Research Fellows in Reproductive Justice History and Popular Political Education

American Historical Association; Northampton (MA); Remote; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The American Historical Association seeks a historian specializing in women, gender, and sexuality for a project on reproductive justice. This role involves researching U.S. movements for body autonomy, producing narratives for a digital toolkit, and collaboration with social justice organizations.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. required or equivalent education and experience.
• Broad knowledge of social movements and marginalized communities.
• Experience researching primary sources.

Responsibilities

• Research and write narratives for a general audience (75%).
• Find images and documents to illustrate stories (10%).
• Collaborate on content direction and design curricula (15%).

Skills

Strong research skills

Strong writing and storytelling skills

Collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in the history of women, gender, and sexuality

Job description

Are you a historian committed to social justice in the here-and-now? The Reproductive Justice History Project seeks a productive researcher and writer who communicates scholarship to general audiences effectively and is eager to place little-known stories of organizing for body autonomy in the hands of movement leaders today.

Job Summary

The Roots of Reproductive Justice History Project seeks a historian of women, gender and sexuality to research and produce content for a website that traces movements for body autonomy across the full span of U.S. history. This fixed-term position (end date June 30, 2027) can be full- or part-time with options for remote work. We have the equivalent of two full time positions available.

The Project is developing Roots of Reproductive Justice: 500 Years of Movement Stories, a digital toolkit that features stories of low-income, queer, and Indigenous people and women of color struggling for sexual and gender freedom and reproductive health and rights as they organize around many issues -- colonization and sovereignty, poverty and immigration, adoption and foster care, sexual violence and gender criminalization, disability and environment, as well as contraception, sterilization, abortion and health care.

The Project is based in the Program for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality at Smith College. It is a collaboration with Collective Power for Reproductive Justice and movement leaders who plan to use Roots of RJ in community education, leadership and strategy development, and organizing campaigns. The toolkit is expected to launch in 2027.

Essential Functions:

• (75%) Research and write stories in narrative style for a general audience
• (10%) Find images and primary documents to illustrate stories
• (15%) Work with core team members on overall content direction and priori ties, learning objectives and methodology, and design of curricular resources and action tools

Minimum Qualifications: Required [education, experience, knowledge, skills]

• Ph.D. in the history of women, gender, and sexuality or a related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Broad knowledge of social movements with specialization in the experiences and activism of communities marginalized by sex, gender, and reproductive inequities
• Strong research skills, including research with primary sources
• Strong writing and storytelling skills, including demonstrated ability to deliver complex ideas in formats that are accessible to multiple audiences
• Demonstrated ability to work within and across movement spaces comprised of people with multiple social, racial and economic identities
• Track record of meeting deadlines and working collaboratively as part of a team

Qualifications: Preferred [other valuable skills/experience]

• Editing skills
• Experience with social justice movements
• Experience with popular education methodologies

Terms :

We will begin reviewing applications July 1

How to apply:

Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and two short writing samples.

Minimum Qualifications: Required [education, experience, knowledge, skills]

• Ph.D. in the history of women, gender, and sexuality or a related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Broad knowledge of social movements with specialization in the experiences and activism of communities marginalized by sex, gender, and reproductive inequities
• Strong research skills, including research with primary sources
• Strong writing and storytelling skills, including demonstrated ability to deliver complex ideas in formats that are accessible to multiple audiences
• Demonstrated ability to work within and across movement spaces comprised of people with multiple social, racial and economic identities
• Track record of meeting deadlines and working collaboratively as part of a team

Qualifications: Preferred [other valuable skills/experience]

• Editing skills
• Experience with social justice movements
• Experience with popular education methodologies