Jade S. Sasser, "On Infertile Ground: Population Control and Women's Rights in the Era of Climate Change" (NYU Press, 2018)
Since the turn of the millennium, American media, scientists, and environmental activists have insisted that the global population crisis is \u201cback\u201d\u2014and that the only way to avoid catastrophic climate change is to ensure women\u2019s universal access to contraception. Did the population problem ever disappear? What is bringing it back\u2014and why now? In\xa0On Infertile Ground: Population Control and Women's Rights in the Era of Climate Change\xa0(New York University Press, 2018), Jade S. Sasser explores how a small network of international development actors, including private donors, NGO program managers, scientists, and youth advocates, is bringing population back to the center of public environmental debate. While these narratives never disappeared, Sasser argues, histories of human rights abuses, racism, and a conservative backlash against abortion in the 1980s drove them underground\u2014until now.\nUsing interviews and case studies from a wide range of sites\u2014from Silicon Valley foundation headquarters to youth advocacy trainings, the halls of Congress and an international climate change conference\u2014Sasser demonstrates how population growth has been reframed as an urgent source of climate crisis and a unique opportunity to support women\u2019s sexual and reproductive health and rights. \xadAlthough well-intentioned\u2014promoting positive action, women\u2019s empowerment, and moral accountability to a global community\u2014these groups also perpetuate the same myths about the sexuality and lack of virtue and control of women and the people of global south that have been debunked for decades. Unless the development community recognizes the pervasive repackaging of failed narratives, Sasser argues, true change and development progress will not be possible.\nOn Infertile Ground presents a unique critique of international development that blends the study of feminism, environmentalism, and activism in a groundbreaking way. It will make any development professional take a second look at the ideals driving their work.\nDr. Nicole Bourbonnais is an Associate Professor of International History and Politics and Co-Director of the Gender Centre at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. Her research explores reproductive politics and practice from a transnational historical perspective. More info\xa0here.\xa0witter:\xa0@iheid_history\xa0and\xa0@GC_IHEID\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\nSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies