Anita Raj’s Post

While I do not generally share my political positions on LinkedIn, I choose to share this letter I wrote today - in my capacity as a citizen of Louisiana - to advocate for access to abortion services in cases of sexual assault. Bipartisan public agreement is on the side of science on this issue, and I sincerely hope that can be recognized by our state legislature. ------------------------------------------------------ Dear Members of the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, As a researcher who has been studying both gender-based violence and maternal health for 30 years, I am writing in my personal capacity but with professional expertise to urge you to support HB164 by Representative Boyd, to ensure that sexual assault victims can end a pregnancy resulting from their assault. For the people who are pregnant because they were raped, many of whom may be minor-aged girls, the option to end a pregnancy would not only help support their long-term health but can allow them to heal from trauma, which can support them and any children they may have to be healthier, more successful, contributing members of our state. We know from decades of research that denying them this option can have deleterious consequences for both the mother and the child that will be born. We at Newcomb Institute at Tulane University assessed the prevalence of rape with a statewide sample of Louisiana adults in 2023. Weighted to yield population estimates, we found that more than 1 in every 100 women in our state - almost 24,000 women - has experienced rape in the past year, and most never report it to the criminal justice system due to fear, stigma, and feelings that the system will not work for them. See: https://lnkd.in/gwBme4nZ. Please do not add to the burden of rape survival by forcing continuation of a pregnancy arising from rape. This is not just an issue of health and compassion, it is also a politically smart decision, as the overwhelming majority of Louisiana voters (70%) support this exception. Please support HB164 - and let victims of rape get the care they need, legally and safely. Thank you, Anita Raj, PhD

Excellent! We cannot reduce the digital divide without building awareness of and protections against digital violence.

Tonight, we had the pleasure of hosting the Original Pinette’s Brass Band at Newcomb Institute. This iconic group is a true NOLA tradition and an inspiration! We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to welcome them here at Tulane. For those looking to experience their incredible music, you can catch them at the Parakeet in NOLA.

There is now an option to join Dr. James's talk tomorrow on Zoom! https://lnkd.in/g9hCGiq7

I'm not a morning person, but I'm happy to be in a TV studio by 8 am to talk about Newcomb research with WVUE-TV Fox 8 Anchor John Snell any day! Thank you for having me and shining a spotlight on the #IPV epidemic in Louisiana.

We are very lucky to have Dr. KS James at Newcomb Institute and I highly recommend attending his talk on Wednesday to all #Tulane students and faculty who are interested in #genderequity!

One of our former Newcomb Scholars and Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Health interns, Sophie Sanchez, who now works for the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (also a community partner for a feminist advocacy course taught by one of our professors), shared this fun upcoming community event with us. It's always great to see our alums choose careers in civil rights and social justice work.

Thank you, Robert Pavlovich, for having me back on "Louisiana Considered" to talk about the costs of intimate partner violence! The interest from the media in our new research on this urgent issue has been heartening. https://lnkd.in/gXw29r7G

It's always a pleasure to do an interview with WGNO ABC26 Anchor LeBron Joseph to help get our research findings to New Orleanians. 

Very proud of Newcomb Institute's new research on intimate partner violence in Louisiana. I'm grateful to my "The Costs of Intimate Partner Violence in Louisiana" co-authors, Jeni Klugman and Li Li, and everyone involved with LaVEX for partnering with us to shine a spotlight on this urgent issue. #IPV is truly a crisis and the situation for survivors and their families is unacceptable.