About Our Lab

We are a research lab housed in the George Mason University School of Nursing. Our work explores the complex connections between intimate partner violence (IPV), reproductive coercion (RC), and pregnancy intention — with a focus on advancing reproductive justice, health equity, and autonomy.

We use anti-racist and trauma-informed research methods to examine how both structural and individual-level factors shape reproductive health outcomes. Our approach centers the experiences of those most impacted by violence and inequity, and aims to inform better clinical practices, policies, and systems of care.

👉 Learn more about our Research Projects and explore recent Publications.

Our Scientific Mission and Vision

We focus on two primary areas, reproductive coercion/intimate partner violence and pregnancy intention, and we apply anti-racist research methods and health equity principles. Reproductive coercion (RC) refers to a spectrum of behaviors used by a partner to control reproductive decision-making, which includes birth control sabotage, pregnancy pressure, and controlling the outcome of a pregnancy. This subset of IPV impacts sexual and reproductive health (SRH), mental health, as well as birth and parenting outcomes, and has salience given the current climate of eroding reproductive rights in the United States (US). Our research strives to shed light on the experiences of those affected and identify avenues for support and intervention. Pregnancy intention is intricately intertwined with RC and bears significant implications for public health. It is imperative to approach the examination of pregnancy intention through a lens that prioritizes anti-racist perspectives and considerations. Unintended pregnancy is often touted as a universally undesirable SRH outcome which must be addressed to improve the health and economic futures of young people, especially in communities of color. But more recent work in this area, informed by principles of reproductive justice and health equity, has questioned the validity of this measure as an indicator of health, and called out the relevance of existing measures to diverse communities.

Values

 Anti-racist research methods and health equity ground our work. Examples include the following:

  • Operationalizing and measuring structural racism

  • Awareness and examination of intersecting identities

  • Gender inclusivity

  • Centering The Reproductive & Sexual Health Equity Framework 1

  • Center the needs of and redistributing power to marginalized individuals and communities

    • Acknowledge historical and ongoing harms, including those perpetuated by healthcare and public health institutions

    • Address the root causes of reproductive and sexual health inequities, including racism, patriarchy, and economic inequality.

    • Honor bodily autonomy for all people

    • Affirm and create conditions for healing; don’t shame or (re)traumatize

    • Create systems that meet people’s needs inside and outside the formal healthcare system.

 Other core principles that guide our work include:

  • Rigor, reproducibility and transparency

  • Responsible conduct of research

  • Mutual trust, respect, and understanding