Abortion Then & Now: New Zealand Abortion Stories from 1940 to 1980

by Margaret Sparrow

From clandestine abortions in the 1940s to the introduction of the contraceptive pill in the 1960s, this comprehensive reference provides a well-rounded review of the legal, medical, and emotional facets of abortions then and now. At the heart of this groundbreaking book are deeply moving personal stories—which encompass suffering and resilience, isolation and community—from women who have experienced an abortion. These accounts are supplemented with the voices of doctors, police, and advocates committed to addressing and improving issues in women’s reproductive health.

Genres: Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Kyle Somerville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crucially important history.
Structure was slightly poor

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many stories. So many horrid stories from the earlier days in particular.
Thorough as anything.

[VeganMedusa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complete history of abortion in NZ from the 1940s to the 1980s. Each decade has a chapter devoted to it, starting with the legal cases against abortionists or women who tried to procure abortions, and then women telling their stories of abortions from that decade. Also a chapter from police officers involved in raiding illegal abortion clinics and prosecuting them; a chapter from doctors' viewpoints; and a chapter from the advocates who worked to change the law.
From the 1940s when there was no contraception (few people had access to french letters) and death from septic abortion was a real risk. And there were all those yummy American sailors, too!
Through to the 1950s when antibiotics were available so death was less common, but getting an abortion was still a risky procedure.
To the 1960s when the pill became available and the trans-Tasman abortion traffic thrived (some states in Australia having made abortion legal). As long as you could scrounge up the money to get it done in Australia, you could have a safe abortion - no more relying on the goodness of backstreet abortionists (some were good people wanting to help women, but some were decidedly dodgy and demanded sex or groping as payment).
And to the 70s when feminism demanded a better system, and finally the law was changed to its present workable, if unnecessarily complicated, system.

I found the beginning of each chapter a little tedious, going through the court cases, etc. But it was good to have that context so that I could really appreciate the women's stories that followed.
I hope we never have to go back to the days when doctors could force their morality on their patients - Catholic doctors refusing to do pregnancy tests until it's too late for an abortion, doctors refusing contraception to women with six kids already - "you're good for another half a dozen kids yet".
A lot of brave people in this book.

[Ashley Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on the subject I think many people would look away from this book but what a truly amazing read on such an important part of New Zealand's history! Margaret Sparrow is one truly amazing woman who I have had the pleasure in meeting myself!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the last section of this book dragged, it had a lot of interesting information about the legalization of abortion in New Zealand, along with women's stories and then, later, stories from abortion providers and doctors. Most of the book was really interesting and I enjoyed reading it – definitely it was worth buying