Photo of Avital Natham

Avital Norman Nathman

Avital Norman Nathman is a freelance writer and editor who has written for a variety of print and online outlets like The New York Times, Teen Vogue, Rolling Stone, Cosmopolitan, VICE, and more. Much of her work focuses on reproductive and maternal health. Her first book, The Good Mother Myth: Redefining Motherhood to Fit Reality, provides a platform for diverse voices that often get left out of the conversations surrounding parenting. Her upcoming book combines research, expert analysis, and narrative experiences to better understand the broken birth system in the US.

Teen Motherhood: When “Reality TV” Doesn’t Fully Reflect Reality

Avital Norman Nathman

The media has recently latched on to the idea of the “teen mom,” elevating her to star status—both in dramas and on reality TV. These shows feature teen pregnancy, but they do so in an unrealistic way that fetishizes and glamorizes it. The stories of the girls I spoke with at The Care Center are much different from the ones shown in half-hour snippets on TV and splashed across tabloid magazines.

Global Roundup: China Works Toward Remedying Gender Imbalance; One Step Closer to Creating Male Contraceptive Pill in UK

Avital Norman Nathman

Weekly global roundup: Chinese government works toward remedying population gender imbalance; Jordan is seeing some progress in family planning and reproductive health; With the discovery of a new gene, the UK is one step closer to creating a male contraceptive pill; Cultural and traditional beliefs are road blocks toward healthy family planning in Rwanda.

My Surprise Conversation with a Congresswoman

Avital Norman Nathman

A lot of the discussion surrounding women’s health and reproductive rights can certainly be boiled down to trust…both the lack of trust and mistrust in women. Hearings like the one last week and bills like the one in Virginia are symptomatic of a larger issue that Congresswoman DeLauro is noticing.