Amber ChurchwellGraduate Student

Broadly, I’m interested in young rural women and family planning. I’m most interested in exploring how rurality impacts teenagers’ decision of when/if to have children. My scholarship expands upon the literature on teen pregnancy by exploring what structural systems that are specific to rural areas impact young women’s desire to have children. My current research is based on purposeful teenage pregnancy, and how public discourse shapes how teen pregnancy is discussed in academia. Previously to explore this topic, I have utilized qualitative community-based research methods, including in-depth interviews and ethnography. The goal of my research is to work alongside rural communities to facilitate local and public policy.