Kirsten Leng

Project Title: Breaking the Silence: Feminism, Miscarriage, and Child Loss in the 20^th and 21^st Century

Miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss are, sadly, common occurrences—yet rarely discussed or acknowledged openly. Only recently has the long-standing public silence been troubled, thanks to activist groups agitating for recognition of their losses and reforms to medical practices; doulas and midwives attending to the full spectrum of reproductive outcomes; public figures and private citizens sharing their experiences of pregnancy loss; and feminist scholars approaching these subjects as matters of racial, reproductive, and environmental justice. This project explores developments that took shape during the later 20^th and early 21^st century that together have helped create a more open climate of discussion around early pregnancy and perinatal loss, as well as better practices in the treatment of people and families going through these experiences.