Ella Berny

Profile

Project Title: The Abortion Plot: an exploration of personal abortion storytelling through space.

Supervisors: Professor Susan Rudy (English) and Dr Sydney Calkin (Geography).

Previous qualifications:

MA Birkbeck, Creative writing

MA UCL, History

BA University of York, History  

Teaching

I have taught on BA and MA modules in English Literature and Geography at Queen Mary and have guest lectured at Kings College London. Previously, I have worked in strategic communications and media for human rights and reproductive justice organisations. 

Research

Research Interests:

Abortion,

Reproductive justice and freedom,

Abortion law,

Storytelling,

Poetry,

Speaking out,

Space,

Feminist methodologies,

Feminist theory. 

Publications

Berny, E. 2025. The Abortion Plot: A Lyrical Critique of the Prosecutions for Suspected ‘Illegal’ Abortion in England. Feminist Legal Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10691-025-09589-w 

Berny, E. 2024. ‘People who have abortions are our future’: abortion storytelling and the feminist imaginary. Feminist Review, 136(1), 100-109. https://doi.org/10.1177/01417789231202651 

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/01417789231202651 

Calkin S, Berny E. 2021. Legal and non-legal barriers to abortion in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Medicine Access @ Point of Care. 5. doi:10.1177/23992026211040023

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23992026211040023