Sissy Farenthold Trailblazers for Justice Undergraduate Writing Prize

Frances Tarlton “Sissy” Farenthold was a trailblazing Texan who dedicated her life to exposing and responding to injustices as a lawyer, legislator, and global leader in human rights. She continues to serve as a role model and inspiration to generations around the world. This writing contest is designed to encourage new generations of UT Austin students to connect Sissy’s work to today’s human rights and justice issues. Learn more about the life and legacy of Sissy Farenthold.

The $500 prize is made possible by supporters of the Sissy Farenthold Fund for Peace and Social Justice. The fund makes possible academic, advocacy, and creative work as well as many public events on a broad range of issues to which Sissy was committed, including peace, environmental and climate justice, and reproductive and sexual rights.

See submission details for the 2024 prize.

2024: First Place, Sissy Farenthold Trailblazers for Justice Undergraduate Writing Prize

Empowering Voices: Education and Reproductive Justice in New Delhi’s GB Road

Leah Tharakan's paper investigates the intersection of reproductive justice and education within the marginalized community of sex workers in New Delhi's Garstin Bastion (GB) Road. By exploring the dual roles of education as a tool for empowerment and reproductive justice as a framework for addressing systemic inequalities, the study critiques current policies and programs and proposes a more integrated approach. Contrasting the harsh realities faced by the women and children of GB Road with the possibilities offered by educational initiatives, this analysis illuminates how education, when coupled with reproductive justice, can break cycles of exploitation and poverty, offering a pathway to social equity in one of India’s most stigmatized communities.

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