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About the project
Since June 2022, a ban on abortion has been in effect in Wisconsin. This law has been at the center of division and debates in recent state elections, causing many to grapple with questions of bodily autonomy and gender. We are a group of journalists who are exploring the state of reproductive health and gender equality in Wisconsin. Our stories encompass issues like access to abortion, gender affirming care and sexual health services. Meet our team below.
Meet Our Reporters
Editorial Team - Editor
Sarah Kirsch they/she
Hometown: La Crosse, Wisconsin
Major: I'm a Journalism major with certificates in Digital Studies, Gender and Women's Studies and Digital Cinema Production planning to pursue a career in audio journalism or publishing after graduation.
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To me, gender rights and reproductive justice means everyone, regardless of their identity, should have equal and affordable access to gender-affirming care and reproductive healthcare without barriers. In the United States, these rights are currently under criticism and attack, making this conversation vital now than ever. This project is important to me because the topics regularly influence my and the people I care about's health.
Editorial Team - Assistant Editor
Joe Mayo he/him
Hometown: Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Major: Journalism, strategic communication track
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To me, reproductive rights means that everyone should have the right to choose what is best for their own reproductive health.
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Editorial Team - Copy Editor
Jadius McGhee he/him
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Major: Journalism and Mass Communication
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I don’t understand how people who never will have to experience childbirth can make decisions that will affect women. It’s very inconsiderate to tell a woman what she has to do with her baby even if factors like rape, molest, and unwanted pregnancy come into play.
Editorial Team - Copy Editor
Charles Pimienta he/him
Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin
Major: Journalism and Mass Communication
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​To me, gender rights means dismantling the patriarchal systems we have in place and helping people of all gender identities recover from the societal damage these systems have caused.
Editorial Team - Copy Editor
Hana Razvi she/her
Hometown: Brookfield, Wisconsin
Major: I’m an incoming junior in the J-school. After graduation, I want to attend law school and work in the legal department for a large multimedia corporation or artist.
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To me, reproductive justice is easy access to contraception, bodily autonomy & the fundamental right to exist freely regardless of gender.
Editorial Team - Copy Editor
Isabella Ruder she/her
Hometown: St. Charles, Illinois
Major: I am a journalist major double tracking in reporting and strategic communications. I want to tell people's stories and learn more about the world around me in order to better inform others of certain issues/topics!
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​Reproductive justice and gender rights to me as a woman means having the ability to freely make decisions about my body and using my privilege to support others who during this time don't have the freedom to do so. Don't forget to make your voice heard by voting, donating and signing petitions!
Multimedia Team - Editor
Keri Entzminger she/her
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Major: I am senior studying Journalism and Mass Communications (Reporting and Strategic Communication) with certificates in Entrepreneurship and Digital Studies. My goal is to find a career in advertising, social media marketing, public relations or any communications related field. A career in any of these fields allows me to be creative, build relationships with people and make people feel something.
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As a woman, I believe reproductive justice is so important because it's essential for women to have human and women rights! I should be able to make my own decisions on how many kids I want or if I event want kids, have access to education and services, and have the ability to control what happens to my own body.
Multimedia Team
Kaitlyn Alley she/her
Hometown: Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Major: Journalism, both on the reporting and strategic communications track, Communications Arts and Digital Studies
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To me, reproductive justice and gender rights means bodily autonomy and fairness.
Multimedia Team
Cate Tarr she/her
Hometown: Needed
Major: needed
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Needed
Multimedia Team
Ethan Wattenburg he/him
Hometown: needed
Major: needed
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Needed
Multimedia Team
James Whitelow he/him
Hometown: Benton Harbor, Michigan
Major: Journalism- Strategic Communication and Reporting with Certificates in Sports Communication and Asian American Studies
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To me reproductive justice and gender rights spotlights the current conversation on how these topics either goes unnoticed, dismissed, or attacked by politics, religion and personal values. Reproductive justice to me needs provide substantial amounts of help and resources to women who are either dealing with childbirth to abortion without the judgement and remarks of others without knowing an individual's situation. Additionally, the conversation of gender rights is something that I personally believe is the right for someone to comfortably identify with whatever they would like to identify as without the judgement and laws of others. Because unfortunately, these conversations only comes into question when it benefits a politicians beliefs and words rather than the recognition of the public and individuals affected.
Web Design Team - Editor
Helen Tosteson she/her
Hometown: Lyme, New Hampshire
Major: I'm currently in graduate school to study science communication. I aim to become a social scientist and cartographer focused on improving the healthcare system.
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To me, reproductive justice is intertwined with gender equality, trans rights, racial justice, and economic justice. I believe that all people should have a right to make their own reproductive health decisions.
Web Design Team
Yifan Cui she/her
Hometown: Qingdao, China
Major: I’ve always tried to learn how to be a creative thinker and a problem solver. I wish to learn different aspects of our society and take a look to the complexity of human experiences.
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Reproductive and gender rights are cornerstones of a just society. They’re not privileges to be granted but inherent rights that belong to every individual, ensuring everyone to live life with autonomy and respect.
Web Design Team
Meryl Hubbard she/her
Hometown: San Diego, California
Major: I will be a fourth-year student at UW-Madison, graduating with a dual degree in journalism and strategic communications. As a student, I am here to learn about ways to expand as a storyteller and artist. I love telling stories that capture an individual's life and expand to broader themes that any person can learn from.
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With access to reproductive and gender education people can develop agency and confidence. Knowledge is empowerment.
Web Design Team
Jessica Lewin she/her
Hometown: Santa Monica, California
Major: Journalism and Philosophy
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For me, reproductive and gender justice just means protecting individuals’ fundamental liberties, which includes the right to their own body and thus to do with it what they deem fit
Web Design Team
Alexandra Meyer she/her
Hometown: Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Major: Journalism (reporting track) and Communication Arts (Radio/Film/TV track)
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Reproductive justice, to me, means having bodily autonomy. I want to be able to make decisions about my own body without any interference. I believe that we should support the choices that all women and people make for themselves and try to gain back the control and power the states have over our personal decisions.
