Boundaries of Her Body: The Troubling History of Women's Rights in America

Debran Rowland is the author of The Boundaries of Her Body: The Troubling History of Women's Rights in America (Sphinx 2004), which Publisher's Weekly called a "masterful treatise" in a starred review, and reviewers at the academic journal, Kirkus, applauded as an "[i]ndispensable source book for courses in women's studies..." Ms. Rowland is an attorney, a legal writer, a former journalist, and an artist. She earned her law degree at Loyola University of Chicago, School of Law. In addition to a law degree, Ms. Rowland holds a degree in English from Carleton College and an MA in cultural anthropology from Columbia University. Ms. Rowland has written for The Korea Times, New York; The New Pittsburgh Courier; Pittsburgh Press; the Chicago Tribune; and, the Commercial Appeal. Writing awards include Best News Feature, Chicago Association of Black Journalists, 1991, and the Robert L. Vann award for Best Print News Series, 1988. Legal honors for Ms. Rowland include the American Jurisprudence and Corpus Secundum awards and the 2005 Innovative Attorney Award from the Loyola University of Chicago, School of Law, Black Law Students Association. Legal articles written by Ms. Rowland have been published in AMERICAN LAW REPORTS (5th Series); Loyola University School of Law Public Interest Law Reporter (now Public Interest Law Review); and, the Illinois Bar Examiner. She has lived in India, where she taught English to "untouchable" children in a slum, and in Australia, where she covered the Constitutional Convention in 1998. In addition to writing, Ms. Rowland volunteers for two pro bono legal agencies in Chicago, where she has handled civil-rights based immigration appeals and "women-important" asylum claims and is always eager to do more if the case fits her expertise. Ms. Rowland is also lecturer with the caused-based agency, Creative Well, which has given her the opportunity to reach, talk and meet people around the country. Finally, Ms. Rowland has studied at the Art Student's League of New York. Her illustrations have been published in Al Dia newspaper in addition to other places. She is currently working on a children's book.