UMI4AA Advisory Meeting
Date: August 13th, 2024
Topic: Strategies for Activating Unwed Mothers’ Research and Research
Network The inaugural advisory meeting of the Unwed Mothers Initiative for
Archiving and Advocacy (UMI4AA) was successfully convened on August 13th,
focusing on strategies to activate a research network dedicated to the study
and advocacy of unwed mothers. The meeting brought together esteemed researchers and field activists specializing
in women's issues, minority rights, and adoption, fostering a rich exchange of
insights and inquiries regarding UMI4AA’s mission, operations, and research
focus. The advisory members provided several key recommendations for UMI4AA,
emphasizing the need to clearly define its identity by: - investigating unwed motherhood as a historical phenomenon;
- examining the construction, variation, and politicization of the term “unwed mother”;
- advocating for the reproductive rights of unmarried and economically disadvantaged women;
- supporting the rights of unmarried and impoverished mothers and their children to remain together; and
- ensuring the right to knowledge of one’s biological family in cases of unavoidable separation.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the advisory members for their participation and for sharing their invaluable perspectives, despite the challenging summer heat and their demanding schedules. Photos from the 1st UMI4AA Advisory Meeting
* The original Korean version of this update was posted on August 15, 2024. | 
