b. 1946
Kristin Luker is an American sociologist and professor at UC Berkeley known for her empirical and theoretical work on gender, sexuality, reproductive politics, and social policy. Her landmark study of the abortion debate examined the worldviews and moral frameworks of pro-life and pro-choice activists, revealing abortion politics as a conflict over the social meaning of womanhood. She has also written influentially on teenage pregnancy and sex education policy in the United States.
Authored Abortion and the Politics of Motherhood (1984), a foundational sociological study of the U.S. abortion debate
Demonstrated that abortion politics reflects deeper conflicts over gender roles and the value of motherhood
Authored Dubious Conceptions (1996), challenging moral panic narratives around teenage pregnancy
Authored When Sex Goes to School (2006), analyzing American conflicts over sex education
Contributed empirical grounding to feminist theories of embodiment, reproductive autonomy, and gendered empathy