The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service by Laura Kaplan
1996
Weight: 1.4 lbs
Method of Disposal: Lending Library
This was a great book. I want everyone to read it. This group was started in 1969, and the brave and passionate women who organized and ran it are true heroines. I remember reading this as a teenager and feeling tremendously inspired. I took it with me to college, and I have told the story of Jane to many many people since. I thought about them at every March For Women's Lives, every time we stood outside the abortion clinic trying to block the pro-life protesters from harassing the women walking in, every time I turned on the news and heard some new twist or turn in the great abortion debate.
They set up an underground abortion referral group without the internet or computers. News of Jane was spread by word of mouth, and it was in the phone book under Jane. They performed over 11, 000 abortions in the 4 years they operated until Roe V. Wade. They provided counseling and would do the abortions for around $100, though they would work with women who could not afford the fee. They attempted to check in on the women after they returned home and the women's mental and physical health were of utmost importance. No patient was ever arrested, but 7 of the women working within the organization were.
This book is written by one of the members in the group and offers a lot of insight into the illegal activities of a very important and life-changing organization that saved the lives of countless women in Illinois. Did I mention it is amazing? It is not only the story, though that would be enough. The writing keeps you turning pages too.
1996
Weight: 1.4 lbs
Method of Disposal: Lending Library
This was a great book. I want everyone to read it. This group was started in 1969, and the brave and passionate women who organized and ran it are true heroines. I remember reading this as a teenager and feeling tremendously inspired. I took it with me to college, and I have told the story of Jane to many many people since. I thought about them at every March For Women's Lives, every time we stood outside the abortion clinic trying to block the pro-life protesters from harassing the women walking in, every time I turned on the news and heard some new twist or turn in the great abortion debate.
They set up an underground abortion referral group without the internet or computers. News of Jane was spread by word of mouth, and it was in the phone book under Jane. They performed over 11, 000 abortions in the 4 years they operated until Roe V. Wade. They provided counseling and would do the abortions for around $100, though they would work with women who could not afford the fee. They attempted to check in on the women after they returned home and the women's mental and physical health were of utmost importance. No patient was ever arrested, but 7 of the women working within the organization were.
This book is written by one of the members in the group and offers a lot of insight into the illegal activities of a very important and life-changing organization that saved the lives of countless women in Illinois. Did I mention it is amazing? It is not only the story, though that would be enough. The writing keeps you turning pages too.
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