Reproductive Futures' Workshop
Challenging Norms, Reimagining Futures: Our Reflections from the CORTH ‘Reproductive Futures’ Workshop
🗓️ University of Sussex | 13 May 2025
What happens when passionate researchers, visionary activists, and curious students come together to reimagine the future of reproductive health? You get something as bold, necessary, and energising as the ‘Reproductive Futures’ Workshop, hosted by the Centre for Cultures of Reproduction, Technologies and Health (CORTH) at the University of Sussex. Held on 13 May 2025, this wasn’t just a workshop. It was a celebration, a call to action, and a bold reminder that reproductive justice must evolve with our world.
Marking CORTH’s 10th anniversary, this landmark event brought together a powerful mix of voices from across health, law, technology, and lived experience. We (Erin Fritsche, Zeynep Ergene, Yogesh Waghchoure) were proud to represent the University of Greenwich, alongside the network lead Dr. Devanik Saha.
Dr. Devanik Saha and his research team — from left to right: Yogesh Waghchoure, Dr. Devanik Saha, Zeynep Ergene, and Erin Fritsche — pictured in front of the University of Sussex sign after their collaborative research visit.
Setting the Tone: Reproductive Justice at the Forefront
The day kicked off with a powerful keynote by Prof. Shobhita Rajagopal and Ms. Chhaya Pachauli, who drew attention to the harsh realities of reproductive care access in India, especially for marginalised rural populations. Their work with Prayas was eye-opening—it reminded us that access doesn’t equal autonomy, and that intersectionality is not just theory but a practical tool for justice.
Their stories of navigating privatised healthcare systems and systemic neglect echoed with a deep truth: without structural change, rights remain paper promises. For many communities, especially women in rural India, reproductive health is still mediated through coercion, control, or economic dependency. It set a tone of urgency and compassion for the day ahead.
Silence, Stigma, and the Male Experience
In this section, Dr. Devanik Saha presented his thoughts alongside Dr. Ulla McKnight and Govind Singh in a session on discrimination in sexual and reproductive health. Dr. Saha’s talk focused on India’s deeply ingrained silence around male reproductive health—a topic rarely explored in mainstream discourse.
Dr Saha highlighted the cultural shame men face in accessing basic sexual health services like sperm analysis, and how masculine ideals delay care-seeking behaviour. His message was clear and urgent: reproductive health must be seen as a shared responsibility, and male participation needs to move from optional to essential socially, culturally, and clinically.
For us as emerging researchers in this space, this moment felt incredibly validating. To hear our area of work highlighted on such a platform, and to witness the audience engage with it so thoughtfully, reminded us why this work matters.
Technology, Gender, and Inclusive Health
Another standout session looked at the role of technology in reproductive justice—and we were intrigued by a case study from Tanzania, where a mobile app had over 10,000 male users seeking sexual health information. It’s a small but powerful example of how culturally sensitive tech can break barriers and invite men into conversations they’ve historically been excluded from.
This session also broadened the reproductive health lens to include trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals, driving home the point that reproductive futures must be inclusive. One of the most impactful takeaways came from a speaker who said,
“We can’t build reproductive futures without acknowledging the entire reproductive spectrum.”
That line stayed with us.
Abortion, Surrogacy, and Reimagining Family
Later in the day, we found ourselves captivated by a panel that explored abortion decriminalisation, self-managed reproductive care, and emerging family forms. The discussion featured the insightful voices of Prof. Silvia De Zordo and Dr. Jayna Kothari, who addressed the legal and social frameworks that either support or stifle bodily autonomy.
As students who’ve spent many hours in lecture halls debating these very topics, it was incredibly grounding to hear them brought to life through real-world practice and progressive legal analysis. Their call to align law, policy, and lived realities reinforced our belief that public health must never lose sight of justice.
From Surviving to Flourishing
The workshop ended with a final roundtable asking a deceptively simple question:
Are we merely surviving, or are we flourishing in our health?
This closing reflection resonated deeply with us. As researchers, especially in the context of male reproductive health, it made us pause. Too often, our systems focus on treating illness rather than nurturing holistic well-being. What would it mean to centre emotional, sexual, and relational health in our definitions of flourishing? And more importantly—how can we help build that future?
Looking Ahead
We walked away from CORTH’s Reproductive Futures Workshop with our notebooks full and our minds buzzing. But more than that, we left with a renewed sense of purpose. The conversations we had, the mentors we connected with, and the space we were invited into—all of it reminded us that the future of reproductive health is intersectional, inclusive, and global.
And we’re honoured to be part of it.
Here’s to more spaces like this. More learning, more challenging, more dreaming. And most of all—to a future where everyone’s reproductive health matters.