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A Requiem for Roe: Streisand Public Lecture Explores the Post-Dobbs Landscape

UCLA’s Barbra Streisand Center’s 2024 public lecture hosted a thought-provoking event exploring the implications of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. The event featured a keynote address by renowned legal scholar Michele Goodwin (Georgetown University) and a panel discussion with experts from UCLA, including Jessica Gipson (Professor and Fred H. Bixby Endowed Chair of Population and Reproductive Health Director, UCLA Bixby Center to Advance Sexual and Reproductive Health Equity | UCLA Fielding School of Public Health), and Melissa Goodman (Executive Director, UCLA Center on Reproductive Health, Law and Policy | UCLA School of Law). The event was moderated by Grace Hong (Director, UCLA Barbra Streisand Center).

Keynote and panel takeaways:

  • The erosion of reproductive rights: The Dobbs decision has had a profound impact on reproductive rights in the United States, leading to a patchwork of state laws that restrict access to abortion.
  • Historical context: The panelists delved into the historical context of reproductive control, highlighting how it has been used as a tool of oppression, particularly against marginalized communities.
  • The threat to bodily autonomy: The discussion emphasized the fundamental right to bodily autonomy and the dangers of government interference in personal medical decisions.
  • The role of disinformation: The spread of misinformation and disinformation about abortion has further complicated the issue and hindered public discourse.
  • The need for a third reconstruction: The speakers called for a renewed commitment to civil rights and social justice to address the ongoing challenges to reproductive rights.
  • The power of public discourse: The event underscored the importance of open and honest dialogue about these issues, as well as the need for continued activism and advocacy.

The event provided a platform for critical discussion and analysis of the Dobbs decision and its far-reaching consequences. It highlighted the need for ongoing vigilance, advocacy, and political engagement to protect reproductive rights and ensure a just and equitable future for all.

View additional photos from the event on our Facebook page.

For more information on this topic, see the Streisand Center’s reproductive justice research roundup.