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Eve: The Disobedient Future of Birth
A radical interrogation of the ethics and future of birth by an expert legal scholar. Every single one of us has been born from a person. So far. But that is about to change. For the first time, babies could be gestated and born from machines through “Ex-vivo Uterine Environment Therapy,” aka EVE. But such radical technology leaves us with complex legal, social, and ethical questions. What does this breakthrough in artificial human gestation mean for motherhood, womanhood, and parenthood? Countries and people that do not respect the autonomy of pregnant people may use these technologies to curtail choice further, advance eugenic ideas, or to deepen class and racial divides. In this fascinating story of modern birth, Claire Horn takes us on a journey from the first orchid-like incubators in the 1880s to the cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs of today. As she explores the most challenging and pertinent questions of our age, Horn reflects on her own pregnancy. Could artificial wombs allow women to redistribute the work of gestating? How do we protect reproductive and abortion rights? And who exactly gets access to this technology, in our vastly unequal world?
224 pages, Paperback
Published November 7, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 25, 2024
Questo volume parla di giustizia riproduttiva e autodeterminazione nelle scelte riproduttive da una prospettiva transfemminista e antirazzista. Il fil rouge è l’analisi dell’ectogenesi, ovvero la gestazione fuori dal corpo umano. Sebbene l’utero artificiale non sia (ancora) disponibile, l’autrice sostiene che la sua introduzione potrebbe non essere così lontana e che sarebbe opportuno interrogarsi fin da ora sulle implicazioni morali e sociali di questa tecnologia.
Il volume è ricco di riflessioni speculative anche se non manca una parte più “storica” sulle sperimentazioni che hanno riguardato la gestazione, dall’invenzione delle incubatrici fino ai più recenti progressi scientifici sulla fecondazione in vitro.
La giustizia riproduttiva è trattata anche in relazione molti altri temi: le disuguaglianze nel settore sanitario, il diritto all’aborto, le politiche eugenetiche ecc.
Le due cose che ho apprezzato di più:
- L’approfondimento sulle politiche eugenetiche
- I riferimenti ben ponderati alla fantascienza
Il libro in una frase: non esiste una soluzione tecnologica a un problema sociale.
Personalmente condivido le idee e la prospettiva dell’autrice. Forse l’unica “pecca” è proprio che questo libro non ha messo in discussione le convinzioni che già avevo prima di leggerlo.
Il volume è ricco di riflessioni speculative anche se non manca una parte più “storica” sulle sperimentazioni che hanno riguardato la gestazione, dall’invenzione delle incubatrici fino ai più recenti progressi scientifici sulla fecondazione in vitro.
La giustizia riproduttiva è trattata anche in relazione molti altri temi: le disuguaglianze nel settore sanitario, il diritto all’aborto, le politiche eugenetiche ecc.
Le due cose che ho apprezzato di più:
- L’approfondimento sulle politiche eugenetiche
- I riferimenti ben ponderati alla fantascienza
Il libro in una frase: non esiste una soluzione tecnologica a un problema sociale.
Personalmente condivido le idee e la prospettiva dell’autrice. Forse l’unica “pecca” è proprio che questo libro non ha messo in discussione le convinzioni che già avevo prima di leggerlo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2025
I believe anyone who calls themself a feminist should read this book. There is so much I thought I knew about reproductive health and rights until I read this book. Now I know I have so much more to learn.
The book focuses on reproductive rights and the ethics of developing/using technology that would allow ectogenisis. This is the gestation of a fetus outside of the human body. The book is factual and informative, but not neutral.
Throughout the book, she agrees that our legal and social systems are unfair and outright harmful for all women. However, she argues that even "liberal" and "feminist" advocates and policy makers throughout history have knowingly or unknowingly placed the rights of white, cis women above Black, Indigenous, Asian, and LGBTQ+ women and pregnant people. She maintains that white, cis women have always had better access to abortion, contraceptives, and other reproductive health resources, while at the same time, marginalized women are not only denied these same resources, but are criminalized for using them. In addition, she shares how many WOC/LGBTQ+ women are coerced into giving away their reproductive rights under legal or financial pressures. She uses statistics to highlight these legal and social barriers that marginalized women face.
Throughout the book, she makes it clear that while "progressive" or "liberal" advocates might be fighting for women's reproductive rights, true progress cannot be made unless white, cis women are decentralized. She gives a really good example of how a lot of feminst groups advocate for the right to choose abortion. While women should of course be able to choose to have an abortion, she explains how that view alone is white-centric. It does not acknowledge that thousands of Black and Indigenous women in the USA, UK, Canada, and many other countries have been forcefully sterilized, even if these women wanted to have a baby. Forced sterilizations didn't stop until the 1970s... Also even in modern day, marginalized women who want to have a child are denied, either due to lack of safe health resources, or even being forced to use long-term contraceptives in order to even access health resources. She gives specific examples of this.
Point being, she asserts that there cannot be true progress unless the reproductive rights of ALL women are secured and protected. These includes the right to terminante a pregnancy, or even to be pregnant in the first place. And she outlines all the social and legal barriers that must be dismantled for true equity.
im tired of writing this review but this book is so good and so inspiring and you should go read this book especially if u call yourself a feminist. there is so much to learn.
The book focuses on reproductive rights and the ethics of developing/using technology that would allow ectogenisis. This is the gestation of a fetus outside of the human body. The book is factual and informative, but not neutral.
Throughout the book, she agrees that our legal and social systems are unfair and outright harmful for all women. However, she argues that even "liberal" and "feminist" advocates and policy makers throughout history have knowingly or unknowingly placed the rights of white, cis women above Black, Indigenous, Asian, and LGBTQ+ women and pregnant people. She maintains that white, cis women have always had better access to abortion, contraceptives, and other reproductive health resources, while at the same time, marginalized women are not only denied these same resources, but are criminalized for using them. In addition, she shares how many WOC/LGBTQ+ women are coerced into giving away their reproductive rights under legal or financial pressures. She uses statistics to highlight these legal and social barriers that marginalized women face.
Throughout the book, she makes it clear that while "progressive" or "liberal" advocates might be fighting for women's reproductive rights, true progress cannot be made unless white, cis women are decentralized. She gives a really good example of how a lot of feminst groups advocate for the right to choose abortion. While women should of course be able to choose to have an abortion, she explains how that view alone is white-centric. It does not acknowledge that thousands of Black and Indigenous women in the USA, UK, Canada, and many other countries have been forcefully sterilized, even if these women wanted to have a baby. Forced sterilizations didn't stop until the 1970s... Also even in modern day, marginalized women who want to have a child are denied, either due to lack of safe health resources, or even being forced to use long-term contraceptives in order to even access health resources. She gives specific examples of this.
Point being, she asserts that there cannot be true progress unless the reproductive rights of ALL women are secured and protected. These includes the right to terminante a pregnancy, or even to be pregnant in the first place. And she outlines all the social and legal barriers that must be dismantled for true equity.
im tired of writing this review but this book is so good and so inspiring and you should go read this book especially if u call yourself a feminist. there is so much to learn.
December 4, 2023
3.5 stars. Women give birth to babies. But sometimes babies are delivered early and need to be cared for in an incubator. Younger and younger pre-term infants are able to survive. Research laboratories are able to create embryos that are viable for longer and longer periods of time. Currently, there is common agreement that these lab-grown babies are not allowed to continue past 14 days even though the technology could allow them to. At some point in the not too distant future it may become possible to “grow” a baby in an artificial womb until it comes to full term. This book focuses on the moral and social implications. Should a woman carrying an at-risk fetus be expected to transfer it to an artificial womb? Could a healthy woman choose to transfer a fetus to an artificial womb? Could this be an alternative to abortion? If a baby is conceived, grown, and delivered outside of a woman’s body who would be responsible for it? These and other questions are raised and discussed. A thought provoking book.
December 1, 2024
Questo libro tratta della tematica dell' ectogestazione in chiave femminista, lgbtq+ e inclusiva. Si parla di gestazione, di infertilità, di aborto, di corpi, di diritto riproduttivi ma anche di genitorialità.
L' autrice ci narra di come, nella storia dell' uomo, si è arrivati ad un concetto di gestazione che possa non essere riservato solo alle donne e si sofferma molto sul diritto all' aborto e le conseguenze dell' introduzione dell' ectogestazione come possibile chiave per "liberare" la femmina dalla gravidanza, ma anche come modo per donare la genitorialità a chi, per malattia o per genere di nascita, non può viverla.
L' ho trovato ben scritto, un po' ridondante in certe parti e sicuramente di parte.
L' autrice sembra provare ad esporre anche i punti di vista diversi dal suo, ma è palese quale sia il suo pensiero e quindi potrebbe dare fastidio a chi non condivide certi ideali.
Ho trovato davvero molto ben trattato il tema della maternità in riferimento al cambiamento del corpo e della mente della donna.
Lo consiglio!
L' autrice ci narra di come, nella storia dell' uomo, si è arrivati ad un concetto di gestazione che possa non essere riservato solo alle donne e si sofferma molto sul diritto all' aborto e le conseguenze dell' introduzione dell' ectogestazione come possibile chiave per "liberare" la femmina dalla gravidanza, ma anche come modo per donare la genitorialità a chi, per malattia o per genere di nascita, non può viverla.
L' ho trovato ben scritto, un po' ridondante in certe parti e sicuramente di parte.
L' autrice sembra provare ad esporre anche i punti di vista diversi dal suo, ma è palese quale sia il suo pensiero e quindi potrebbe dare fastidio a chi non condivide certi ideali.
Ho trovato davvero molto ben trattato il tema della maternità in riferimento al cambiamento del corpo e della mente della donna.
Lo consiglio!
January 27, 2025
The first book in my journey to reading more non-fiction in 2025!! Very exciting. The content was very intriguing. When I think about a baby gestating outside of the womb, I can’t help but picture some very sci-fi-esque images of tiny fetuses floating around in an unknown substance. I also vaguely remember a Grey’s Anatomy episode where one of the doctors brings up research of baby lambs gestating in bags. But looking beyond the sci-fi imagery there are the very real-world implications.
On the one hand, artificial wombs represent lifesaving technology that would no doubt help countless families. On the other hand, the potential for this technology to be misused and used instead to suppress bodily autonomy is terrifying. It’s scary to think about these things but unfortunately, we have to face them head on. Now more than ever we need people to be aware of looming reproductive injustices.
A quote that really stuck with me was:
“You are carrying the weight of your own emotions, your expectations, hopes and fears, formed by your identity, your past experiences, your family history and your own particular circumstances.”
On the one hand, artificial wombs represent lifesaving technology that would no doubt help countless families. On the other hand, the potential for this technology to be misused and used instead to suppress bodily autonomy is terrifying. It’s scary to think about these things but unfortunately, we have to face them head on. Now more than ever we need people to be aware of looming reproductive injustices.
A quote that really stuck with me was:
“You are carrying the weight of your own emotions, your expectations, hopes and fears, formed by your identity, your past experiences, your family history and your own particular circumstances.”
October 6, 2024
Under Claire Horn's pen we are presented to a vivid timeline on how far and fastly science has progressed when it comes to perinatal care and our understanding of the conditions the unborn require for a healthy development - we are also exposed to the fact that we did not accompany this progress in societal and cultural terms.
A very thought-provoking insight (particularly on its second half) on what the challenges lie ahead in access to natal healthcare, not only in the sense of what we can do, but also how and why we should do it.
A very thought-provoking insight (particularly on its second half) on what the challenges lie ahead in access to natal healthcare, not only in the sense of what we can do, but also how and why we should do it.
December 1, 2024
This was such an interesting read as to what the future of the reproductive system may look like, the process of artificial wombs feels like a double-edged sword. Particularly within the context of heath inequality that’s already deeply prevalent today. Claire Horn does well to address many perspectives as to what challenges artificial wombs may present along with the exciting future that ectogenesis could hold. Although I’m keen to learn more as to what the possibilities are, the ethical issues this opens up are unlimited and very scary….
October 22, 2024
A thorough and fascinating exploration of innovation reproductive technologies and the false assumptions that accompany all they promise to deliver.
I learned. I was shocked. I was heartbroken. There is so much more to do for reproductive justice for all before we’re ready for what reproductive tech can do…
I learned. I was shocked. I was heartbroken. There is so much more to do for reproductive justice for all before we’re ready for what reproductive tech can do…
May 1, 2025
Saggio molto interessante sull'utero artificiale, dopo un primo capitolo scientifico e storico dove l'autrice ti spiega l'inizio e i progressi avvenuti nella creazione dell'utero artificiale si arriva alle domanda che continueranno per tutto il libro: come si può fare ricerca e prove in maniera etica? e soprattutto come verrebbe usato all'interno della nostra società?
August 12, 2024
This was so interesting and she had very nuanced, well developed takes on artificial wombs. There is a great balance of science and ethics in this book written in a very conservational, easily understood manner. I really enjoy this subject and the implications of artificial wombs and excited to study this topic further !!
May 25, 2025
di salute riproduttiva, ectogenesi ed utero artificiale.
le tecnologie non posso essere niente, se non si riparte da un nuovo concetto di cura.
le tecnologie non posso essere niente, se non si riparte da un nuovo concetto di cura.
September 22, 2025
I really appreciated all the research and thoughtful, and thought-provoking, nuances of the topic that the author included.
September 22, 2025
My thoughts on this are too complex to put in a review but I especially liked getting the historical context of incubators.
January 28, 2024
I liked this book- it was an interesting exploration of the ethical dilemmas surrounding women’s health, childbirth, and specifically that of ectogenesis aka a fetus developing in an external womb. The medical research itself was fascinating, and I liked how Horn used each chapter to present a different ethical dilemma and discussion. 3/5 because I enjoyed this topic but didn’t find the writing to be especially stellar.
October 21, 2025
An interesting look into the history of artificial wombs and the possible future. While it was very informative it was also a bit repetitious. Despite being relatively short it felt longer, though that may be due to me not having a biology background.
Also while I did like the portions where she discussed being pregnant and comparing that with how it would be done artificially, I felt it could have been incorporated more.
3.5 rounded up
Also while I did like the portions where she discussed being pregnant and comparing that with how it would be done artificially, I felt it could have been incorporated more.
3.5 rounded up
November 15, 2023
I loved this book! It was a thought-provoking read that clearly delivered scientific concepts and ethical questions in an accessible and engaging way. The author offers a fresh and necessary viewpoint on reproductive technologies, challenges traditional narratives and social inequities, and invites readers to do the same. I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the intersection of technology, reproductive and abortion rights, and ethics.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews