UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — This past summer, 10 Penn State undergraduates enrolled in WMNST 399: The Quest for Reproductive Justice in South Africa, an education abroad program led by Susanne M. Klausen, Brill Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in the College of the Liberal Arts, and delivered by Penn State Global. This was one of 12 faculty-led education abroad programs offered through the College of the Liberal Arts this summer.

Klausen, a historian of modern South Africa, designed the course as a mix of in-class lectures and field trips. Lectures were about the history of South Africa in order for students to gain insight into the ways colonization and apartheid continue to shape present-day, reproductive health and politics. They were supplemented with field trips to important cultural sites, such as the Iziko Slave Lodge history museum, and interspersed with field trips to a variety of leading national reproductive justice organizations based in Cape Town and the surrounding townships, including Sisonke, a group that fights for the rights of sex workers; Gender Dynamix, which advances transgender human rights; and a publicly funded, safe-abortion clinic where students were given a tour by the manager, an African midwife passionate about advancing girls’ and women’s reproductive health and dignity, Klausen said.

A core component of the course was the research project. Working in small groups, the students produced original research for the South African Women’s Legal Centre, a widely respected team of lawyers who specialize in feminist litigation. Under the dedicated supervision of Jill Wood, teaching professor of women's, gender, and sexuality studies, who was the course’s co-leader, the students produced research on several issues of concern to the Women’s Legal Centre, such as the need for safe haven laws to address widespread child abandonment.

“Teaching and learning with students outside the classroom, and outside of the United States, enabled us to learn a great deal about reproductive justice from the South African community members we partnered with,” Wood said. “Our students worked collaboratively with each other and with different local organizations to understand how the material realities of individuals' lives impact one's reproductive autonomy. This trip was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I'm so grateful to have been included.”

Klausen said she feels she “lucked out” with the group of students who took the course. “They were amazing, very impressive young people and excellent students," she said. "I was so impressed by their phenomenal, in-depth research for the Women’s Legal Centre, who were blown away and found their research very useful."

“In addition,” Klausen said, “the students were extremely thoughtful and supportive of each other. Friendships were forged right before my eyes.”

Corrinne Chase, a fourth-year student double majoring in psychology and statistics, said visiting places like the Slave Lodge and Langa Township was incredibly impactful, as it taught her and her classmates about many topics they had not previously known about. Touring Langa Township was particularly memorable, as it showed students the ongoing harmful effects of apartheid.

“Under apartheid, the government established townships for Africans to live far away from downtown Cape Town,” Klausen explained. “We took the students to Langa Township because it was crucial they got a glimpse into how the majority of South Africans live.”

A highlight of the trip was meeting Stefanie Coyle, a 2005 political science alumna currently living with her husband, Stephen, in Cape Town. The couple invited the whole class to their home one Sunday afternoon for lunch.

“Both are lawyers doing fantastically interesting work — Stefanie with the NYCLU and Stephen on anti-malaria initiatives on the African continent — and had educational and work experiences the students found hugely inspiring and wanted to know more about,” Klausen said. “They were also the most welcoming, generous hosts.”

“Stefanie and her husband were able to discuss their college and professional careers with us,” said Cara Arnoldi, a fourth-year student double majoring in political science and communication arts and sciences and pursuing a master of public policy degree. “They also shared South African culture, including a traditional braai (barbecue) and desserts.”

Another focus of the trip was the natural beauty of South Africa. Students took group excursions to tour the Cape Peninsula, ride a cable car to the top of Table Mountain and even go on a safari. Arnoldi explained that exploring the country resulted in some of her favorite experiences.

“My best memory is hiking to the top of Lion’s Head with a few group members,” Arnoldi said. “The view was absolutely gorgeous. We saw the sun setting over the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the entire city below us.”

The faculty-led program allowed the participating students to gain first-hand experience in nonprofit and activist work. They shared some of the many ways the course impacted their education and possibly their future careers, as well as the biggest takeaways they hope to use in their respective fields.

Arnoldi said this trip allowed her to conduct legal research, which is vitally important to her public policy interests.

“I hope to get a Ph.D. in social psychology with a special interest in reproductive justice,” Chase said. “This trip provided a lens into why reproductive justice is so important and what reproductive justice efforts look like in the post-apartheid state.”

Keya Ahrestani said, “As someone who was not well-versed in reproductive justice, I left Cape Town feeling invigorated and extremely passionate about international reproductive justice advocacy. So much so that I added a women’s studies minor to my degree plans.” Ahrestani is a fourth-year student majoring in psychology and quintuple minoring in Spanish, child maltreatment and advocacy studies, health policy and administration, global and international studies and women’s studies.

For Klausen, the most satisfying aspects of the course were knowing that the students fell in love with South Africa and that they gained a new, transnational perspective on their studies, she said. As a historian of modern South Africa, she explained why she considered it an honor to offer this education abroad program.

“It is gratifying to see students appreciate South Africa,” Klausen said. “None of them had been to the African continent before, and I enjoyed seeing how respectful and appreciative they were of the culture and natural beauty. Seeing these things through their eyes was wonderful. The course achieved exactly what I had hoped — it sparked a hunger to learn more about Africa and reproductive justice.”

“My time in Cape Town solidified my desire for an international career in advocacy,” Ahrestani said. “By doing comparative international research for the Women’s Legal Centre, I discovered a passion for international policy cooperation. Getting to interact with so many advocacy organizations gave me a lot of inspiration to pursue a career in advocacy.”

Students remarked that taking the course would not have been possible without support from the Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and the College of the Liberal Arts. From enrichment funding to faculty guidance, the college was able to meaningfully assist students along the way.

“The College of the Liberal Arts helped me fund this trip,” Arnoldi said. “Without that additional funding, I would not have been able to attend.”

“This was a truly life- and career-altering educational experience, and I am so grateful for the help I received in the form of enrichment funding through the Career Enrichment Network,” Ahrestani added. “Additionally, my professors in Cape Town were instrumental in guiding me during my time in South Africa.”

Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network

The Career Enrichment Network empowers College of the Liberal Arts students to explore, engage and define their career journey through diverse career development opportunities. Students can meet with a career coach to explore careers, internships, education abroad, research, the Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program and more. Through donor support, the Career Enrichment Network provides Liberal Arts students the opportunity to apply for funding to help support participation in many of these experiences.