TY - JOUR
T1 - The involuntary sterilisation of marginalised women
T2 - Power, discrimination, and intersectionality
AU - Sifris, Ronli
PY - 2016/1/2
Y1 - 2016/1/2
N2 - This article demonstrates that involuntary sterilisation procedures are generally a manifestation of intersectional discrimination and the medical profession’s use and abuse of power. Accordingly, the article uses the example of involuntary sterilisation to illuminate the multiple forms of discrimination experienced by society’s most marginalised and vulnerable people and to discuss the role of social hierarchy and existing power structures in compounding and perpetuating the expression of discrimination. It begins by referencing the power of law before considering the power of the medical profession in the context of society in general. It then analyses the gendered dimension of this power, specifically considering the example of involuntary sterilisation and discussing the importance of adopting an approach which views this issue through an intersectional lens. Finally, the article invokes a number of specific examples of involuntary sterilisation procedures being performed on marginalised groups of women to make the discussion more tangible.
AB - This article demonstrates that involuntary sterilisation procedures are generally a manifestation of intersectional discrimination and the medical profession’s use and abuse of power. Accordingly, the article uses the example of involuntary sterilisation to illuminate the multiple forms of discrimination experienced by society’s most marginalised and vulnerable people and to discuss the role of social hierarchy and existing power structures in compounding and perpetuating the expression of discrimination. It begins by referencing the power of law before considering the power of the medical profession in the context of society in general. It then analyses the gendered dimension of this power, specifically considering the example of involuntary sterilisation and discussing the importance of adopting an approach which views this issue through an intersectional lens. Finally, the article invokes a number of specific examples of involuntary sterilisation procedures being performed on marginalised groups of women to make the discussion more tangible.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84976328982&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10383441.2016.1179838
DO - 10.1080/10383441.2016.1179838
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84976328982
VL - 25
SP - 45
EP - 70
JO - Griffith Law Review
JF - Griffith Law Review
SN - 1038-3441
IS - 1
ER -