Ella Siegrist studies the intersection of reproductive justice and the carceral system, with a particular interest in reproductive control as punishment. More broadly, her work examines the relations between childbearing, families, health, race, gender, and imprisonment. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, Ella examines the role of the carceral state in shaping population health trajectories and reproductive decisions.
Ella received a BA from Warren Wilson College in Sociology and Anthropology in 2019 and an MA in Sociology from the University of New Mexico in 2021. In addition to pursuing her PhD in the Sociology department, she is also a Harvey Fellow in American Cultural Studies. In the larger St. Louis community, Ella volunteers as a researcher with the Center for Women in Transition and as a job coach for the Transformative Workforce Academy.
Keywords: punishment and the carceral system, reproductive justice, race and racism