Ethical issues, topics and debates: reproductive health, abortion and birth control Books

Book SynopsisAn exploration of the sustained attack on reproductive rights in the USA in recent years, and its ramifications.

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Book SynopsisAs the courts betray us and our leaders fail us, only we can keep each other safe. In this powerful, empathetic look at abortion clinic escorting, “one of the most under-covered and crucial, lifesaving, rigorous forms of activism out there” (Rebecca Traister), Lauren Rankin offers real hope—and a real call to action for a post-Roe America. Incisive and eye-opening, Bodies on the Line makes a clear case that the right to an abortion is a fundamental part of human dignity. And now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v Wade, the stakes facing us all if that right disappears have never been higher.Clinic escorts—everyday volunteers who shepherd patients safely inside to receive care—are fighting on the front lines by replacing hostility with humanity. Prepared to stand up and protect abortion access as they have for decades, even in the face of terrorism and violence, clinic escorts live—and have even died—to ensure that abortion remains not only accessible but a basic human right. Their stories have never been told—until now.With precision and passion, Lauren Rankin traces the history and evolution of this movement to tell a broader story of the persistent threats to safe and legal abortion access, and the power of individuals to stand up and fight back. Deeply researched, featuring interviews with clinic staff, patients, experts, and activists—plus the author’s own experience as a clinic escort—Bodies on the Line reframes the “abortion wars,” highlighting the power of people to effect change amid unimaginable obstacles, and the unprecedented urgency of channeling that power.

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Book SynopsisAs the courts betray us and our leaders fail us, only we can keep each other safe. In this powerful, empathetic look at abortion clinic escorting, “one of the most under-covered and crucial, lifesaving, rigorous forms of activism out there” (Rebecca Traister), Lauren Rankin offers real hope—and a real call to action for a post-Roe America. Incisive and eye-opening, Bodies on the Line makes a clear case that the right to an abortion is a fundamental part of human dignity. And now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v Wade, the stakes facing us all if that right disappears have never been higher.Clinic escorts—everyday volunteers who shepherd patients safely inside to receive care—are fighting on the front lines by replacing hostility with humanity. Prepared to stand up and protect abortion access as they have for decades, even in the face of terrorism and violence, clinic escorts live—and have even died—to ensure that abortion remains not only accessible but a basic human right. Their stories have never been told—until now.With precision and passion, Lauren Rankin traces the history and evolution of this movement to tell a broader story of the persistent threats to safe and legal abortion access, and the power of individuals to stand up and fight back. Deeply researched, featuring interviews with clinic staff, patients, experts, and activists—plus the author’s own experience as a clinic escort—Bodies on the Line reframes the “abortion wars,” highlighting the power of people to effect change amid unimaginable obstacles, and the unprecedented urgency of channeling that power.

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Book Synopsis"Moving, multifaceted, and deeply human...as eye-opening as it is compelling” —Cecile Richards, author of Make Trouble At a time where reproductive rights are at risk, these vital stories of diverse individuals serve as a reminder of the importance of empathy, finding community and motivating advocacy For a long time, when people asked Dr. Meera Shah, Chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, what she did, she would tell them she was a doctor and leave it at that. But when she started to be direct about her work as an abortion provider an interesting thing started to happen: one by one, people would confide that they'd had an abortion themselves. The refrain was often the same: You're the only one I've told. This book collects these stories as they've been told to Shah to humanize abortion and to combat myths that persist in the discourse that surrounds it. A wide range of ages, races, socioeconomic factors, and experiences shows that abortion always occurs in a unique context. Today, a healthcare issue that's so precious and foundational to reproductive, social, and economic freedom for millions of people is exploited by politicians who lack understanding or compassion about the context in which abortion occurs. Stories have the power to break down stigmas and help us to empathize with those whose experiences are unlike our own. A portion of proceeds will be donated to promote reproductive health access. Trade Review"You're the Only One I've Told boldly breaks the silence around abortion that has served as a weapon for denying human rights and health care for far too long. Meera Shah places a wide range of engrossing abortion stories in their social, legal, and political contexts and spotlights the unjust toll restrictions on abortion access inflict. Her much-needed reproductive justice lens shows that abortion is not a cure for poverty and other structural inequities but is absolutely essential to ensuring freedom and equality. An illuminating and inspiring call for reproductive freedom for everyone." -- Dorothy Roberts, author of Killing the Black Body"A clear-eyed and shame-free examination from a doctor on the frontlines, You're the Only One I've Told is the book the feminist movement has been waiting for. Everyone should read it." Jessica Valenti, columnist and author of Sex Object: A Memoir"The courage and honesty in the writing of Dr. Meera Shah paints the clearest of pictures: abortion isn't a political tool. It is health care. Personal, moving and necessary - truly a must read" Alyssa Mastromonaco, New York Times bestselling author and cohost of Crooked Media's #Hysteria podcast"These moving stories, taken together, sharply reveal the connections among 'reproductive justice, gender justice, racial justice, and economic justice.' A strong contribution to discussions of reproductive rights." Kirkus Reviews"Through these compelling stories, Dr. Shah reveals the determination and the deliberations of people who seek abortion care. This book shows, as my research has confirmed, that people make the decision to end a pregnancy balancing their own responsibilities and visions for the future. With Dr. Shah as our guide, we see the compassion and thoughtfulness of people who dedicate their careers to providing abortions." Diana Greene Foster, PhD, author of The Turnaway Study" You're the Only One I've Told goes far beyond the headlines and political rhetoric to paint a moving, multi-faceted, and deeply human picture of abortion. Dr. Meera Shah blends medical expertise and facts with personal accounts, resulting in a book that is as eye-opening as it is compelling." Cecile Richards, author of Make Trouble"To declare "I own my body" is revolutionary. To say "I count" is revolutionary. We do that by sharing our stories. And when our stories come together they create a subversive wave that sweeps away shame and silence. In this vital book, Dr. Meera Shah gifts her confidants - the storytellers - and us - the reader - with that power. Read this book." Mona Eltahawy, author of The Seven Necessary Sins For Women and Girls"Readers who have felt isolated or stigmatized in talking about their own abortions will find stories that resonate, while others will have their concept of who seeks an abortion broadened. This is a moving and deeply informed argument for abortion as a human right." Publishers Weekly"Shah places a wide range of engrossing abortion stories in their social, legal, and political contexts and spotlights the unjust toll restrictions on abortion access inflict. Her much-needed reproductive justice lens shows that abortion is . . . absolutely essential to ensuring freedom and equality. " Dorothy Roberts, author of Killing the Black Body"I learned something I didn't know about abortion in every chapter of this book. Deeply thankful for this resource." Alex, Goodreads"I fell in love with the humans and their stories. I feel like this should be required reading in school. It's compassion training 101 and important right now more than ever." Claire, Goodreads

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Book SynopsisA landmark literary anthology of poems, stories, and essays, Choice Words collects essential voices that renew our courage in the struggle to defend reproductive rights. Twenty years in the making, the book spans continents and centuries. This collection magnifies the voices of people reclaiming the sole authorship of their abortion experiences. These essays, poems, and prose are a testament to the profound political power of defying shame. Contributors include Ai, Amy Tan, Anne Sexton, Audre Lorde, Bobbie Louise Hawkins. Camonghne Felix, Carol Muske-Dukes, Diane di Prima, Dorothy Parker, Gloria Naylor, Gloria Steinem, Gwendolyn Brooks, Jean Rhys, Joyce Carol Oates, Judith Arcana, Kathy Acker, Langston Hughes, Leslie Marmon Silko, Lindy West, Lucille Clifton, Mahogany L. Browne, Margaret Atwood, Molly Peacock, Ntozake Shange, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Sharon Doubiago, Sharon Olds, Shirley Geok-lin Lim, Sholeh Wolpe, Ursula Le Guin, and Vi Khi Nao.Trade Review“This book is a treasure, a gift, and a long-overdue shining of light in the most secret, sometimes painful, and often defiant lives of women. I am grateful that this anthology finally exists.” —Elizabeth Gilbert, author, Eat, Pray, Love "This is a captivating collection, organized and curated as only Annie Finch can do. It is a book I will cherish for years to come." —Dolen Perkins-Valdez, author, Balm "A powerful collection of poems, fiction, and essays on the reality of abortion. . . Finch (Measure for Measure: An Anthology of Poetic Meters, 2015, etc.) has drawn together writers across time (from the 16th century to the present), place, race, ethnicity, gender, age, and culture who offer stark, often wrenching revelations. . . Eloquent contributions to the literature on a deeply contested issue.” —Kirkus, starred review "With reproductive rights under relentless assault, never has a book been more needed. Annie Finch has spanned five centuries and six continents to assemble writers who articulate a commonality of experience in every situation and emotion. Conceived and compiled with scrupulous scholarship, and with an illuminating introduction by Katha Pollitt, Choice Words will become a classic of both feminism and literature." —Robin Morgan, activist, author, host of Women's Media Center Live "The poems, essays, and stories in Choice Words prove that women’s bodies cannot be nationalized.” — Gloria Steinem "Choice Words is an important contribution to our movement for abortion access. It’s time to read what literary voices have been saying about abortion. As we read their voices and stories, we have more nuanced context as we navigate our own lives." −Yamani Hernandez, Executive Director, National Network of Abortion Funds "Silence, as much as anything, is why abortion's such an easy target in America. Stories save lives. We need women to say, shamelessly, I had an abortion. I'm not sorry. I'm not afraid. This anthology is a valuable contribution to this work." −Molly Crabapple, author, Drawing Blood "Every kind of abortion you can imagine is represented here: abortions legal and illegal, safe and dangerous and fatal; abortions despite the wishes of others and abortions at the behest−the compulsion−of others; abortion as a claiming of self and abortion as an abnegation of self. There is abortion as tragedy, and also abortion as an occasion for wry comedy." −Katha Pollitt, author, Pro

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Book SynopsisThe Billboard is about a fictional Black women’s clinic in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood on the South Side and its fight with a local gadfly running for City Council who puts up a provocative billboard: “Abortion is genocide. The most dangerous place for a Black child is his mother’s womb,” spurring on the clinic to fight back with their own provocative sign: “Black women take care of their families by taking care of themselves. Abortion is self-care. #Trust Black Women.” The book also has a foreword and afterword and Q&A with a founder of reproductive justice. As a play and book, The Billboard is a cultural force that treats abortion as more than pro-life or pro-choice.

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Book SynopsisIn this brave and devastatingly beautiful anthology, the illustrious poet and editor Aracelis Girmay gathers complex and intimate pieces that illuminate the nuances of personal and collective histories, analyses, practices, and choices surrounding pregnancy. Featuring the brilliant voices of writers such as Cheryl Boyce-Taylor, Patricia Smith, Elizabeth Alexander, and more, this book is a lighthouse—a tool and companion—for those navigating pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage, birth, loss, grief, and love. In So We Can Know: Writers of Color on Pregnancy, Loss, Abortion, and Birth, pieces range from essays to poems to interviews, with a broad entanglement of various themes, from many different perspectives including Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latinx, and more. At a time when people are becoming more and more limited in their choices surrounding pregnancy and abortion, this record is increasingly urgent and indispensable.Trade Review“Audre Lorde once told Joy Harjo that she imagined her poems being spoken to a circle of women gathered around a fire. In this book we find that gathering, a gathering of those of us who know our stories belong to each other. And the fire that calls us is the very fire of creation moving through us and changing us all. I recommend this book to everyone. Come for the warmth of communion, stay for the miracle of never being the same.” —Alexis Pauline Gumbs, co-editor of Revolutionary Mothering: Love on the Frontlines “So We Can Know is a striking anthology of essays, poetry, and visual art on the often-harrowing experience of pregnancy for women of color. The work as a whole is thick with grief and trauma, but the graceful reflections and breadth of experiences make sticking with it more than worthwhile. This one’s not to be missed.” —Publishers Weekly Starred Review “Sometimes, rarely, something we read is a fulcrum of healing. I must thank aracelis girmay and every writer who contributed to So We Can Know. Maraming salamat ~ Terima kasih ~ Thank you, for the courage in these harsh times, when guns have more rights than women, to put words on your experiences. In the spaces between these lines of word medicine, I felt heard, I felt accepted, I felt loved.” —Ibu Robin Lim, Grandmother & Midwife

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Book SynopsisA rollicking, myth-busting history of sex that moves from historical attempts at birth control to Hildegard von Bingen’s treatise on the female orgasm, demystifying plenty of urban legends along the way.Roman physicians told female patients they should sneeze out as much semen as possible after intercourse to avoid pregnancy. Historical treatments for erectile dysfunction included goat testicle transplants. In this kaleidoscopic compendium of centuries-old erotica, science writer Rachel Feltman shows how much sex has changed—and how much it hasn’t. With unstoppable curiosity, she debunks myths, breaks down stigma, and uses the long, outlandish history of sex to dissect present-day practices and taboos.Feltman’s mischievous humor dismantles fear and brings scientific literacy to a subject surrounded by misinformation, and indeed, as it gravitates toward the strange, Been There, Done That delivers some sorely needed sex ed. Explorations into age-old questions and bizarre trivia around birth control, aphrodisiacs, STIs, courtship rituals, and more establish that, when it comes to carnal pleasures and procreation, there’s never been a normal, and sex isn’t something to be scared of.

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Book SynopsisOur Culture Magazine Best Book of 2023 “Rushton's work is generous, thoughtful, and honest, taking care neither to romanticize nor to disparage the choice to become a parent.” —Jenny Hamilton, Booklist (starred review)A bold feminist investigation into the mother of all questions; whether or not to become a parent in these turbulent times.Should we become parents? This timeless question forces us to reckon with who we are and what we love and fear most in ourselves, in our relationships, and in the world as it is now and as it will be.When Gina Rushton admitted she had little time left to make the decision for herself, the magnitude of the choice overwhelmed her. Her search for her own “yes” or “no” only uncovered more questions to be answered. How do we clearly consider creating a new life on a planet facing catastrophic climate change? How do we reassess the gender roles we have been assigned at birth and by society? How do we balance ascending careers with declining fertility? How do we know if we’ve found the right co-parent, or if we want to go it alone, or if we don’t want to do it at all?To seek clarity on these questions, Rushton spoke to doctors, sociologists, economists, and ethicists, as well as parents and childless people of all ages and from around the world. Here, she explores and presents policies, data, and case studies from people who have made this decision—one way or the other—and shows how the process can be revelatory in discovering who we are as individuals.Drawing on the depth of knowledge afforded by her body of work as an award-winning journalist on the abortion beat, Rushton wrote the book that she needed, and we all need, to stop a panicked internal monologue and start a genuine dialogue about what we want from our lives and why.Trade Review"Moving . . . Showing equal kindness and compassion."—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker“Rushton's work is generous, thoughtful, and honest, taking care neither to romanticize nor to disparage the choice to become a parent.”—Jenny Hamilton, Booklist (starred review)"Rushton is asking a question that is likely to resonate with anyone paying attention: "I want to know how people parent without living in permanent denial or perpetual dread." [ . . . ] The Parenthood Dilemma, in its inability (or perhaps refusal) to offer a black-and-white response to a complex, messy inquiry, may actually be an answer in and of itself, inviting insight, reflection, and comfort."—Kerry McHugh, Shelf Awareness"As a woman who struggled with whether or not to have a child, I appreciated Gina Rushton's The Parenthood Dilemma immensely. I loved the beautifully written introspection and the meticulous reporting around considerations like climate change, fertility, genes, and reproductive rights -- even as Rushton comes to understand that ‘no one is going to write the ending for me.’ I hate the term ‘must-read,’ but damn it, everyone considering having kids in this chaotic era should read this book." —Amber Sparks, author of And I Do Not Forgive You"Gina Rushton brings her forensic journalistic eye to the question of whether we choose to be a mother or not. This is an honest, compelling, well-researched book that makes a valuable contribution to the contemporary discussion about reproductive choices and rights in a nuanced and thoughtful way." —Dr. Pragya Agarwal, author of Sway and (M)otherhood"With a journalist’s doggedness, a philosopher’s scope, and a thirtysomething woman’s sense of a deadline looming, Gina Rushton rips back the sentimental gauze of motherhood to confront a question as urgent as it is unmentionable: Should I -- should anyone -- bring a child into a world on fire? For parents and non-parents alike, this book is a call to arms to build a fairer, freer, more sustainable, and more truly feminist future."—Joanna Scutts, author of Hotbed and The Extra Woman"A fiercely intelligent meditation on the decision to have a child, and an interrogation of all that modern motherhood entails."—Leah Hazard, author of Womb: The Inside Story of Where We All Began and Hard Pushed: A Midwife's Story"Gina Rushton reports unflinchingly from the disjunction between received wisdoms about motherhood and received realities that continue to constrict the choices of women of her generation. A significant and vital book; a must-read." —Sarah Krasnostein, author of The Believer"The Parenthood Dilemma changed the way I view my life, myself, and the way I relate to the world. I say that without exaggeration. This is a vital, necessary read not just for those considering parenthood but for anyone who wants to live a more conscious, compassionate life and to more deeply understand the relation between individual and community, human and climate, and between our present lives and the past and future."—Emma Bolden, author of The Tiger and the Cage: A Memoir of a Body in Crisis"A vigorous interrogation of one of the most significant decisions of our lives. Exceptionally clever, unfearing, and tender. An important addition to a growing body of contemporary literature that examines the intersection between our personal lives and global justice."—Alice Kinsella, author of Milk: On Motherhood and Madness"A smart and insightful exploration of parenthood – both personal and political – that’s sure to move, stir and inspire."—Chloë Ashby, author of Second Self and Wet Paint"A passionate and punchy exploration of modern parenthood, mixing memoir with journalism, the personal and the political. A propulsive and powerful read."—Sam Mills, author of Fragments of my Father and Chauvo-Feminism: On Sex, Power & #MeToo

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Book SynopsisNamed an ALA 2024 Feminist Rise Book Project Winner * Glamour Best Nonfiction Book of 2023 * theSkimm Favorite Book of Summer 2023 * NPR Science Friday Best Science Book of Summer 2023 An eye-opening, transformative, and actionable journey through radical and compassionate community abortion care and support work: what it looks like, how each and every one of us can practice and incorporate it into our daily lives, and what we can imagine and build together in a post-Roe v. Wade United States.Abortion touches all of our lives. While statistically nearly everyone knows someone who will receive an abortion in their lifetime, limiting narratives flatten our understanding and assumptions around abortion, while stigma and criminalization stifle discussion. What we lack are the language and tools to provide care and support to all of the members of our communities who receive abortions, before, during, and after them. Now, Hannah Matthews—abortion care worker, doula, journalist and essayist, and reproductive rights advocate—breathes depth and nuance into the oversimplified narratives surrounding abortion, presenting an accessible guide to the emotional and physical realities of providing and supporting abortion care for our own communities. Featuring stories of real abortion experiences, including Matthews’s own, You or Someone You Love offers a glimpse into the stunningly diverse landscape of abortion care across gender, race, and class lines, while illustrating how we can better support and protect the people who seek abortion in a country that increasingly promotes secrecy and shame.

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Book SynopsisAn award-winner when first published, this book has become a classic text for health activists and feminists interested in the complexities of how drugs are developed, marketed and sold to women around the world. In this book the authors review the unusual history of the French abortion pill, RU 486 (mifepristone). They scrutinize the science and politics from inception through to its use on women.Trade Review"This is an eminently readable and thought-provoking book. The authors' concern for the rights and welfare of women is evident throughout [...] RU 486: Misconceptions, Myths and Morals was published in 1991, and it still provides the most up-to-date, independent analysis of information available to us. As such, it is an invaluable knowledge base from which to evaluate the information and publicity generated by the Australian trials." -- Anna Fitzpatrick, The Women's Library Newsletter, Volume 3 No.4in July 2013, we re-issued RU 486: Misconceptions, Myths and Morals, for which I have written an extensive 100-page preface. Australian women need to know about the problems with chemical abortion so that when it comes to deciding which method to use, they can make an informed decision. Renate Klein, ABC Religion and Ethics

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Book SynopsisAbortion and Mothering: Research, Stories, and Artistic Expressions of a Common Intersection is a collection of academic research, personal narratives, and art that comments on different perspectives on abortion and mothering. Scholarly research is balanced with voices and experiences from outside of academia, through the inclusion of personal narratives, poetry, and art. The collection is rooted in the idea that there are not ‘women who have abortions’ and ‘women who have babies’, but that they are the same women at different points in their lives. By considering the intersection of abortion and mothering, and the liminal spaces in between, the reader is challenged to explore some of the culturally and socially constructed complexities that surround the decisions that people make about to their reproductive lives.Trade ReviewAbortion and Mothering *brings into focus what is often neglected in discussions of abortion: That abortion is just one experience in the rich complexity of women's reproductive lives. The essays and art contained in this collection help us better understand this richness, and how abortion experiences inform mothering and mothering informs abortion experiences. It is this kind of attention that can help move us beyond black and white debates into more nuanced understandings in our work for reproductive rights. - Jane Kirby, author of *Fired Up about Reproductive Rights*Table of ContentsCover Art: The Reproduction Maze Winnie T. Frick Dedications Acknowledgments Introduction Heather Jackson & Jessica Shaw Mi Cuerpo, Mi Decisión (pennant 1) Shaun Slifer & Rebecca Susman Abortion: Mothering, Un-Mothering and the Liminal Space in Between Miriam Rose Brooker Protection (embroidery 1) Victoria L Poole Abortion Providers as Mothers, With Mothers Jessica Shaw Trust Women (pennant 2) Shaun Slifer & Rebecca Susman Goddess Recovers a Mistake Alison Ojanen-Goldsmith Our Bodies, Our Rights Meredith Stern Relief or Regret: The Emotional Implications of Abortion Meredith Navarro-McCullar Never Again (pennant 3) Shaun Slifer & Rebecca Susman Abortive Subjectivities Laura Major Mothering, Abortion, and the State: A Modern Orientation towards Values of Care Christina Quinlan Teaching daughters (and sons) that abortion is good Heather Jackson I Want to Get My Education Straight: The Impact of Pregnancy Decision Making of Contemporary Society and Cultural Expectations of Teenager Sarah Bekaert Light at the end (embroidery 2) Victoria L Poole Bad Mothers and Staunch Feminists: Genetic Abortions in Mommy Memoirs by Waldman and Beck Mary Thompson Teaching Students Abortion Rights Leads to More Rights For Them Crystal Michels the story of how i got pregnant Heather Jackson Contributor Notes

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Book SynopsisIn 1969, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau passed a law legalizing abortion in Canada. But making abortion legal did not guarantee women access to these services. In many communities around the country, women have had to travel great distances and at great personal expense to exercise their legal right to an abortion. Others have taken matters into their own hands, often with devastating consequences. In No Choice, Kate McKenna offers a firsthand account of Prince Edward Island’s refusal to bring abortion services to the Island, and introduces us to the courageous women who struggled for over thirty years to change this. With a very vocal Right to Life movement that used small town gossip, political pressure and the force of the Catholic Church to silence the pro-choice movement, the struggle seemed to be over before it even began. But everything changed in 2016.Table of ContentsForeword by Megan Leslie Introduction: Bravery and Perseverance Part One: Life Sanctuary Part Two: Repatriation Notes Acknowledgements

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Book Synopsis*A SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021*'Raw, tender and urgent' Jessica Andrews, author of Saltwater'Irreducible. Once read, it will never be forgotten' Helen Mort, author of Division StreetThis is the story of an abortion. The days and hours before the first visit to the clinic and the weeks and months after.The pregnancy was a mistake and the narrator immediately arranges a termination. But a gulf yawns between politics and personal experience. The polarised public debate and the broader cultural silence did not prepare her for the physical event or the emotional aftermath. She finds herself compulsively telling people about the abortion (and counting those who know), struggling at work and researching the procedure. She feels alone in her pain and confusion.Part diary, part prose poem, part literary collage, Larger than an Orange is an uncompromising, intimate and original memoir. With raw precision and determined honesty, Lucy Burns carves out a new space for complexity, ambivalence and individual experience.'Lucy Burns' writing on choice and its aftermath is boldly innovative, achingly human, and powerfully vulnerable' Dr Elinor Cleghorn, author of Unwell Women'Rapturous, engrossing and beautifully impossible' Holly Pester, author of Comic TimingTrade ReviewA visceral account of an abortion that is praiseworthy not only for the conversations it will spark, but for its beautiful prose, emotional intensity and unabashed complexity... although there is no happy ending, the book's very existence is hopeful. The point is to start a conversation - and Larger Than an Orange will certainly do that -- Laura Hackett * Sunday Times *Boldly innovative, achingly human, and powerfully vulnerable -- Dr Elinor Cleghorn, author of Unwell WomenLarger Than an Orange provides us with vital nuance, and articulates emotions that feel unspoken, even to women... The importance of Burns's work lies in its permission-giving * Guardian *Rapturous, engrossing and beautifully impossible -- Holly Pester, author of Comic TimingPowerful * Harper's Bazaar *Irreducible. Once read, it will never be forgotten -- Helen MortParticularly courageous... propulsive -- Katherine Cowles * New Statesman *A formally innovative, unflinching story that offers a raw, tender and urgent contribution to a vital conversation about bodies, ownership, freedom and reproductive rights -- Jessica Andrews, author of Saltwater

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Book SynopsisThe referendum to overturn Ireland’s near-total abortion ban in 2018 stands as one of the most remarkable political events of recent times. The campaign to repeal the 8th amendment succeeded not only in challenging centuries of religious and patriarchal dogma, but in signalling a major transformation in Irish society itself. After Repeal explores both the campaign and the implications of the referendum result for politics, identity and culture today. Bringing together a range of international perspectives, this collection transcends geographical and disciplinary boundaries while exploring themes including activism, artwork, social movements, law, media, democratic institutions, and reproductive technologies. This work looks beyond the Irish context and to the future, offering unique insight into the wider struggle for reproductive justice around the world.Trade ReviewIn an impressive collection of cross-disciplinary essays, After Repeal tackles the fraught history of abortion in Ireland and offers valuable, engrossing and often challenging analyses of the battle for the right to choose leading to the landslide victory for repeal of the 8th Amendment in 2018. * Ailbhe Smyth, Together for Yes *'After Repeal is bound to become a necessary read for anyone, scholarly or otherwise, wishing to understand the broad historical, political and social contexts for abortion in the Island of Ireland. * Emma Campbell, Alliance for Choice *After Repeal provides a front-line view of the diverse and committed movement that rose to meet the challenge to bring about a crucial phase of reproductive justice: we see how the feminist lawyers argued, how the visual artists inspired, and how the suburban and the rural activists engaged with their different contexts. This book is that rare combination of being scholarly yet welcoming of the person who wants to hear true stories, well-told. * Katherine O’Donnell, University College Dublin *'After Repeal is an enlightening, interdisciplinary engagement with the context and outcome of the abortion referendum. Its chapters offer well-researched insights that will be of interest to a global audience of academics and activists. * Pam Lowe, Aston University *‘An extremely valuable resource for new students and established scholars of abortion politics alike. With a compelling combination of activist and academic voices, it drives home the significance of the Repeal campaign for Ireland and for the world. * Francis Amery, University of Bath *Table of ContentsIntroduction, Sydney Calkin and Kath Browne Part I: The Politics of Repeal 1. The 2018 abortion referendum: over before it began! Theresa Reidy 2. Explaining repeal: a long-term view, Linda Connolly 3. “The only lawyer on the panel”: anti-choice lawfare in the battle for abortion law reform, Fiona de Londras and Máiréad Enright 4. Abortion pills in Ireland and beyond: what can the 8th Amendment referendum tell us about the future of self-managed abortion? Sydney Calkin 5. Of trust and mistrust: the politics of repeal, Elzbieta Drazkiewicz-Grodzicka and Máire Ní Mhórdha Part II: Campaigns and Campaigning 6. “Enough judgement”: reflections on campaigning for repeal in rural Ireland, Mary McGill 7. Campaigning for choice: canvassing as feminist pedagogy in Dublin Bay North, Niamh McDonald, Kate Antosik-Parsons, Karen E. Till, Jack Callan and Gerry Kearns 8. #Tá: pro-choice activism in the Irish language community, Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh 9. Maser’s ‘Repeal the 8th’ mural: the power of public art in the age of social media, Lorna O’Hara 10. Repealing a ‘legacy of shame’: press coverage of emotional geographies of secrecy and shame in Ireland’s abortion debate, Eric Olund Part III: Futures: Ireland and Beyond 11. Placing the Catholic Church: the moral landscape of repealing the 8th, Richard Scriven 12. Losing Ireland: heteroactivist responses to the 8th Amendment in Canada and the UK, Kath Browne and Catherine Jean Nash 13. The primacy of place: in vitro ‘unborn’ and the 8th Amendment, Noëlle Cotter 14. Northern Ireland after repealing the 8th: democratic challenges, Lisa Smyth 15. Reflections after the Irish referendum: abortion, the Catholic Church and pro-choice mobilization in Poland, Dorota Szelewa

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Book SynopsisAmelia Loulli is a PhD candidate at Newcastle University where she researches the poetics of breath and writing trauma. In 2021 she won a Northern Writers' Award and in 2023 she was writer in residence at the British School in Rome. She currently lives in Cumbria with her three teenagers and their whippet.

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Book SynopsisWith an anti-abortion majority on the Supreme Court, and several states with only one abortion clinic, many reproductive rights activists are on the defensive, hoping to hold on to abortion in a few places and cases. This spirited book shows how we can start winning again. Jenny Brown uncovers a century of legal abortion in the U.S.-until 1873-the century of illegal abortion that followed, and how the women's liberation movement of the 1960s really won abortion rights. Drawing inspiration and lessons from that radical movement, the successful fight to make the morning-after pill available over the counter, and the recent mass movement to repeal Ireland's abortion ban, Without Apology is an indispensable guide for organizers today. Brown argues that we need to stop emphasizing rare, tragic cases and deferring to experts and pollsters, and get back to the basic ideas that won us abortion in the first place: Women telling the full truth of their own experience, arguing to change minds, and making abortion and birth control a keystone demand in the movement for women's freedom.Trade ReviewBy examining the failings and triumphs of previous movements for abortion rights, Without Apology manages to make perfect sense of the current political moment. This book will turn concerned individuals into activists and help beleaguered activists remember how it feels to believe that we can win. -- Amelia Bonow, author of Shout Your AbortionWithout Apology draws an exhilarating line in the sand between reformers and visionaries, between near-sighted regulation and true reproductive freedom. Jenny Brown has given us a frank, full-throated gift in an era when abortion rights are threatened by hostility and timidity both. Without Apology made me want to tweet about my abortion 'til the day I die.' -- Nona Willis AronowitzHer call to "move feminism toward bolder, more universal demands" is likely to strike a chord with young progressives. This laser-focused polemic makes its case effectively. * Publisher's Weekly *A powerful and extensively researched case for a militant approach to winning reproductive rights -- Emily Janakiram * The Baffler *

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Book SynopsisDrawing on years of research with activists around the world, sociologist Naomi Braine describes the strategies, politics, and tactics of direct action feminists bringing abortion pills, information, and support to people seeking to end unwanted pregnancies. From combatting the legal strictures of Bolsonaro's Brazil, to navigating the NGO-dominated landscape of Kenya and Nigeria, feminist activists are making safe, accessible abortion care available against the odds.Even more important, these women are building a robust transnational feminist network. Tactics developed in the Global South - hotlines, practices of accompaniment and peer-to-peer care, and scientific information - are now being shared with activists in Europe and North America, building a new model for international feminist solidarity.Trade ReviewThis book is a must-read for anyone who wants to know how the global feminist movement for self-managed abortion has been providing access to safe and quality pregnancy termination-beyond legal and medical authority. -- Nayla Luz Vacarezza, National Council for Scientific and Technical Research, ArgentinaRead this book and learn all about the creative strategies and intrepid people making a real difference in the lives of millions. -- Francine Coeytaux and Elisa Wells, Cofounders, Plan CTable of ContentsIntroduction1. Abortion Is Unstoppable: The Emergence of a Transnational Movement2. We Are Everywhere: The Shape of the Global Movement for SMA3. An Act of Solidarity between Women: Strategies to Share Information and Enable Safe Abortions4. Being an Activist Is Not Easy: Managing Security and Sharing the Risks5. We Have Become the Experts: Scientific Research, Medical Protocols, and Movement Knowledge6. We All Work Together: Building Activist Networks from the Local to the Global7. In It for the Long Term: The Lives of Committed ActivistsConclusion: Moving ForwardAcknowledgmentsNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisDrawing from extensive ethnographic research on abortion debates in public spaces, this book explores the beliefs, motivations and practices of UK anti-abortion activists. Whilst they represent a tiny minority, there is recent evidence of an increase in activism outside UK abortion clinics; faith-based groups regularly organise 'vigils' seeking to deter service users from entering clinics. In response to this, pro-choice groups launched a campaign for buffer-zones around clinics. Although there is overwhelming public support for abortion, it remains an area of public contestation that touches on ideas about bodily autonomy, religious freedom and reproductive rights. Despite being active in the UK since before the 1967 Abortion Act, anti-abortion activism has received little attention. Taking a lived religion approach, Anti-Abortion Activism in the UK explores the sacred and profane commitments of anti-abortion activists and counter-demonstrations outside clinics, examining the contestations over space. The authors argue that as a moral reform social movement, the anti-abortion activists typically frame their activism in terms of risk and abortion harm, but their religiously-informed understanding of ultra-sacrificial motherhood as ‘natural’ for women undermines this framing. Their conservative gender and sexuality attitudes position them culturally as a moral minority. The displays of public religion are also anomalous in a country in which religion is usually seen as a private issue. Their presence outside abortion clinics causes a significant amount of distress, but public support for the establishment of safe zones outside of abortion-service provision is strong and is a proportionate response to safeguard the freedoms of those seeking abortion.Trade ReviewIn this book Pam Lowe and Sarah-Jane Page have produced a compelling exploration of anti-abortion activism in the UK. Combining expertise from the fields of the sociology of reproductive health and the sociology of religion, Lowe and Page begin with a superbly detailed historical background of abortion law in the UK, this is followed by findings generated by lengthy primary research. The end result is a unique, richly layered insight into those who ascribe to anti-abortion positions that will be of interest to academics, students, faith communities, activists and the public at large. -- Dr Fiona Bloomer, School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, Ulster UniversityThis beautifully-written and carefully-researched book deepens our understanding of the different positions in the debate about abortion, presenting them as coherent but clashing moral stances. This is sociology of religion at its best - a timely reminder of why it is so important. -- Professor Linda Woodhead, Lancaster UniversityThe conceptual innovation in Pam Lowe and Sarah-Jane Page’s analysis of anti-abortion presence outside abortion clinics in the UK as lived religiosity makes fascinating reading. Detailed, insightful and thought-provoking. -- Barbara Baird, Women’s & Gender Studies, Flinders University, South AustraliaAnti-abortion ideology is often cloaked in claims to objectivity, whether it be through invoking claims of scientifical rationality or moral absolutism. In their book, Pam Lowe and Sarah-Jane Page combine the fields of the sociology of religion and reproductive health with 5 years of fieldwork amongst activists to return us to the central role religion plays in the motivations, worldviews, and actions of anti-abortionists. Their book provides both an overview of the politics of abortion in Britain and new and fresh insights, and thus will be of interest to students, specialists, and anyone with an interest in British abortion or religious cultures. -- Dr Erica Millar, La Trobe University, AustraliaAnti-Abortion Activism in the UK is a must read for any scholar, student or person interested in understanding the intractability of the contemporary conflict over abortion. Although modern activists package their opposition to abortion in secular paper to gain political traction with a public that largely views religion as a private matter, Lowe and Page’s meticulously researched, five-year ethnographic study reveals that the heart of the conflict is profoundly religious. Anti-Abortion Activism in the UK illuminates the degree to which anti-abortion activism is moored to a distinct worldview where the relationship between activists’ lived religion and opposition to abortion is inseparable. Drawing on multiple sources of data, Lowe and Page brilliantly demonstrate that an ultra-sacrificial construction of motherhood is centered as both sacred and profane in this worldview, which gives abortion opponents meaning and an indefatigable edge in their activism over both time and space. -- Alesha E. Doan, School of Public Affairs & Administration, University of KansasTable of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Opposition to Abortion: A UK History Chapter 3. Understanding Anti-abortion Activism as Lived Religion Chapter 4. The Worldviews of Anti-abortion Activists Chapter 5. Ultra-sacrificial Motherhood and the ‘Harms’ of Abortion Chapter 6. Foetal Stories Chapter 7. Being an Activist: Material Religion, Embodiment, and Spatiality Chapter 8. The Pro-choice Response: Counterdemonstrations Chapter 9. Abortion Cultures Chapter 10. Conclusion Appendix 1. The Research Journey

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Book SynopsisSince the 1970s, alarming discourses about declining fertility and the difficulties of balancing work and family have flourished in Western countries. Captured by the notion of the 'biological clock', they put women's reproductive age and the fertility decline to the centre of public and medical attention. Reproductive biomedicine constitutes a specific domain invested with hopes for technological and medical answers and a new market for fertility extension technologies, such as egg donation and social egg freezing. Addressing long-standing questions about the articulation of the biological and the social in the making of bodies and identities, this book questions the nature of reproductive ageing, a taken for granted 'fact of life' at the core of reproductive biomedicine. What is the biology of the 'biological clock' made of and how can we account for its embodied reality from a feminist perspective? Opening the black box of the biological, the book makes a way between essentialism and constructivism with the aim of accounting for its materiality, while also illuminating its political implications. By following the ontological choreographies of age-related infertility in the science and medicine of reproduction, this study explores how age materializes and documents what happens when reproduction meets ageing. Deeply transdisciplinary, it questions what is fixed about the biology of the fertility decline in a way which adds complexity to debates about the biomedicalization of reproductive ageing.Table of ContentsIntroduction: A Question of Age Chapter 1. Natures and Cultures: Divisions, Entanglements and Reconfigurations Chapter 2. The Science of Population and The Quest for Natural Fertility: What Age Becomes in Statistics Chapter 3. From Age to Ageing: Arts and The Science of ‘Old Eggs’ Chapter 4. When Age Matters: The Statistics and Biology of Fertility Decline in Clinical Choreographies Chapter 5. Ageing Eggs, Ageless Mothers? Egg Donation and The Extension of Fertility Chapter 6. Eggs for Ever or The Prospect of Regeneration Conclusion: Rethinking The Materialisation of Age Through the Lens of Its Political Implications

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Book SynopsisThe Research Handbook on International Abortion Law provides an in-depth, multidisciplinary study of abortion law around the world, presenting a snapshot of global policies during a time of radical change. With leading scholars from every continent, Mary Ziegler illuminates key forces that shaped the past and will influence an unpredictable future.In addition to basic, fundamental concepts, this Research Handbook offers valuable insight into new developments in law and medical practice, from medication abortion to the rise of illiberal democracy, and explores the evolution of social movements for and against illegal abortion in a wide variety of national contexts. This is a crucial reference for students, scholars, professors, and policymakers interested in the complexities of abortion law and politics, and the influences that are crossing borders and shaping the present moment.Trade Review‘This is a critically important volume on international abortion law, which looks beyond the United States to bring a broader, deeper conversation into view.’ -- Michele Goodwin, University of California, Irvine, US‘This book offers an extraordinarily rich view of the complex challenges of framing and implementing abortion law in many countries around the world. Read it and you will learn about the human, legal and power dynamics surrounding abortion and how they interact across time, race, religion and class.’ -- Rebecca J. Cook, University of Toronto, CanadaTable of ContentsContents: Preface xiv PART I INTRODUCTION 1 Introduction to the Research Handbook on International Abortion Law 2 Mary Ziegler PART II HISTORIES OF LIBERALIZATION 2 Health and heredity: abortion reform in Sweden in the 1930s and 1940s 22 Lena Lennerhed 3 Before Roe and Morgentaler: a comparative history of abortion politics in the US and Canada from 1800 to 1970 39 Kelly Gordon and Paul Saurette 4 Unfinished business: the feminist legal framework for abortion and ongoing struggle for reproductive justice in South Africa 61 Susanne M. Klausen PART III THE PROMISE AND LIMITS OF DECRIMINALIZATION 5 Abortion law reform in Malawi: a case study in stakeholder engagement, public education, and human rights advocacy 82 Godfrey Dalitso Kangaude, Chrispine Gwalawala Sibande, Susan Deller Ross, and Michelle Xiao Liu 6 Abortion law in Thailand: a big step forward? 103 Ronnakorn Bunmee 7 Abortion in Australia: law, policy and the advancement of reproductive rights 124 Ronli Sifris PART IV ABORTION IN POPULAR POLITICS 8 Access to abortion: comparative public policy in France and the United States 142 Jennifer Merchant 9 The transformation of abortion law in China 160 Ruby Lai Yuen Shan 10 Abortion and federalism: the Australian example 181 Kate Gleeson 11 Israel’s abortion law and the paradox of a rightless access to pregnancy terminations 202 Noya Rimalt PART V MOVEMENTS AGAINST ABORTION 12 Abortion politics in Brazil: backlash and the antiabortion field renewal 222 Marta R. de Assis Machado 13 The international pro-life movement 243 Daniel K. Williams 14 Abortion law and illiberal courts: spotlight on Poland and Hungary 263 Agnieszka Bień-Kacała and Tímea Drinóczi PART VI RACE, SEX, RELIGION 15 Enhancing reproductive justice transnationally: an equality-based approach to sex-selective abortion laws in India 284 Sital Kalantry and Meher Dev 16 Abortion, law and health in the Arab world 303 Irene Maffi and Liv Tønnessen 17 Abortion in Ecuador: overview of a collective struggle 321 Cristina Burneo Salazar PART VII THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS 18 Beyond abortion decriminalization: human rights perspectives on the role of law in creating enabling environments for abortion access 343 Payal K. Shah and Jihan Jacob 19 Abortion law in Europe: the promise and pitfalls of human rights and transnational trade law in the face of criminalization with exceptions 374 Lucía Berro Pizzarossa, Tamara Hervey and Anniek de Ruijter 20 Engendering democracy and rights: the legalization of abortion in Argentina 394 Alicia Ely Yamin and Agustina Ramón Michel 21 Abortion, reform, and rights: tales from a small island 420 Fiona de Londras Index

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Book SynopsisThink today's anti-abortion ideas are rooted in religious prohibitions or arguments about where life begins? Wrong: today's anti-abortion movements is largely financed and planned by far-right extremists. Many of them are avowedly fascist and white supremacist, afraid of a "great replacement" of the world's white population by other races, who are working hard to reshape governments and policies across Europe, North America and around the world. Much of this far-right organizing and funding network, however, has been overlooked by today's feminist and left movements. As investigative journalist Sian Norris uncovers here, it is through attacking abortion rights that fascist ideas from the dark web, incel chat boards, and fringe organizations comes to enter mainstream debate -- and to then shape governmental policy across Europe, from authoritarian regimes like Hungary's to liberal democracies like Britain. As Norris goes undercover at anti-abortion activist meetings, and pieces together the money trail linking American think tanks to far-right fascist groups, she maps out the pipeline by which fascism has become respectable across the Global North by taking away women's reproductive rights and autonomy.Trade ReviewWhen it comes to the critical issues shaping our society, there are journalists who try to observe and analyse from on high - and then there are journalists like Sian Norris, who throw themselves headfirst into the messy tangle of people, places and politics that matter, and do so with passion and bite. Norris is not a passive stenographer, she's a fighter for a better world and her work might just help us win one. -- Jack Schenker, author of The Egyptians and Now We Have Your AttentionA vital and sobering book. Sian Norris's reporting on reproductive rights has long been prescient, dogged, and courageous -- and in this book she gives us an unflinching portrait of quite how much women stand to lose. Her account of how abortion is positioned in our contemporary moment -- by misogyny, white supremacy, and authoritarianism -- is necessary reading. -- Katherine Angel, author of Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good AgainAttacks on abortion rights are not only assaults on women's freedom to live and love as they choose, most successfully targeting black and ethnic minority women, but they are today a key plank of the far right's drive for power. Providing a splendid call to arms, in these pages Sia^n Norris shows why the struggle to preserve women's reproductive and sexual freedoms is now fundamental to the defeat of fascistic forces globally, as well as the foundation for any fairer, progressive future for all of us. -- Lynne Segal author of Lean on MeAn incisive account of the relationship between white supremacist ideology and the attack on abortion rights. The significance, necessity, and timeliness of this book is, unfortunately, all too apparent. -- Helen Hester, co-author of After WorkA groundbreaking and definitive study of far-right misogyny and how to fight it. Norris traces the networks that are pushing bigotry into the heads of young men across the world and shows how they interact with the "respectable" right. -- Paul Mason, author of How to Stop FascismReminds us that once won, rights - all rights - have to be constantly defended. This excellent book may help do that. -- Vanessa Baird * New Internationalist *Essential reading on what has become - yet again - one of the most important battles of our times. Sian Norris is an illuminating and passionate guide to the war on women's bodies and rights - there is so much here I didn't know, and to have it all set down so lucidly makes this book as invaluable as it is engrossing. -- Marina HydeA thorough, alarmed delineation of threats to abortion rights around the world. * Kirkus Reviews *An effective clarion call against complacency. -- Mia Levitin * Sunday Times *Table of ContentsTABLE OF CONTENTSA note on languageForewordIntroductionChapter One: The Ideology: The Place of Women in Fascist ThoughtChapter Two: The Extremists: The Anti-Abortion Far RightChapter Three: The Infiltration: The Networks that Bring Extremist Right Politics Into the MainstreamChapter Four: The Allies: How (Some) Women Join the Far Right ­- from Trad Wives to Anti-Trans Chapter Five: The Money: Who is Funding the Anti-Abortion Right?Chapter Six: The Politicians: How the Far-Right Influences Governments Around the WorldChapter Seven: The Tipping Point: Which Future Do We Choose?AcknowledgementsNotes

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Book SynopsisIn over forty years in medicine - seven of these as Master of the National Maternity Hospital - obstetrician Peter Boylan was at the births of more than 6,000 babies. He saw women and families at their most vulnerable, their most joyous, and sometimes their most heart-broken.In the Shadow of the Eighth is the story of how a young doctor without strong views on abortion became convinced that women should be trusted to make the right decisions for their lives - and how he then did everything in his power to bring about a situation where they could.More than that, it is an engaging account of working in one of medicine's most satisfying specialities, a revealing behind-the-scenes insight into what it's like trying to make change happen, and a fascinating portrait of a society in transition.Lively, gripping, sometimes enraging but always compassionate, Peter Boylan's story is vital and encouraging reading for these turbulent times.'A comprehensive, insightful and often shocking social history of the country' Irish Independent'A hero to many (including me)' @MarianKeyes'Both personal and political ... a very important history of recent events that have utterly changed Ireland's social and political landscapes' Irish Times'A fascinating story' Matt Cooper, Today FM'The book is fabulous' Pat Kenny, NewstalkTrade ReviewA hero to many (including me) -- @MarianKeyesBoth personal and political ... a very important history of recent events that have utterly changed Ireland's social and political landscapes * Irish Times *A fascinating story -- Matt Cooper * Today FM *The book is fabulous -- Pat Kenny * Newstalk *A comprehensive, insightful and often shocking social history of the country * Irish Independent *Compelling [and] compassionate book * RTÉ Guide *

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisAbortion remains legal in the US, but access has been slowly eroded since prohibition was ruled unconstitutional nearly fifty years ago. Simultaneously abortion remains culturally stigmatised - it is kept secret and presumed shameful. But feminist activists are working to increase access and challenge this stigma. Numerous organisations and campaigns are challenging abortion stigma using the internet and social media and intersectional feminist sensibilities. From A Whisper to a Shout takes a closer look at four of these organisations - #ShoutYourAbortion, Lady Parts Justice, #WeTestify, and The Abortion Diary - and how they are integrating feminist tactics, social media, and political strategies to challenge abortion stigma and promote abortion access.

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