolivia. While it is important to
research the structural issues that cause high rates of illegal abortions and
unwanted pregnancies, listening to and sharing the stories of women who
personally experienced an illegal abortion/unwanted pregnancy is crucial
information. It gives a voice to these women and creates a space for them to openly
discuss these stigmatized issues. Although some of the anecdotes were very sad
and horrifying, I appreciate these women for sharing their stories with Prof
Kimball. It also allows Prof Kimball to share the information she gathered and
give insight as to the reasons for high rates of abortions/unwanted pregnancies
and their consequences, information that can benefit the state and
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
Something
that interested me the most was when Prof Kimball talked about the differences
between women in Bolivia and women in the U.S. In the U.S., the language of
personal choice and personal rights surround the topic of abortion, while in
Bolivia, women feel they have a communal and social responsibility. Prof
Kimball connects this to the fact that about 70% of the population in Bolivia
is indigenous. Although I do not know about the Aymara people, and I know not
all indigenous peoples are the same, I often hear about how indigenous peoples
prioritize the needs of the community over individual needs. It is interesting
to see how this idea is used in the context of reproductive rights within the
Bolivian communities where Prof Kimball conducted her research.
While her
findings were very interesting, her self-reflection and critique as a
researcher was also a major aspect of her presentation. She was insightful and
candid about her research process, expressing the limitations and challenges
she foresaw and the possible ways to address them. Some of these limitations
include issues with language and translation or her personal identity. But no
amount of preparation can fully prepare researchers, as Prof Kimball explained
in her talk. One challenge and ethical dilemma that Prof Kimball shared with us
was a mistake she made when talking to the press about her work. Although she
made sure to protect the anonymity (and identifying details) of her
participants and allies, the press manipulated Prof Kimball’s research in an
unforeseen manner, that put a lot of scrutiny on NGOs and other medical
organizations that provide reproductive health services to women, since
abortions are illegal in Bolivia. Many people in the audience appreciated Prof
Kimball’s honesty and willingness to share this experience that led to serious
consequences. I am also glad to hear that she is mending her ties with her
participants and allies.
Overall, it
was a very good brown bag that addressed a controversial issue, illegal
abortions and unwanted pregnancies in Bolivia, as well as the controversies
that may occur with conducting research with people.
-Valerie Garcia ’15
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