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Books on the History of Reproductive Rights

Hello and happy Friday, nonfiction friends. Like many of you, I am sure, I’m grappling with news from the Supreme Court, in which a leaked draft of an upcoming opinion suggests that the Court is preparing to strike down Roe v. Wade. I was also disappointed, but not surprised, by this week’s failed Senate vote to put abortion protection into law.

This is a huge and complicated issue that, I have to admit, I don’t know nearly as much about as I wish that I did. In that spirit, here are four books about abortion access and reproductive justice that I’ve added to my TBR:

book cover when abortion was a crime by leslie reagan

When Abortion Was a Crime: Women, Medicine and Law in the United States by Leslie Reagan

This book, originally published in 1998, gives a comprehensive look at the history of abortion, examining the entire period in which abortion was illegal in the United States. It explores “how abortion was criminalized and policed” and how women sought care outside the law. A reissue in February 2022 includes a new preface looking at contemporary threats to abortion access. From what I can tell, this is a widely-regarded and comprehensive overview of the topic.

book cover killing the black body by dorothy roberts

Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty by Dorothy Roberts

This book, also a bit on the older side, “exposed America’s systemic abuse of Black women’s bodies.” It begins all the way back with how slave owners exercised an economic stake in Black women’s fertility. It also covers forced (or coerced) sterilizations as recently as the 1970s, as well as how the reproductive needs of Black women have been excluded from mainstream political agendas. Again, this seems like a necessary and useful primer on this subject. 

book cover life's work by willie parker

Life’s Work: A Moral Argument for Choice by Dr. Willie Parker

Dr. Willie Parker grew up in a fundamentalist Christian household in the South. A practicing obstetrician, Parker eventually quit his practice to focus exclusively on providing safe abortions for women who needed his help the most in his community. In this memoir, he shares both his experiences and the complex stories of women seeking access to reproductive care. At the same time, he makes a Christian case in support of reproductive rights and pushes back against many of the rules and regulations being placed on abortion access. This seems like an extremely useful perspective. 

book cover Pro by Katha Pollitt

Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights by Katha Pollitt

In this book, feminist Katha Pollitt argues against abortion being presented as bad or agonizing, and against turning it, a normal medical procedure, into “something shameful and secretive.” Instead, she makes the case that it’s “a moral right and a social good.” I added this one to my list because I think it provides an important reframe of abortion as just one piece of a larger need for women to have access to safe, effective, and personal reproductive care no matter their circumstances.

If none of these seem like what you’re looking for, here are several other book lists I looked at while putting together my TBR: 

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

One Thing I Like

logo for the podcast Normal Gossip

I don’t necessarily think of myself as someone who gossips… but I have to admit I do love feeling on the inside of groups and stories. In that spirit, I was delighted to discover the Normal Gossip podcast, hosted by Kelsey McKinney. Each week, McKinney and a guest recount and debate a juicy, anonymous, and true story submitted by a real person. It’s very silly and very satisfying, all at the same time, which feels like just what I need right now.


For more nonfiction reads, head over to the podcast service of your choice and download For Real, which I co-host with my dear friend Alice. If you have any questions/comments/book suggestions, you can find me on social media @kimthedork. Happy weekend!