PUSSYthe Musical

Sources & inspiration

Research Bibliography

Selected scholarship, institutional research, and reference works informing the themes of PUSSY The Musical.

Abortion, Reproductive Rights & Health

  1. American Psychological Association. “The Facts About Abortion and Mental Health.” APA Monitor, 2022.
  2. Becker, Davida, et al. “Inequalities in Access to and Quality of Abortion Services in Mexico.” National Institutes of Health / PMC.
  3. Beltrán y Puga, Alma. “The Long Quest for Reproductive Justice in Mexico: Feminist Legal Strategies and Challenges to Changing Abortion Precedent in a Federal System.” Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, 2024.
  4. Biggs, M.A., et al. “Women’s Mental Health and Well-being 5 Years After Receiving or Being Denied an Abortion.” JAMA Psychiatry, 2017.
  5. Díez, Jordi, and Alba Ruibal. The Decriminalization of Abortion in Latin America: A Tale of Gradual Judicialization. Cambridge University Press, 2025.
  6. Foster, Diana Greene. The Turnaway Study: Ten Years, a Thousand Women, and the Consequences of Having—or Being Denied—an Abortion. Scribner, 2020.
  7. Gemmill, Alison, et al. “US Abortion Bans and Infant Mortality.” JAMA, 2024.
  8. Grossman, Daniel, et al. “Mail-Order Pharmacy Dispensing of Mifepristone for Abortion.” JAMA Internal Medicine, 2024.
  9. Juárez, Fátima, et al. “Women’s Abortion-Seeking Behavior Under Restrictive Laws in Mexico.” PLOS ONE.
  10. Miller, Sarah, Laura R. Wherry, and Diana Greene Foster. “What Happens after an Abortion Denial? A Review of Results from the Turnaway Study.” AEA Papers and Proceedings, vol. 110, 2020, pp. 226–230.
  11. Myers, Caitlin K., et al. “The Effects of Abortion Bans on Fertility.” Journal of Public Economics, 2024.
  12. Steenland, Maxine W., et al. “Changes in Obstetrics and Gynecology Workforce After Dobbs.” JAMA Internal Medicine, 2024.
  13. World Health Organization. Abortion Care Guideline. WHO, 2022.

Adoption, Reproductive Decision-Making & Family Structure

  1. Duncan, J. M., et al. “Adoption and Development from Infancy to Adulthood: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies.” Development and Psychopathology, vol. 36, no. 1, 2024, pp. 1–23.
  2. Juffer, Femmie, and Marinus H. van IJzendoorn. “Adoption, Foster Care, and the Needs of Looked-After Children.” BMJ, vol. 349, 2014, g6293.
  3. Keyes, Margaret A., et al. “Risk of Suicide Attempt in Adopted and Nonadopted Offspring.” Pediatrics, vol. 132, no. 4, 2013, pp. 639–646.
  4. Lee, Sohee, et al. “Early Risk for Child Externalising Symptoms: Examining Genetic, Prenatal, Temperamental and Parental Influences.” Infant and Child Development, vol. 33, no. 2, 2024, e2508.
  5. Leve, Leslie D., et al. “The Pernicious Role of Stress on Intergenerational Continuity of Psychopathology.” Development and Psychopathology, vol. 36, no. 2, 2024, pp. 345–360.
  6. Lo, Albert Y. H., et al. “Birth Family Contact from Childhood to Adulthood: Associations with Adjustment and Adoption Outcomes.” International Journal of Behavioral Development, vol. 47, no. 4, 2023, pp. 321–333.
  7. MacDonald, Kate, et al. “Experiences of Adoption Disruption: Parents’ Perspectives.” Adoption & Fostering, vol. 45, no. 3, 2021, pp. 267–282.
  8. Markward, Martha J., and Leslie L. Cline. “A Qualitative Study of Birth Mothers’ Experience of Grief Following Placement.” Adoption Quarterly, vol. 7, no. 1, 2003, pp. 1–24.
  9. Miller, Brian C., et al. “Evolution and Resolution: Birthmothers’ Experience of Grief and Loss at Different Levels of Adoption Openness.” Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, vol. 24, no. 6, 2007, pp. 875–889.
  10. Skoog, Therese, et al. “Trauma Exposure and Mental Health Outcomes Among Adopted Adolescents.” Child Abuse & Neglect, vol. 125, 2022, 105489.
  11. van IJzendoorn, Marinus H., and Femmie Juffer. “Adoption as Intervention: Meta-Analytic Evidence for Massive Catch-Up and Plasticity in Development.” Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, vol. 47, no. 12, 2006, pp. 1228–1245.
  12. von Borczyskowski, Annette, et al. “Suicide, Psychiatric Illness, and Social Maladjustment in Intercountry Adoptees in Sweden: A Cohort Study.” The Lancet, vol. 360, no. 9331, 2002, pp. 443–448.
  13. Wierzbicki, Michael, and Karen M. Grotevant. “Psychiatric Disorders and Treatment in Adopted Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis.” Adoption Quarterly, vol. 19, no. 1, 2016, pp. 1–21.

Birth, Obstetric Practice & Medical Intervention

  1. Bohren, Meghan A., et al. “Mistreatment of Women During Childbirth in Health Facilities Globally: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review.” PLOS Medicine, vol. 12, no. 6, 2015, e1001847. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001847
  2. Bovbjerg, Marit L., Melissa Cheyney, and Aaron B. Caughey. “Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes Following Waterbirth: A Cohort Study of 17,530 Waterbirths and 17,530 Propensity Score-Matched Land Births.” BJOG, vol. 129, no. 6, 2022, pp. 950–958. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17009
  3. Carlson, Nichole S., et al. “Association Between Provider Type and Cesarean Birth in Healthy Nulliparous Laboring Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study.” Birth, vol. 45, no. 2, 2018, pp. 159–168. https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12334
  4. Cardwell, Chris R., et al. “Caesarean Section Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Childhood-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis.” Diabetologia, vol. 51, no. 5, 2008, pp. 726–735. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-008-0941-z
  5. Cho, Casey E., and Michael Norman. “Cesarean Section and Development of the Immune System in the Offspring.” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 208, no. 4, 2013, pp. 249–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2012.08.009
  6. Curran, Eoin A., et al. “Birth by Caesarean Section and Development of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, vol. 56, no. 5, 2015, pp. 500–508. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12351
  7. Diaz, V., et al. “Evidence-Based Medical Procedures to Optimise Caesarean Outcomes: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.” eClinicalMedicine, vol. 83, 2025, 103212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103212
  8. Gialdini, C., et al. “Evidence-Based Surgical Procedures to Optimize Caesarean Outcomes: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.” eClinicalMedicine, vol. 72, 2024, 102632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102632
  9. Grobman, William A., et al. “Labor Induction versus Expectant Management in Low-Risk Nulliparous Women.” New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 379, no. 6, 2018, pp. 513–523. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1800566
  10. Gün, İbrahim, et al. “Long- and Short-Term Complications of Episiotomy.” Turkish Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 13, no. 3, 2016, pp. 144–148. https://doi.org/10.4274/tjod.00087
  11. Janssen, Patricia A., et al. “Outcomes of Planned Home Birth with Registered Midwife Versus Planned Hospital Birth.” CMAJ, vol. 181, no. 6–7, 2009, pp. 377–383. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.081869
  12. Jakobsson, Hedvig E., et al. “Decreased Gut Microbiota Diversity, Delayed Bacteroidetes Colonisation and Reduced Th1 Responses in Infants Delivered by Caesarean Section.” Gut, vol. 63, no. 4, 2014, pp. 559–566. https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2012-303249
  13. Jiang, H., et al. “Selective Use of Episiotomy Versus Routine Episiotomy for Vaginal Birth.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, no. 2, 2017, CD000081. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000081.pub3
  14. Kjerulff, Kristen H., et al. “Labor Induction and Cesarean Delivery: A Prospective Cohort Study.” Birth, vol. 44, no. 3, 2017, pp. 252–261. https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12286
  15. Kramer, Michael S., et al. “Breastfeeding and Child Cognitive Development: New Evidence from a Large Randomized Trial.” Archives of General Psychiatry, vol. 65, no. 5, 2008, pp. 578–584. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.65.5.578
  16. Lewis, Laura, et al. “Water Birth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes.” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 230, no. 3, 2024, pp. 292–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2023.08.034
  17. Li, Hui Ting, et al. “The Impact of Cesarean Section on Offspring Overweight and Obesity: A Meta-Analysis.” International Journal of Obesity, vol. 37, no. 7, 2013, pp. 893–899. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2012.195
  18. Liu, Shiliang, et al. “Risk of Maternal Postpartum Readmission Associated with Mode of Delivery.” Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 105, no. 4, 2005, pp. 836–842. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.AOG.0000154153.31193.2c
  19. Middleton, Philippa, et al. “Induction of Labour at or Beyond 37 Weeks’ Gestation.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020, CD004945. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004945.pub5
  20. Miller, Suellen, et al. “Beyond Too Little, Too Late and Too Much, Too Soon: A Pathway Towards Evidence-Based, Respectful Maternity Care Worldwide.” The Lancet, vol. 388, no. 10056, 2016, pp. 2176–2192. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31472-6
  21. Penders, John, et al. “Factors Influencing the Composition of the Intestinal Microbiota in Early Infancy.” Pediatrics, vol. 118, no. 2, 2006, pp. 511–521. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2005-2824
  22. Polidano, Cain, et al. “The Relation Between Cesarean Birth and Child Cognitive Development.” Scientific Reports, vol. 7, 2017, 11483. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-11031-5
  23. Shorey, Shefaly, et al. “Global Prevalence of Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Psychiatric Research, vol. 100, 2018, pp. 71–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.02.012
  24. Sznajder, Krystyna K., et al. “Cesarean Section and Child Development at 3 Years: A Prospective Cohort Study.” Maternal and Child Health Journal, vol. 26, no. 12, 2022, pp. 2526–2535. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-022-03458-3
  25. Tikkanen, Roosa, et al. “Maternal Mortality and Maternity Care in the United States Compared to 10 Other Developed Countries.” Commonwealth Fund, 2020.
  26. World Health Organization. WHO Recommendations: Intrapartum Care for a Positive Childbirth Experience. Geneva: WHO, 2018.
  27. World Health Organization. “More Than One-Third of Women Experience Long-Term Health Problems After Childbirth.” WHO, 2024.
  28. World Health Organization. WHO Recommendations on Non-Clinical Interventions to Reduce Unnecessary Caesarean Sections. Geneva: WHO, 2018.
  29. Zaigham, Mehreen, and Wanda K. Nicholson. “Global Disparities in Caesarean Section Rates: Why Indication-Based Monitoring Matters.” PLOS Global Public Health, vol. 3, no. 10, 2023, e0002877. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002877