Ninia Baehr

This pamphlet is 20 years old now, but is still relevant. This book briefly details the history of the abortion movement, and how it went from a radical "repeal abortion law" to "legal and safe" paradigm. I think the quote in this book that really sums this up is:

"As long as the right-to-lifers demand that women give up all our options for abortion (Outlaw all abortion!) and pro-choice activists just ask to keep what women already have (Keep Abortion Safe and Legal!) then, by definition, we will lose ground every time a compromise is made."

It's true, and before this book was written, and after this book was written, women have just sat and watched our rights get eroded one law at a time.

The thing I found really interesting in this book was the first chapter about three women who really agitated for change in the late 1950s and 1960s. I don't recall reading about them in other books, and it's always refreshing to read a book that doesn't gloss over the time in between the first and second waves of feminism.

Even at 20 years old, this is still a useful book for people interested in reproductive rights, although until the last chapter it is very centered on white, middle-to-upper class experiences.… (mer)