Amy Alterman, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Amy's Story
Amy is a feminist ethnographer engaged in critical interdisciplinary research at the intersection of performance and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Her work integrates methods from performance studies, (medical) anthropology, gender studies, and public health to examine inequities in reproductive health and identify strategies for change. She focuses on how activists use the performing arts, particularly humor, to destigmatize taboo health topics and advocate for social justice.
Amy's research examines reproductive healthcare access and activism in the Southeast and Midwest United States through ethnographic fieldwork with independent abortion providers and reproductive justice organizations. Her dissertation investigated how providers and patients navigate antiabortion harassment at independent clinics, with particular attention to the role of performance and humor in building resilience.
Amy's current postdoctoral research at the Georgetown-Howard Center for Medical Humanities and Health Justice examines how LGBTQ experiences shape abortion care, highlighting independent clinics' vital role in providing inclusive healthcare beyond individual patient care.
Amy's Research
"Vibrant Threads: Weaving LGBTQ Experiences into Abortion Stories"
This project seeks to broaden the understanding of "abortion stories" by including narratives from volunteers and individuals providing and seeking various reproductive and sexual health services, with a specific focus on LGBTQ people. While prevailing narratives frequently focus on the experiences of individual cisgender heterosexual abortion patients, it's essential to recognize that independent abortion clinics have a far-reaching impact. Their influence extends beyond these individuals to encompass LGBTQ communities, their support networks, as well as escorts, providers, and the wider community. Notably, many narratives recount experiences related to abortions or abortion clinics that don't necessarily involve personal abortion encounters. For instance, many abortion clinics offer comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, including pap smears, cervical cancer screenings, STI testing, and contraception counseling, which are explicitly LGBTQ-inclusive. Further, people who identify as gender nonbinary and trans seek abortion services. By expanding the concept of an "abortion story," this research aims to diversify abortion discourses, moving beyond cis-centered rhetoric and highlighting the crucial role independent abortion clinics play for entire communities. Focusing on the diminishing independent clinics following the reversal of Roe v. Wade, "Vibrant Threads" seeks to preserve their significance as vital feminist health centers providing essential services to LGBTQ individuals.
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Rooted in the medical humanities, this project integrates health data with narratives, highlighting the intersectionality of experiences and advocating for reproductive equity. Visiting clinics in the DC metropolitan area, interviews will be conducted with LGBTQ escorts, health providers working in independent clinics, and patients. The project's analysis revolves around two key aspects: first, the relationship between LGBTQ people and the abortion clinic—what services do LGBTQ people use, how do clinics create LGBTQ-inclusive spaces, how do people conceptualize their queer identities in the context of abortion, and why do they think abortion access and the existence of abortion clinics are important. Second, how storytelling functions in articulating clinic experiences, exploring the narrative and performative strategies employed.
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Considering the aftermath of the Dobbs decision, this research illuminates potential consequences on these critical services not just for abortion patients but for LGBTQ people seeking other reproductive and sexual health services. "Vibrant Threads" amplifies marginalized voices, diversifying discourse and promoting reproductive justice in varied healthcare settings. Through the power of storytelling, it paves the way for transformative shifts in discourse, working towards health equity and justice for all.