Papers by Rebecca Steinfeld
This thesis assesses the extent to which fertility policies in Israel have formed part of an over... more This thesis assesses the extent to which fertility policies in Israel have formed part of an overall population policy. It asks whether the state has encouraged its Jewish citizens to increase their fertility, and non-Iews, especially Arab citizens of ,~A' Israel, to decrease theirs in order to ensure a Jewish majority tltrough internal population growth. Some scholars have answered this question in the affirmative, and this thesis draws on a range of primary and secondary sources to determine the veracity of their claims. Spanning the period from 1948 to 2010, the periodised account confirms that demographic considerations have indeed sometimes influenced the formation of socio-economic and reproductive health policies. However, a range of other factors, including Orthodox beliefs, welfare concerns and feminist ideology, competed with these demographic considerations. Thus, fertility policies in Israel have constituted a war of the wombs on two separate levels: first, as a demo...
The Jewish Quarterly, May 28, 2013
This note provides an introduction to the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran.... more This note provides an introduction to the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran. It first examines the overall political and legal framework in Iran as it relates to human rights. It then considers the human rights experiences of various groups in Iran and looks in more detail at the particular experiences of religious and ethnic minorities – groups like the Baha’is and Jews – and at the human rights situation relating to gender and sexuality. Finally, the note provides suggestions for further reading.
The American Journal of Bioethics, 2019
Current Sexual Health Reports, 2018
Purpose of Review The purpose of this study is to survey recent arguments in favor of preserving ... more Purpose of Review The purpose of this study is to survey recent arguments in favor of preserving the genital autonomy of children-female, male, and intersex-by protecting them from medically unnecessary genital cutting practices. Recent Findings Nontherapeutic female, male, and intersex genital cutting practices each fall on a wide spectrum, with far more in common than is generally understood. When looking across cultures and comparing like cases, one finds physical, psychosexual, and symbolic overlaps among the three types of cutting, suggesting that a shared ethical framework is needed. Summary All children have an interest in genital autonomy, regardless of their sex or gender.
Clinical Ethics
The current legal status and medical ethics of routine or religious penile circumcision of minors... more The current legal status and medical ethics of routine or religious penile circumcision of minors is a matter of ongoing controversy in many countries. We focus on the United Kingdom as an illustrative example, giving a detailed analysis of the most recent British Medical Association guidance from 2019. We argue that the guidance paints a confused and conflicting portrait of the law and ethics of the procedure in the UK context, reflecting deeper, unresolved moral and legal tensions surrounding child genital cutting practices more generally. Of particular note is a lack of clarity around how to apply the “best interests” standard—ordinarily associated with time-sensitive proxy decision making regarding therapeutic options for a medically unwell patient—to a parental request for a medically unnecessary surgery to be carried out on the genitalia of a healthy child. Challenges arise in measuring and assigning weights to intended sociocultural or religious/spiritual benefits, and even t...
Israel Studies, 2015
This article examines the historical and contemporary struggles that have led to the gap between ... more This article examines the historical and contemporary struggles that have led to the gap between the restrictions on, and availability of, abortion in Israel. It attributes this gap to the compromise necessitated by conflicts amongst competing policymakers, motivated by opposing viewpoints and interests, over the objectives and substance of abortion policies. Opposition to abortion stems primarily from demographic anxiety relating to both the Holocaust and the Muslim Arab-Jewish fertility differential in Israel/Palestine. Support for access to abortion emanates from countervailing concerns about the implications of unrestrained fertility for women’s health, family welfare, and social stability, as well as “qualitative” interests in reproducing healthy children. Some feminists have also resisted attempts to render women’s wombs national vessels. This article explores the evolution of these struggles over four distinct historical periods, and assesses their impact on women’s reproductive experiences and rights.
PhD Thesis, 2011
This thesis assesses the extent to which fertility policies in Israel have formed part of an over... more This thesis assesses the extent to which fertility policies in Israel have formed part of an overall population policy. It asks whether the state has encouraged its Jewish citizens to increase their fertility, and non-Jews, especially Arab citizens of Israel, to decrease theirs in order to ensure a Jewish majority through internal population growth. Some scholars have answered this question in the affirmative, and this thesis draws on a range of primary and secondary sources to determine the veracity of their claims. Spanning the period from 1948 to 2010, the periodised account confirms that demographic considerations have indeed sometimes influenced the formation of socio-economic and reproductive health policies. However, a range of other factors, including Orthodox beliefs, welfare concerns and feminist ideology, competed with these demographic considerations. Thus, fertility policies in Israel have constituted a war of the wombs on two separate levels: first, as a demographic battle between Jewish and non-Jewish wombs; and second, as a conflict between competing political parties and philosophies inside Israel over the political identity of the state. Moreover, Israel’s war of the wombs mirrors broader struggles over fertility in a range of comparable historical and geographical contexts, which are also examined in the thesis. Thus, this thesis contributes not only to Israel studies and Palestine studies, but also to gender studies and comparative politics.
This article examines the historical and contemporary struggles that have led to the gap between ... more This article examines the historical and contemporary struggles that have led to the gap between the restrictions on, and availability of, abortion in Israel. It attributes this gap to the compromise necessitated by conflicts amongst competing policymakers, motivated by opposing viewpoints and interests, over the objectives and substance of abortion policies. Opposition to abortion stems primarily from demographic anxiety relating to both the Holocaust and the Muslim Arab-Jewish fertility differential in Israel/Palestine. Support for access to abortion emanates from countervailing concerns about the implications of unrestrained fertility for women’s health, family welfare, and social stability, as well as “qualitative” interests in reproducing
healthy children. Some feminists have also resisted attempts to render women’s wombs national vessels. This article explores the evolution of these struggles over four distinct historical periods, and assesses their impact on women’s reproductive experiences and rights.
Israel has kept Rabin's assassin Yigal Amir in solitary confinement for more than 15 years while ... more Israel has kept Rabin's assassin Yigal Amir in solitary confinement for more than 15 years while allowing him to father a child. In the context of exceptionally pronatalist fertility policies, this seeming paradox makes sense.
Conference Presentations by Rebecca Steinfeld
Activists and academics disagree about the most effective ways to eliminate non-therapeutic femal... more Activists and academics disagree about the most effective ways to eliminate non-therapeutic female genital cutting (FGC). Some argue that efforts to reduce FGC are undermined by conflations of the least and most invasive types, unsubstantiated claims about universally negative effects, and inflammatory language. Scholars also argue that failing to apply the principles of bodily integrity to children of all sexes will ultimately backfire due to incompatibility with equality principles, and calls by defenders of male circumcision to permit ritual nicking of females for intellectual consistency.
Drawing on ethical critiques and anthropological studies, we ask: Would the campaign against FGC be strengthened or weakened by including male and intersex children too?
We find that a gender-inclusive approach would: (1) negate accusations of cultural imperialism by applying the same standards to white children in the USA as to children of color in Africa; (2) weaken accusations of sexism by recognizing that boys and intersex children are also vulnerable to non-therapeutic genital alteration; (3) clarify the moral confusion caused by applying a gendered-double standard to communities that modify both sexes' genitals.
We find that efforts to eliminate FGC will only be successful if they expand to include vulnerable persons of all genders.
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Papers by Rebecca Steinfeld
healthy children. Some feminists have also resisted attempts to render women’s wombs national vessels. This article explores the evolution of these struggles over four distinct historical periods, and assesses their impact on women’s reproductive experiences and rights.
Conference Presentations by Rebecca Steinfeld
Drawing on ethical critiques and anthropological studies, we ask: Would the campaign against FGC be strengthened or weakened by including male and intersex children too?
We find that a gender-inclusive approach would: (1) negate accusations of cultural imperialism by applying the same standards to white children in the USA as to children of color in Africa; (2) weaken accusations of sexism by recognizing that boys and intersex children are also vulnerable to non-therapeutic genital alteration; (3) clarify the moral confusion caused by applying a gendered-double standard to communities that modify both sexes' genitals.
We find that efforts to eliminate FGC will only be successful if they expand to include vulnerable persons of all genders.
healthy children. Some feminists have also resisted attempts to render women’s wombs national vessels. This article explores the evolution of these struggles over four distinct historical periods, and assesses their impact on women’s reproductive experiences and rights.
Drawing on ethical critiques and anthropological studies, we ask: Would the campaign against FGC be strengthened or weakened by including male and intersex children too?
We find that a gender-inclusive approach would: (1) negate accusations of cultural imperialism by applying the same standards to white children in the USA as to children of color in Africa; (2) weaken accusations of sexism by recognizing that boys and intersex children are also vulnerable to non-therapeutic genital alteration; (3) clarify the moral confusion caused by applying a gendered-double standard to communities that modify both sexes' genitals.
We find that efforts to eliminate FGC will only be successful if they expand to include vulnerable persons of all genders.