Published: March 06, 2008 04:15 am         

Author to speak about 'feminist technologies'

Award-winning television producer, author and anthropologist Linda L. Layne, the Hale Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, will present an address titled "Menstrual Suppressing Birth Control Pills: A Feminist Technology?" at the State University College at Oneonta at 7 p.m. Monday in the Craven Lounge of the Morris Conference Center. The program is free and open to the public.

Layne's research in anthropology centers on explaining why American women are ill-prepared for miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant death and why the feminist movement has not fully embraced this women's health issue. She is working to develop a women's health approach to child-bearing loss through a public television series, "Motherhood Lost: Conversations," which she co-produced with Heather Bailey at George Mason University Television.

Layne, who holds a Ph.D. in anthropology and Middle Eastern studies from Princeton University, is the author of "Motherhood Lost: A Feminist Perspective on Pregnancy Loss" and the "Childbearing Loss" chapter of the new edition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves." She is editor of "Consuming Motherhood" and "Transformative Motherhood: On Giving and Getting in a Consumer Culture," and is working on a volume on "Feminist Technology."

Layne's presentation at SUCO will focus on Seasonale, a low-dose birth control pill that regulates menstruation so that it occurs only four times a year. She will draw on the survey responses of visitors to the online Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health regarding their opinions on the ability to stop menstruating indefinitely if they could start up again easily if they wanted a child.

She will also consider the writings of advocates and opponents to show how physical and attitudinal differences among women, as well as differences within feminism, complicate the question of "feminist technologies."

Layne's appearance is sponsored by the college's anthropology and women's and gender studies departments, the Office of Equity and Inclusion and the public events committee. More information about the presentation is available from Sallie Han of the anthropology department at 436-2715 or hanss@oneonta.edu.