Reproductive Rites: The Real-Life Witches and Witch Hunts in the Centuries-Long Fight for Abortion

by Sophie Saint Thomas

A provocative pop history that explores the witches—and witch hunts—in the untold story of abortion, from the days of Socrates through the Salem Witch Trials and the 1980s Satanic Panic, all the way to our fraught present.

“Not only fascinating and engaging but, in our current post-Roe climate, necessary . . . with wit, humor, and verve that make it an unputdownable read for every feminist.” —Jennifer Wright, author of Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist

For millennia, across cultures and continents, both providers and recipients of reproductive healthcare and abortions have been persecuted as witches (whether they actually practiced the craft or not). In this dauntless reassessment of that history, journalist Sophie Saint Thomas follows the tangled threads of witches and reproductive rights through the ages.

Along the way, she maintains an intersectional eye toward the communities most affected by reproductive oppression (including Native Americans, enslaved Black women, and trans people) and offers a scathing look at the hypocrisy of anti-choice crusaders (from eugenicists in the Church of Satan to an astrology-following Republican First Lady). With heart, humor, and deeply researched insights, Reproductive Rites brings new context to the urgency of our ongoing fight.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Feminism, Politics, Social Justice, Witches, Spirituality

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2024

Reviews

[Kelli Santistevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A provocative pop history that explores the witches—and witch hunts—in the untold story of abortion, from the days of Socrates through the Salem Witch Trials and the 1980s Satanic Panic, all the way to our fraught present.

Thank you Running Press for making this book available as a Read Now book on Netgalley! I liked this book. The history was really interesting.

[Jordan Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 57%

I really tried my best to make it through this book, because the way it was described sounded incredibly up my alley. As a pro-choice pagan myself, I was very interested in reading information about abortion through the ages, reproductive healthcare, and especially the stories of people who were persecuted as witches as a result of those. In the beginning of the book, the author makes mention of trying to ensure “balanced journalism.” And through most of what I read, that was evident. However, there were several instances in which the author is unnecessarily throwing unwarranted comments (about a former president) that don’t add any value to the information. She’s saying them just to say them.

When you’re speaking about abortion, and women’s healthcare and reproductive rights, I understand it’s pretty much impossible NOT to be political. Unfortunately, we live in a world where politics rules all, and everyone tends to fall on one side or the other. While this author and I don’t seem to fall on the same side, that is OKAY. Because I am still 100% pro choice, which yes, in my political party, is rare. But because I am still 100% pro choice, I thought it would be incredibly beneficial for me to read this book and learn the information.

And don’t get me wrong, this information IS important. It’s need to know. But I wish I could have read the information without it feeling like I was being put down myself. If the comments were made in a way that added value to the story, or were written in a more matter-of-fact way rather than seemingly just opinions, it might have felt different. But in those moments, it didn’t feel like “balanced journalism.”

It was getting more and more difficult to continue on with the story. There is SO much information, so many different stories and examples and opinions, it was a struggle to not have to take breaks in between just to try and digest what I’d previously read.

I want to express, this review has NOTHING to do with my political opinion or the authors, because we actually agree on a LOT of things, including the main topic of this book (pro choice.) I just could not get past the overload of information in a slightly disorganized way, as well as the additional comments thrown in just for the sake of it.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Ophelia Feyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Reproductive Rites – The Real-Life Witches & Witch Hunts in the Centuries-Long Fight for Abortion* by Sophie Saint Thomas
Publisher: Running Press
Release Date: 15th October, 2024

About the Author
Sophie Saint Thomas lives in Manhattan with her fiance and orange tabby Major Tom Cat. She is an award winning journalist, having written for 'Cosmopolitan', 'Playboy', 'GQ', 'Glamour', 'Marie Claire', 'PRIDE', and 'VICE'.

With a focus on sex, love, drugs ad queer subcultures, Sophie is currently 'Allure' magazine’s resident astrologer, and a sex columnist for 'AskMen'.

Published books include: 'Finding Your Higher Self – Your Guide to Cannabis for Self-Care', 'The Little Books of CBD for Self-Care', 'Sex Witch', 'Glamour Witch' and 'Weed Witch'.

About the Book
“A provocative pop history that explores the witches – and witch hunts – in the untold story of abortion, from the days of Socrates through the Salem Witch Trials and the 1980’s Satanic Panic, all the way to our fraught present.

For millennia, across cultures and continents, both providers and recipients of reproductive health care and abortions have been persecuted as witches (whether they actually practiced the craft or not). In this dauntless reassessment of that history, journalist Sophie Saint Thomas follows the tangled threads of witches and reproductive rights through the ages. With heart, humour, and deeply researched insights, Reproductive Rites brings new context to the urgency of our ongoing fight.”

My Thoughts
'Reproductive Rites' is a thorough and well-researched look at the history of reproductive health and abortion. The introduction alone offers a lot of information. It’s clear how important the history of contraception, abortion and other areas of reproductive health is when trying to give context to the issues that we are still facing today. Throughout the book there are stark reminders of the current climate surrounding abortion in the USA.

Initially, I thought I would be put off by the colloquial style used, at times, by the author. However what is a very dense topic, with a vast history, was delivered with wit and humour. The sharp and critical commentary on past and very present issues is ultimately what had me hooked from the outset.

Starting with Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and the Middle Ages, the focus then shifts to Colonial America and the Salem Witch Trials. It seems obvious that a book about witches, witch hunts and the ‘fight for abortion’ should give attention to the Salem Witch Trials. However, the author has reframed this history and explored the wider issues of colonisation, and the atrocities inflicted upon indigenous people, that were happening at the same time.

Once we reach Colonial America the history stays with the US. Obviously the author is American and with the current climate and dissolution of Roe, the book’s look at reproductive rights in America is needed. It highlights exactly how things got to this point. It’s never clear cut, but by the end the path to the dissolution of Roe seems inevitable.

Although aspects of the book were delivered with a sense of humour, the history and real-life experiences surrounding abortion can be harrowing. The author delivers the serious and hard to read, often overlooked areas of history, with sincerity and care whilst not being afraid to be honest about the realities. It was an approach I very much appreciated.

If, like me, you read a lot of witchcraft history then some of the stories and people featured will be familiar to you. However, Sophie offers so much more depth and detail. She centres marginalised communities (women, non-binary, trans, black and indigenous folks) within the inherent link between reproductive health/freedoms and witchcraft.

Obviously the book does not feature a neat ending, the abortion debate in America is ongoing and to most people looks bleak. However, the author remains positive and optimistic with a rally cry for change; a better and more inclusive change that deals with the problems that were still there during Roe.

Overall I loved this exploration of ‘real life witches’ and the ‘fight for abortion’. At times the history is shocking, and some not that long ago. Dealing in uncomfortable truths, while offering a much needed reframing of history. Well-researched, organised and honest. It’s a must read for every feminist, witch and pro-choice advocate.

*Book was gifted by the publisher.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous overview of two subjects all people could (and should) know more about. Tone is casual, like speaking to a friend over a coffee or glass of wine. Which for most of the time was engaging, accessible and entertaining. Although, sometimes it felt like a long ADHD train of thought word-association and this made parts of the book difficult to get through. I’m not a writer however, so who am I to say. Point is I learned a lot and was very entertained in doing so!

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to buy the author a drink and just hang out for an evening. Great book!

[Bailey Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cool!! I learned about so many things I’d never heard of, so many different connections throughout history… Thomas’s research is extensive- if the never ending list of sources at the end don’t tell you enough. The writing style is a lot more relaxed and conversational than most research texts, which I both liked and disliked at times. It makes this enormous amount of information much more digestible and adds humor from time to time (if you’re into that). This book convinces me to open my eyes to the possibilities of nonfiction and academic books as more prevalent genres in my reading list.

[Chelsea Lutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Repression never puts an end to anything -- it only makes it a secret. 28

3.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
Content: 8/10
Delivery: 6.5/10

I'm wholeheartedly Team Fuck-the Patriarchy, but very 50/50 on this particular book. The content is urgently needed in a short and digestible format like this - especially in today's post-Roe world - but I thought she was just trying *too* hard to be sassy and it wore on me after a while. And it wasn't quite as easily digestible as I was hoping. So many "fun facts" that were meant to poke at the (rightly framed, misogynistic/sexist or racist or ableist - truly, any "ist") folks at the root of all these problems, but even that got tiresome and distracting after the 50th one. It just felt like tangent after tangent and although there was chronological logic to the book, she was all over the place with her examples within chapters. I found myself rereading some sections to remember why this person or that ancient text was important, and half the time I couldn't find the connection to the rest of the text.

Not sure it was truly the book "every feminist should read," but it's still important AF and I'd recommend it.

Best (or, most infuriating) quotes:

While it's tempting to turn Hippocrates into a pro-choice icon, wrongly translated for millennia and leveraged for control by conservative powers that be, the real question is: Why are we still looking to this guy for abortion law and medical care? 10

[From Hippocrates] "When a woman has intercourse, if she is not going to conceive, then it is her practice to expel the sperm produced by both partners whenever she wishes to do so." Anyone up to write an updated oath? 10

[Saint Augustine] distinguished between early and later abortions, saying there was a difference between "formed" and "unformed" fetuses. He called infanticide "a cruel lust," but also wrote that abortion wasn't homicide, "for it could not be said that there was a living soul in the body, for it lacks all sense." 27

Repression never puts an end to anything -- it only makes it a secret. 28

...one can trace a direct line between the population loss resulting from the plague [Black Death] and changing attitudes toward abortion, essentially making birth control into the enemy of baby-making, rather than a crucial tool for safely regulating it, as it had been for so much of history. As a result, two concepts that had previously been largely unconnected -- the targeting of those who use (or endorse) birth control and witch-hunting -- met up in the center of the Venn diagram of persecution. 34-35

The utter cruelty of eugenicist practices demonstrated the importance of protecting the right to have children just as much as the right not to have children. 75

Whike eugenicists considered themselves men of science, and surely not occultists, we once again see the attempt to rationalize bigotry and glaze over perversions with the high-class air of a gentlemen's club. 126

As BIPOC women were forced into sterilization, middle-class white women fought for their right to have the procedure voluntarily. At the time, doctors followed the recommended "120" formula created by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist: "If a woman's age multiplied by the number of children she had totaled 120, she was a candidate for sterilization." 127-128
*boils in feminine rage as she does the math and by 32 would've needed four kids*

…She was dealing with health issues including syphilis, though she didn't know it. Smith, her doctor, hadn't told her – standard practice at the time, as doctors assumed a woman patient's husband or male friend would be the one to foot the bill for her care, and they didn't want to out the men for cheating and passing along an STI. 138

The use of graphic imagery moved abortion out of the realm of medical privacy, which, after all, was what Roe was all about, and into a public spectacle design to further villainize generations of women. Sometimes the images anti-abortion crusaders use are distorted or edited, and some pro–choice folks find it comforting to believe that none of the images are to be trusted. But the truth is, others are not edited. Looking at photos or videos of abortions can be graphic – but so is video footage of a colon resection, if you're bad with blood. The point is, the way it looks has no bearing on the fact that it's a medical procedure and it's often necessary or simply desired and that is perfectly fine. 151-152
That last part right there that's the take home 👏🏻 👏🏻

Pre-Reagan, due to their belief in helping the poor, Catholics were largely Democrats. During Reagan's run, when many Catholics had to choose between the social welfare programs promised by Democrats and the blossoming anti-abortion stance of Republicans, they made their choice. 160

We need a radically different approach to reproductive rights than the one we've been coasting on... Going forward, we need a plan that calls back to the outcasts: the community of the witch, the coven; the knowledge and care of a midwife; and a narrative free from heaven and hell so we can empower everyone to enjoy life on earth. 223

[Robin M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Saint Thomas’ latest book tackles reproductive rights, systemic injustices, and lack of bodily autonomy issues for women throughout the ages. According to an old medical papyrus, she writes, it’s been proven that ancient Egyptians used birth control and emmenagogues or abortifacients. Through withdrawal, suppositories, barrier methods, and nature’s own herbal pharmacy, earlier peoples learned by trial and error how to limit or encourage pregnancies as needed.

While misogyny certainly existed back then, it grew exponentially with the Roman Empire converting to Christianity—and controlled by (purportedly) celibate, cloistered men. After all, German monk Martin Luther (95 Theses) said “let [women] bear children to death. … They were created for that.” Although Catholic church policy was against birth control, some leaders like Saint Augustine of Hippo believed abortion was acceptable before a clearly human shape formed or the “ensoulment” of a fetus occurred.

For witches, Saint Thomas includes French midwife, abortion provider, and fortuneteller Catherine Monvoisin, who also provided deadly poisons and performed Black Masses for her clients. She was burned at the stake for witchcraft in 1680. In more modern times, Laurie Cabot (b. 1933) was designated the Official Witch of Salem in 1977 by the Massachusetts governor.

For witch hunts, Saint Thomas relies on Stacy Schiff’s The Witches: Salem 1692—a book lambasted by Jane Kamensky in the New York Times—causing her to repeat debunked information. For example, trial documents refer to Tituba as an Indian servant. After being released from jail, she disappears from the historical record yet later becomes known as Tituba the Black Witch of Salem. Saint Thomas says, “this indicates that she was associated with black magic … [but] it could also have a more straightforward explanation: her skin color.” Fifty years ago, Chadwick Hansen proved that Tituba’s metamorphosis from an Indian to a Black person occurred and was based on prevalent 19th-century racism, which in turn made Tituba the scapegoat for the Salem witch trials (New England Quarterly, March 1974).

For centuries, witches have been associated with Satan, since the (female) witch’s power comes from her pact with the (male) Devil. Between Anton LaVey’s Church of Satan and the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, Saint Thomas shows how wild ideas about devil-worshipping sex groups, Black Masses, and child sacrifices became rampant in the news.

And that’s how the Christian right uses Americans’ fears to demonize any person or movement supporting reproductive rights.

Written in a pop-history style, Saint Thomas makes accessible 4,000 years of health care. With Roe v. Wade overturned in 2022, reproductive justice is on the ballot in 2024. And the difference between Republican and Democratic platforms are starkly different. As a reminder, Saint Thomas points out that Justice Samuel Alito cited 17th-century jurist Matthew Hale when announcing the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. “Hale asserted that marital rape could not constitute a crime.” Your vote matters.

Thanks to Running Press for the ARC.

[Mr. Book · Rating 2 out of 5]

You can also see this review, along with others I have written, at my blog, Mr. Book's Book Reviews.

Thank you, Running Press, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Mr. Book just finished Reproductive Rites: The Real-Life Witches and Witch Hunts in the Centuries-Long Fight for Abortion, by Sophie Saint Thomas.

This book, about anti-abortion proponents and other oppressors of women was a tale of two books. The first half or so was an unpleasant read. There was some good information, but it was lost in the writing style. The book read as though it was written by an immature high school, or middle school, student who was writing just for shock value and thought she was smarter than she really is. Then, once the book got into the past couple of centuries, the tone got better, but still had an occassional lapse.

This content would have been a lot better if it was in the hands of a different author. So, I only able to give this book a C. Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, a C equates to 2 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).

This review has been posted at NetGalley, Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews

Mr. Book finished reading this on October 14, 2024.

[Cathleen Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out well. I enjoyed the author's voice. She uses modern slang and cultural references along with humour in an engaging manner. As the book went on, it felt like watching a ping pong game. See this issue with birth control, now over here there are Satanists, back to abortion as health care, now back to Salem and witch hunts. Purporting to be a historical perspective, a call to arms is found in the conclusion but generally the threads were loosely woven.
The author doesn't like the pink pussy hat folks (mentioned a couple of times). Maybe she is missing a piece about them. They got off their duff and made a public statement which was a first for some.
While ancient history happened in the ancient world, so obvs that was the setting of the earlier book, the modern day issues are entirely focused on what is happening in the US. Nothing about Africa, Europe, Asia or even the neighbours Mexico and Canada. This made it another foray into American exceptionalism. So depending on your "why" for reading this, you might pass.

[Alyssa Downer-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Reproductive Rites” by Sophie Saint Thomas is a thought-provoking and timely exploration of the intersection between witchcraft, body autonomy, and the ongoing struggle for reproductive rights. As someone interested in these topics, I found the book both engaging and empowering. Saint Thomas skillfully intertwines historical witch hunts with contemporary battles for abortion rights, drawing parallels that deeply resonate with today’s political and social climate. Her portrayal of the strength and resilience of those fighting for autonomy over their bodies is truly inspiring. While some sections felt repetitive, overall, it’s a compelling read that offers a fresh perspective on this important conversation. If you’re passionate about these issues, I highly recommend checking this book out!

***Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for gifting me an eARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Chrissi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Sophie Saint Thomas and I’m very passionate about reproductive rights, but this book was a chore to get through, particularly the first half. She certainly did her research, but I felt like I was reading a term paper at times. I definitely perked up by the 20th century though. The title was a bit misleading in regard to real-life witches, and that was the main reason I wanted to read this book. Saint Thomas writes great witchy pieces, but here she was more focused on packing in all the abortion facts. There were so many pages of citations and resources that my kindle was confused and thought I had 40 minutes of reading left. It is quite timely, so I would recommend it if you want to brush up on your knowledge about the rights that are being yanked from all women. 4 stars because we can’t afford to be ignorant now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Running Press for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first received my copy of this book, I skipped around and read some of the chapters that were the most interesting to me then, I decided to start back at page one and go through making my own little notes of things I wanted to look up as I go to learn more. I found a lot of this book to be very interesting for different time periods. I really liked reading about the witch hunts and Eugenics in chapters 3 & 4. There are many sources listed in the back of the book to delve further into specific topics discussed in the book.
I also liked resources and places to donate was added in the back to help keep pushing the reader to explore further outward to more organizations and get involved. I am pro-choice, which is what really brought me to want to read this book and learn a lot more of the historical time periods that reproductive rights are intertwined into. Thank you, Goodreads Giveaways for the gifted copy.

[Mette Løkeland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Som den abortnerden eg er så vart eg nyfiken på historia kring heksejakt og abort. Gjennomgåande kan vi seie at menn og samfunnet har mistrudd kvinner når det gjeld fertilitet og abort. Abort har eksistert til alle tider og har i varierande grad vore straffa og forsøkt kontrollert. Det er først i moderne tid vi har fått trygge og effektive metodar. Menn har også frykta seksualiteten til kvinner og slått ned på dei som ikkje har latt seg kontrollere ved mellom anna å skulde dei for hekseri. Bok går gjennom historia frå faraoane til notid. Notidig heksejakt og «satanisme» kan opplevast fjernt frå Noreg, men det er ikkje heilt slik i USA der stadig fleire kvinner mister rettar og mister livet i svangerskapet som konsekvens av dette.

[Zoe Zaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit light and circuitous, almost stream of consciousness, for my taste, but a fun read. Needs a better editor, change all "pro-life" instances to "forced-birth", and how about calling out the evil geniuses who invented the idea of "late term abortion"; as an OB/GYN, I can tell you that isn't a thing. If a woman needs to no longer be pregnant close to term, we call that induction of labor or cesarean section, or more generally BIRTH! Unfortunately, this book does not include effective hexes to use against Justices Cavanaugh and Alito and their ilk. And I would personally warn against dancing naked in the woods, unless you have access to spells against ticks, poisonous plants, and camera-toting neighbors.

[Maeve Wiesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. this was really interesting as someone who knows a lot about abortion and repro and very little about witches. i think it maybe bit off a little more than it could chew, sometimes she said one name when she meant another or described something that happened in the 90s as reagan era. normally that wouldn’t bug me too much but there were so many names and dates to keep track of as i read that it was confusing. i definitely learned a lot and will have to do some more research on the satanic temple’s abortion clinic??? cool as hell

[Moira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exactly how I wish academic papers were formatted. Jam packed with information and history about witches and abortion rights written in a way that’s accessible for all readers. With jokes and profanities sprinkled in, it keeps you engaged and helps to articulate the important points. This is an important history for anyone who supports the pro-choice movement.

[Tawny Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie St. Thomas tackles several incredibly difficult subjects (Satanism! Abortion! Witches! Politics!) and thoughtfully shares her research in easy-to-digest writing. I'm blown away by the research that she did for this book. Brava, Sophie!

[Frankie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Damn, I really wanted to love this book but I just didn’t. While it was very deeply researched, it felt poorly written and feels like it needed another edit. Too many run-on sentences and tangents, and I found the written voice of the author irritating and distracting. Good effort, poor execution.

[Nav · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tone isn't neutral (so if you don't agree or aren't willing to engage with other POVs, give it a pass).

[Kaitlin Klak]

DNF. the writing in this was way too scatterbrained. i’m so sad because i was really into the topic but this was borderline unreadable and totally lost the plot early on 😩

[Jupiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9

[S. Wigget · Rating 5 out of 5]

The humorous and conversational writing style makes this history of reproductive rights, the occult, and witch hunts hard to put down.

When I reached the point where it's about forced birthers bombing clinics, it was triggering. Since it's a history book rather than current events (unlike Jessica Valenti's new book), it wasn't triggering up to that point.

The book definitely confirms my dislike of Alastair Crowley. #misogynistsbecrazy

[Valerie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and author for the free copy via Giveaways!
The book was very interesting and informative. I wanted to love it, and the content was good, but somewhat uneven. I put it down for several months initially- the content in the first part in particular seemed all over the place, almost ranting. That said, if ever there was a time for a rant… we all should be angry.

The later parts of the book felt better organized and were easier for me to follow and digest. Overall good content, bumpy flow.

[tapewitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great topic and interesting content. The writing (the organization in particular) will be a struggle for many - this is best for people who like to meander and feel open to learning historical tidbits. This is not ideal for academics, or folks wanting clear subsections or a tidy historical timeline. The content is so important, so some readers will appreciate learning about new historical figures.