Search for an Abortionist : The Classic Study of How American Women Coped with Unwanted Pregnancy before Roe v. Wade

This eye-opening look at the abortion process prior to the Supreme Court's landmarkRoe v. Wadedecision of 1973 is now more relevant than ever, with a new introduction by the author revisiting history that is still salient half a century laterIn the years beforeRoe v. Wade, women seeking to end their unwanted pregnancies had limited optionsmany of them dangerous, even potentially fatal, and nearly all of them illegal. This groundbreaking work by sociologist Nancy Howell Lee, first published in 1969, takes an intimate look at the entire abortion processfrom the initial decision to terminate a pregnancy through the procedure itself and the aftermathproviding an incomparable view of what is still one of the most controversial and divisive issues in America.Based on interviews with one hundred fourteen women who had illegal abortions, Howell Lee's book reveals how the abortions were procured and paid for, and looks at the lasting effects the experience had on the participants. The interviewees were open and honest about what influenced their decisions, how they conducted their search for someone to perform the procedure, and the physical and emotional aftereffects. With many state governments across America currently passing new legislation that restricts and, in many cases, effectively bans abortion, an eventual return to the pre-Roedays threatens the well-being of millions of women, making Nancy Howell Lee's pioneering study more relevant than ever. It is a must-read for all those interested in reproductive rights issues.