Abortion Pills Go Global: Reproductive Freedom across Borders

by Sydney Calkin

An unprecedented, up-close look into the global self-managed abortion movement.   Abortion pills have made safe medication abortion possible for millions of people around the world, even in the most restrictive circumstances. In this timely book, Sydney Calkin illustrates the profound, transformative promise of these pills—which are safe, effective, and responsible for a sharp decline in maternal mortality. Abortion Pills Go Global demonstrates that the widespread practice of self-managed medication abortion makes it more difficult for countries to enforce oppressive abortion laws and less willing to do so.   Taking a bold and unique geographic approach, this book follows these pills as they are manufactured and transported by feminist activists from India to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Poland, and the United States. Calkin shows that the growing availability of abortion pills in places with restrictive laws means more people have access to self-managed healthcare. Abortion Pills Go Global looks ahead to see how the broader politics of abortion could shift in response to this global movement—one that looks not to laws for protection but to on-the-ground feminist mobilizations across borders.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2023

Reviews

[Lotus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a timely read. I've been appreciating sociologists who provide brief well researched insights into their niche. The topic of how abortion pills appear in the political landscapes of 4 countries is one I wasn't sure I was interested in hearing about for 300 pages. I for sure thought I would loose interest as the polish chapters started but the opposite happened I held tight to the historical and policy context for these european countries just as much as cherished the activist histories. Every chapter is made with care and every single chapter gave me so much helpful context on how abortion pills get everywhere. The book explores every avenue I wanted it to. I love how it features disagreements between activists all the while it never looses it's core arguments on the nature of technology, decriminalization, and justice. I leave this book with more questions and more interest in following the threads in this book's references.

Awesome exactly what you want out of a book like this DELIVERS! I can't help but give 5 stars.

[Gemma Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Abortion Pills Go Global" is a fascinating read for anyone passionate about reproductive freedom. As someone who has primarily focused on legal reform, this book broadened my perspective to consider the concept of social decriminalisation. Abortion pills have been a game changer for the reproductive rights movement and a real problem for the forced birth movement. The book thoroughly explores the significance of these highly safe, effective, and easily movable pills. It also compares Poland, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the USA as well as the bizarre legal landscape of the U.K.