Dr Pam Lowe

Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Policy Aston University

  • Birmingham

Dr Lowe researches women’s reproductive and sexual health, with a particular interest in pregnancy, abortion and reproductive coercion.

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Aston University

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Biography

Dr Pam Lowe research centres around women’s reproductive and sexual health, with a particular interest in pregnancy and abortion. Recently she has worked on a number of projects including the sexual health of online sex workers, young people and sexual consent. She is currently engaged in two major studies, a long term ethnographic study of abortion debates in public spaces, and an investigation into policy and practice surrounding reproductive coercion.

Areas of Expertise

Women's Reproductive Health
Pregnancy
Abortion
Women's Sexual Health
Abortion Protests
Sexual Consent
Sexual Exploitation
Reproductive Coercion

Education

Warwick

PhD

Media Appearances

Pro choice society forced to move event amid fears of protest

The Cardiff Tab  online

2020-01-30

Dr Pam Lowe, a lecturer from Aston University, had been invited to give a pro-choice talk by the new pro-choice society which has been set up by the proposer of the pro-choice motion Isadora Sinha.

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Anti-abortion protests anger Cardiff students

The Guardian  online

2020-01-30

There is concern that a visit to Cardiff next month by Dr Pam Lowe, a senior lecturer in sociology and policy at Aston University who researches anti-abortion activism across the UK, could be targeted by protesters.

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Anti-abortion activists increasingly targeting UK university students

The Guardian  online

2020-01-05

Dr Pam Lowe, a senior lecturer in sociology and policy at Aston University, researches anti-abortion activism across the UK. “The anti-abortion movement has collectively recognised they have got an ageing population. They are setting out strategically to try to engage more younger people and get younger people advocating against abortion.

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Articles

Sophie's choice: Narratives of ‘saving’ in British public debates on abortion☆

Women's Studies International Forum

Pam Lowe, Sarah-Jane Page

2020-03-01

In the UK, narratives about saved women and babies have been a significant feature in anti-abortion campaigns to oppose bufferzones, which seek to prevent anti-abortion activists from being directly outside abortion clinics. Anti-abortion activists argue that without their presence, the ‘abortion industry’ will fail to seek ‘informed’ consent and coerce women into abortions. These presumptions are based on positioning abortion, and service providers, as inherently ‘evil’, whilst saving is rooted in Christian beliefs aimed at ensuring that souls go to heaven.

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Rights-based Claims Made by UK Anti-abortion Activists

Health and Human Rights

Pam Lowe, Sarah-Jane Page

2019-12-01

This article analyzes the ways in which rights-based arguments are utilized by anti-abortion activists in the UK. Drawing on an ethnographic study featuring 30 abortion clinic sites, anti-abortion marches, and other campaigns, we argue that rights-based claims form an important part of their arguments. In contrast to the way in which human rights law has been interpreted to support abortion provision, anti-abortion activists seek to undermine this connection through a number of mechanisms. First, they align their arguments with scientific discourse and attempt to downplay the religious motivation for their action. While this is an attempt to generate greater credibility for their campaign, ultimately, the coopting of scientific arguments actually becomes embedded in their religious practice, rather than being separate from it. Second, they reconfigure who should be awarded human rights, arguing not only that fetuses should be accorded human rights but also that providing abortion to women goes against women’s human rights. This article is important in showing how rights claims are religiously reframed by anti-abortion activists and what the implications are regarding debates about access to abortion services in relation to religious rights and freedom of belief.

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Pregnancy prevention and contraceptive preferences of online sex workers in the UK

The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care

Pam Lowe, Katy Pilcher, Helen Pattison, Victoria Whittaker, Claire Robertson, Jonathan DC Ross

2019-10-15

Objectives: The internet has changed the organisation of sex work. The risk of sexually transmitted infections has frequently been a research focus, but less is known about sex workers’ use of contraception for pregnancy prevention. The aim of this research was to gain a better understanding of contraceptive preferences and provider interactions of online sex workers.

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