InDepth: Prof. Paris and Greer Hamilton (PhD’23) Advocate for Perinatal Reproductive Justice
Prof. Ruth Paris and Greer Hamilton (PhD’23) from BU School of Social Work recently discussed why social workers are uniquely equipped to help people with their prenatal and postnatal experiences. They also explained how the overturn of Roe v. Wade has affected pregnant people, children, and the social work field.
InDepth, the bi-annual magazine published by the Smith College School of Social Work, features news about students, faculty, and alumni of the school. Prof. Paris is an alumni of Smith College where she earned her MSW. Prof. Hamilton is an adjunct faculty member at Smith College since 2022, and her experience as the Eastern Massachusetts Abortion Fund co-chair for the board of directors guides her work in advocating for people who need abortions.
Excerpt from “Great Expectations” by Megan Rubiner Zinn, originally posted in Smith College SSW InDepth Spring 2023:
Paris, Monplaisir, Hamilton, and Davidson all agree that with the end of Roe v. Wade and the sharp gutting of reproductive rights, the harmful outcomes are only going to get worse. Paris, in particular, anticipates more people with substance use disorder being forced to carry pregnancies to term, whether they are in recovery or not, and therefore more children at emotional and physical risk.
Even in areas where reproductive rights will likely remain strong, the overturn of Roe v. Wade is already having an effect. According to Hamilton, Eastern Massachusetts is already seeing more people coming to Boston from outside the area for abortion services and they anticipate the numbers will grow.”