How do feminist identity and abortion politics intersect? Specifically, what does feminism mean to women working to feminist health care and abortion services in the late 1980s and early 1990s? What are the ideological consequences and emotional tolls of doing such work in a hostile socio-cultural environment? Can feminism and bureaucracy coexist productively? How do feminists confront the anti-feminist opposition, from anti-abortion protesters outside to racism within feminist organizations? These are the questions that drive Wendy Simonds' Abortion at Work . Simonds documents the ways in which workers at a feminist clinic construct compelling feminist visions, and also watch their ideals fall short in practice. Simonds interprets these women's narratives to get at how abortion works on feminism, and to show what feminism can gain by rethinking abortion utilizing these activists' terms. In thoroughly engaging prose, Simonds frames her analysis with a moving account of her own personal understanding of the issues.
This book is an incredible resource for my work in a feminist clinic. Can we delete the crazy anti-choice opinion of Brad Stetson?
OUR BODIES OUR CHOICES
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
I must admit that I write this review mainly in response to the one other review that this book has recieved. I must first state that I find his comment on the author's "energetic enthusiasm to present uncloaked her feminist vision of procreative liberty..." to reveal HIS perverse evaluation of women that leaves ME shocked and disturbed. Is it not more perverse for women to cloak and hide abortions, to have them done in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, putting their life on the line to avoid the shame and stigma men like the other reviewer bring? Not only does he misunderstand the basic concept behind abortions, but he gravely misunderstands abortions in general. All his talk of mutilated fetuses is ridiculous. 88% of abortions are performed before the second trimester, when the fetus is no bigger than about two inches long. That is hardly the image he conjures up, is it? It is shocking in this day and age that women are still not afforded the responsibility of determining what happens to their own bodies. It is our most basic, simple, and profound human right, and men like the other reviewer would deny us that right. The other important thing is to remember that every child born should be a wanted child; until that is possible in the case of every pregnancy (which will never happen)we must keep abortion safe and legal. So in conclusion, do not allow your opinion of this book to be tainted by misinformed opinions.
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