Louise Ferrall

Theorizing Sex and Science

A woman wearing a pink shirt and glasses smiles at the camera. Behind her is a limestone building and a tree

About Me

I am a PhD student at Indiana University Bloomington whose research examines sexuality, infertility, and reproductive technologies through a feminist science and technology studies (STS) lens. I hold a B.S. from William & Mary in Biology and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, and my work is grounded in interdisciplinary analyses of sexual and reproductive health as sites shaped by scientific knowledge production, gendered expectations, and social hierarchies.

I have contributed to multiple research projects at the Kinsey Institute. One project examines cunnilingus and STI prevention; I am additionally involved in a project investigating whether masturbation may mitigate menopausal symptoms. My main collaborators are Zoe Moscovici and Drs. Cynthia Graham, Stephanie Sanders, and Justin Lehmiller.

My dissertation interrogates the gendered and capitalist assumptions embedded in infertility research and the marketing of reproductive technologies. Across individual projects and conference presentations, I have explored topics such as penis transplantation and the construction of cisheterosexuality, egg-freezing marketing, and sexuality education.

Driven by a deep engagement with science and a commitment to feminist and reproductive justice, my work seeks to destigmatize sexual and reproductive health while challenging gendered assumptions in biomedical research. I welcome conversations about feminist research, technology, and justice—and I’m always happy to recommend a good book!