Angry Words: Reading after Roe vs Wade was Overturned

 

I am so angry about the decision to overturn Roe versus Wade.  One of the things that I feel that the abortion argument often gets wrong is that educational settings, religious institutions and political parties treat it as an intellectual debate when it is actually about access to proper medical care for anyone who has female body parts.

Since I am an avid reader, reading books on various aspects of the issue has really helped me become even more informed about the various ways that this “argument” has formed over time and I want to share some of the resources I have been studying these days. I have read non-fiction books highlighting different aspects of how our country has formulated its ideas surrounding abortion quite helpful, giving me insight on the history and rhetoric on what has been happening in our culture. I have found great books to read regarding various aspects of the history of abortion.  If you are interested in researching the further issue as well, here are some fantastic books:

 If you want to understand how abortion rights are a black lives matter issue check out Killing the Black Body. This book explores the systematic issues at play with black women’s bodies starting with the historical roots of slavery. Eugenics & the way the welfare system is implemented are explored in depth. Personally I found Killing the Black Body to be very eye opening regarding how slavery and classism have formulated this debate.

If you want to understand how religious conservatism formulated into a pro-life stance check out Wrath of Angels: The American Abortion War. Don’t be fooled by this being an academic theological resource. Written by two journalists this book takes a narrative approach to the characters who made the pro-life agenda become a centerpiece of evangelical Christianity’s involvement in American politics. This book definitely satiated my interest in American religious history and read like a novel.

If you want to learn more about the history of protesting abortion check out Bodies on the Line: At the Front Lines of the Fight to Protect Abortion in America. This book dives into the history of abortion clinic escorts and protests. I never knew that Fort Wayne, Indiana had one of first abortion clinics that attracted pro-life protesters. Since this is where my grandparents lived and my mother grew up, I already was aware of how conservative the town was.  It was also helpful to understand the history of community organizing for the right to have an abortion & how volunteer escorts play an important role for abortion clinics.

If you want to learn more about women who were forced to bring their babies to term before abortion was legal check out The Girls Who Went Away. This is an account of an era before abortion was legal, birth control was accessible and when women were shamed for having sex outside of wedlock. A heartbreaking, yet fascinating read about some of women who were forced to carry their babies to term & put the children up for adoption before Roe V Wade. Reading this provided insight on what we put women through before Roe versus Wade…a history that would be heart-breaking to return to.

 Since this is a heavy subject &  I have other projects that I am working on, this is by no means a comprehensive guide. Here are some other books related to this subject that I still want to read:

Doctors of Conscience provides a history  of physicians who have provided abortions in our nations history.

Birth of the Pill is the narrative how contraception was introduced & how effected cultural attitudes about sexuality.

The Story of Jane is about an underground abortion service committed to providing care to women before it was legal

The War on Choice is by the former president of Planned Parenthood. Released in 2004, not long after I completed an undergraduate degree in sociology, this would be a re-read for me.  When I first read this book, it was an eye-opening book for me. But I want to re-read it now that I have more understanding of the issue & that it culturally is even more of a hot button issue to see if and how it could be a useful resource.

Of course, reading is only one step to take.  There are many ways to get involved in the fight to help legalize abortion. However, if you want to step back to understand how we have come to this point in time all the books I have recommended are well researched, thought provoking accounts of United States history that are relevant to the heart breaking turn of events in our nation's history.