Michal Raucher

Michal Raucher’s research lies at the intersection of the anthropology of women in Judaism, reproductive ethics, and religious authority. Her first book, Conceiving Agency: Reproductive Authority among Haredi Women, was published by Indiana University Press in 2020. She is currently writing her second book, an ethnography about Orthodox Jewish women rabbis. She earned a Ph.D. in Religious Studies with a certificate in Gender Studies from Northwestern University.

Publications:

• “The Religion of Reproductive Rights Claims: The Jewish Fight to Legalize Abortion.” The Revealer. October 4, 2023. https://therevealer.org/the-religion-of-reproductive-rights-claims-the-jewish-fight-to-legalize-abortion/

Media Appearances/Speaking Engagements:

• “How Jews Talk about Abortion…and How they Don’t,” George Mason University, October 23, 2023

• “Jews for Choice: How are Jews Advocating for Abortion? ” Eastern Michigan University, March 13, 2023.

• Panel on Reproduction in the Middle East. Butler University, 2021

Previous Organizations: 

• University of Cincinnati

Accomplishments:

• Participated in a documentary about abortion and religion in the US, "Under G-d"

• Received a grant from the Center for Reproductive Health Research in the Southeast (RISE)

• Have given several invited university lectures on religion and abortion

Upcoming Projects:

• “Jews who have had Abortions.” Survey and interviews with Jews who have had abortions in the US. Started July 2023. Working with two faculty colleagues, a graduate student, and several undergraduate research assistants.

• “Rabbis for Repro.” Survey of 1500 members of “Rabbis for Repro,” a modern day Clergy Consultation Service organized by National Council of Jewish Women. Started Spring 2022. Research will be presented at the American Academy of Religion

In my research on abortion, I am constantly attentive to the intersection of reproductive health care with social, economic, religious, and racial realities. The research I do is designed to capture the diversity of reproductive experiences, of access to reproductive health care, and attitudes towards reproduction.