Legal candidate fights for reproductive justice and generations!

Legal candidate fights for reproductive justice and generations!

The discussion about reproductive rights has become more intense in recent years. Professor Dr. Henrike von Scheliha, a renowned lawyer with an interdisciplinary approach, has specialized in her research on this topic. In an interview, she emphasized that reproductive justice has not only legal but also social dimensions. Her aim is to strengthen the voices of young people in political processes, particularly with regard to the challenges arising from changing demographic conditions.

Von Scheliha decided early on to study law because she was looking for a subject that combined intensive language work and social relevance. She completed her studies in Cologne and Paris. She is currently researching family and inheritance law and has a particular focus on self-determination issues that are important both at the beginning and at the end of life. The central topics of her research in family law include parenthood, children's rights, and the democratic participation of children and young people.

Interdisciplinary approaches in research

In 2024, von Scheliha and two colleagues founded the research network “ReproGerecht”. The aim of this network is the interdisciplinary research of reproductive rights and the improvement of the discourse on reproductive justice in society. In particular, the topics of contraception, abortion, egg donation and international surrogacy are at the center of the discussion. She emphasizes that gender equality and intersectional aspects play an essential role in this context.

In the current social discussion, experts like von Scheliha see that the attacks on reproductive rights not only affect individual life decisions, but also question profound social power and property relations. In many countries these rights are becoming increasingly restricted, which is seen as part of larger struggles over social reproduction relations under capitalism. This approach calls for an intersectional political-economic perspective that understands social reproduction as part of the overall social concern and not just as biological reproduction.

Future-oriented research

In view of the predicted demographic changes, in which one in three people will be over 65 years old by 2050, von Scheliha sees the need to consider intergenerational equity as a further research dimension. She emphasizes that it is important how the perspectives of young people are reflected in political discourse. She sees a future council as an opportunity to make these voices heard.

In her daily work, von Scheliha values ​​the diversity of teaching, publications, projects and the exchange with students. However, the biggest challenge for her remains time management as she works on many projects at the same time. In June 2024 she moved to Hamburg to take up her professorship and speaks positively about the liveliness of the city, its cultural diversity and the interaction between people.

The debate about reproductive rights therefore remains not just a legal question, but rather a concern for society as a whole that will continue to gain in importance in the coming years. The constantly changing reality of reproductive rights requires active engagement in political and social discussion.

How Juridical course reports, social reproduction under capitalism is closely linked to relations of power and exploitation. The approach of understanding reproductive rights as part of larger societal struggles is crucial for future research and political education.

For further information about the topics of Prof. Dr. You can also find a detailed overview on Henrike von Scheliha Gender open.