New Handbook for a Post-Roe America: The Complete Guide to Abortion Legality, Access, and Practical Support

by Robin Marty, Amanda Palmer (Foreword)

The New Handbook for a Post-Roe America is a comprehensive and user-friendly manual for understanding and preparing for the looming changes to reproductive rights law, and getting the health care you need. Activist and writer Robin Marty guides readers through various worst-case scenarios of a post-Roe America, and offers ways to fight back, including: how to acquire financial support, how to use existing networks and create new ones, and how to, when required, work outside existing legal systems. She details how to plan for your own emergencies, how to start organizing now, what to know about self-managed abortion care with pills and/or herbs, and how to avoid surveillance. The only guidebook of its kind, The New Handbook for a Post-Roe America includes new chapters that cover the needs and tools available for pregnant people across the country.

This second edition features extensively updated information on abortion legality and access in the United States, and approximately one hundred pages of new content, covering such topics as independent alternatives to Planned Parenthood, "auntie networks," taxpayer-funded abortions, and using social media wisely in the age of surveillance.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Politics, Social Justice, Health, Gender, Activism

320 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2021

Reviews

[Jung · Rating 4 out of 5]

[4 stars] A compendium of policy, advocacy, and practical information on abortion rights and access in the U.S., both leading up to and in the event of the possible SCOTUS overturning of the Roe v. Wade judicial precedent. Published as an update to a similarly-titled handbook in 2021, this brief reference can be used in a number of ways: as a personal pregnancy options tool, in the absence of or in addition to an abortion doula (or however an emotional and practical support person may refer to themselves), for direct action and legislative advocacy planning (though current law may have changed), and/or to learn more about the social, cultural, and political context and history of abortion in the U.S. Each chapter includes worksheets that, if someone is looking to do a TL;DR skim, provide useful step-by-step checklist guides for each area; the ones for abortion seekers in the early chapters and on digital privacy and security in a later chapter are extremely useful.

A couple of notes, that feel very insider baseball because of my proximity to abortion doula work and reproductive justice movements, but might not be as relevant to other readers: I wish that the book had put information about abortion funds and Black women / women of color-led reproductive justice work earlier than it did, and especially earlier than a long chapter on how to get involved through legislation and voting, and that there was a more intentional acknowledgement that many abortion seekers are already living where abortion care is hard, if not nearly impossible, to access (i.e. they're already "post-Roe"). I also acknowledge that the author, Robin Marty, published a 2019 Politico op-ed entitled "I Am a Abortion Rights Activist. I Hope the Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade." that was understandably not well-received by all abortion rights and access organizers and advocates, especially Black women and other women of color. Despite this op-ed, which I also side-eye with a long glance, The New Handbook... is a practical and useful tool that shares some much needed information in this, and more than likely a future, moment.

Recommended for abortion seekers, abortion supporters, and abortion rights and access advocates looking for a quick and short(ish) explainer on types of procedures, funding support processes, state-by-state laws, direct action tips, and ways to volunteer or get more involved.

Goodreads Challenge 2022: 18/52
Popsugar Reading Challenge: can be read in one sitting
Nonfiction Reading Challenge: popular science

[Jai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended for anyone interested in learning about ways to advocate,support and help if Roe is overturned. It also gives value resources for questions you may have about obtaining abortion pills, civil disobedience and how to do a MVA.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book every pro-choice American should have on their shelves.

[Holly | Raise Your Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

​-- 5/5 Stars -- ★★★★★

Trigger Warnings for The New Handbook for a Post-Roe America​: ​Sexual assault, abortion, miscarriage, reproductive rights

The New Handbook for a Post-Roe America: The Complete Guide to Abortion Legality, Access, and Practical Support by Robin Marty is a book perfectly summed up by it's title. This book depicts what individuals can do with the end of Roe V. Wade. What is in our power as individuals? What resources are at our disposal?

This book was everything I needed. Seriously, you should see my copy it is highlighted and tabbed to hell! Prior to reading The New Handbook for a Post-Roe America, I would have considered myself highly versed in Title IX, Roe V. Wade, and reproductive rights as a whole. I adored how this book explained everything and empowered me to learn more. The quote below really hit home for me while reading this:

"Ultimately, it is up to activists to decide - are we willing to break convention if lobbying fails? Are we willing to strategically expose ourselves to the risk of arrest? And if we are not, are we willing to look into the eyes of the future generations who will be incarcerated for abortions, miscarriages, and pregnancy complications?"

I needed this. I loved this. I would and will recommend it to everyone I know worried about their rights. As a uterus owner, this is a cause near and dear to my heart. That being said, it should be for everyone.

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[Honore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of important information and ways to apply it to your life via their worksheets at the end of chapters. This held me find resources in my own state and provides lots of DIY info.

[Laine C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly informative! Mix of politics and policy, reproductive justice, and science. I’m not usually into this type of nonfiction but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some very useful practical information on accessing abortion, including self-managed abortion, legal restrictions by state (written in 2021), and how to engage with abortion policy and advocacy. Marty is vehemently against clinic defense, which falls flat in a book that includes so much radical information about civil disobedience.

[Nakedfartbarfer]

Less of a page turner and more for reference. Everyone knows to delete period trackers, but I didn't realize there were abortion doulas.

I'm not sure if the section about NOT defending clinics is, like, academically sound, but it's the only thesis I've read.

Either way, nice to have on hand. Reading this during Biden's lame duck transition lowered my cortisol by about .05%.

[Anna Humphreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get this on your bookshelf… while you still can!!!

I DEEPLY appreciate the variety of practical information here ranging from typical activism tactics to more hands-on strategies. As we enter a very scary stage of American fascism, it is essential for every pro-choice person to have a handbook like this.

[Vanessa Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am *still* enraged that a book like this is necessary. But, here we are thanks to Mitch McConnell and DJT, the latter of whom most certainly is responsible for a former mistress or several having abortions.

Be safe out there, friends. And pass this book along to your friends and family, especially your daughters.

And remember to register and vote.

[Christie Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for anyone involved or interested in the abortion world. Or anyone who cares about human rights and/or the government stripping access to essential healthcare. Aka everyone should read this.

[Rachel-RN · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was first published in 2018 and updated in 2021. With laws passed in 2021 and 2022 (included the overturn of Roe) this is even more relevant. In a nutshell, here are helpful links (gleaned from the book). I do recommend this book if you believe in a woman's right to make her own choice. This book does a good job talking through different things to think about dependent on what action you chose (protest/civil disobedience/etc) and what your comfort level is.
The following websites were mentioned (and I visited them to look at them) and might be helpful:
https://postroehandbook.com/ (this site is from the author of the book (I think); lots of different links which were also in this book)
https://www.ineedana.com/ (gives resources to abortion providers closest to you; they will ask for age, zip code, and week since last period)
https://beforeandafterabortion.com/ (I think this is self-explanatory, it talks you through your options)
https://reproaction.org/resources/ & https://reproaction.org/fakeclinicdat...
https://abortionfunds.org/ (can search by state to find/donate to a local fund)
https://alloptionsprc.org/ (Indiana)
https://www.aafront.org/ (Abortion Access Front)
https://www.weareplannedparenthoodact...
https://abortionpillinfo.org/ (self managed abortion how to)
https://www.ifwhenhow.org/ (reproductive justice)
https://www.sistersong.net/ (reproductive justice with focus on Indigenous women)
https://www.yellowhammerfund.org/ (Fund supporting the Deep South)
https://www.plancpills.org/ (Abortion pills)

I will admit to supporting more "local" groups. I recommend The Northwest Abortion Fund: https://nwaafund.org/ (Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alaska)

[Elia · Rating 3 out of 5]

i picked this up when roe was overturned and i was feeling shaky about everything. it didn't help, exactly, but that's because this is first and foremost a collection of information. there is no particular style or power to the prose here, but that's not really the point, to be fair. i do think the final chapter ought to be first, and there ought to be an afterward. i'm also curious how much information is out of date re certain orgs since 2021, but there is still plenty of worth here. of course, if i were to be truly cautious, i wouldn't post this review at all; i'd remove this book from my borrowing history (it's WILD to me that it's on hoopla!!) and here also. but i think it's important to recognise resources that exist, and this is a trove of information for anyone who might become pregnant, in the us or even abroad.

[Kristen Wunder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure, Robin Marty is an old college friend, but I am pretty confident that this review is unbiased.
This is such a phenomenal and important book. Very readable despite literally being a handbook. Clear and concise language make it very easy to understand even the medical portions. Marty's attention to racial issues is commendable, as is her inclusive language. Everyone concerned about accessing abortion should own this book.

[Natalie Dunn-Billings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed a few days to digest this book before I could review it. It is essential, terrifying, comprehensive, and humbling. As a person who is no longer able to become pregnant (by choice), I have never been more grateful for that circumstance. This book made me incredibly angry, but also helped me feel empowered to understand every nuance of the Right's attack on bodily autonomy and how to help someone who may need or want an abortion in a Post-Roe world. If you are a person who can become pregnant, or love someone who is, and you want to protect your right to an abortion (and contraceptives, medical autonomy, etc) this book should be required reading.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive breakdown of abortion access in a post-Roe America. Goes through different ways to get involved and safety.

[Rhonda Ketterling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty comprehensive. Good reference material and probably worth being on the shelf of everyone who believes in women’s rights. I am 70, a physician, and I learned a few new things. I read this in preparation for a book discussion and in hopes of becoming more politically active in this area.

[Erin Crawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful book to provide actionable steps on supporting womxn through this tough time.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must have information for every person in America. With the constantly changing situation across states, it would be wise to read the latest version available.

-" When it comes to abortion being illegal - it does not stop people from seeking it, it only divides them into those who have the resources to find a safe abortion where it is legal, and those who attempt illegal abortions with a variety of success."
-"Lack of access to safe, legal abortion does and will continue to kill those who have unwanted pregnancies - and it will be marginalized communities lacking the financial resources to find alternative methods that will suffer the most."
-Distributing Emergency Contraception is available regardless of gender or age and without ID. Report any issues with purchasing to the National Women's Law Center 866-745-5487 or coverher@nwlc.org.
-According to Guttmacher Institute, the rate or unintended pregnancy among the poor is five times the rate of unintended pregnancy among those of higher income levels, and the rate among the Black community is more than double that of the white community.
-"Taxpayers will always be forced to fund programs they disagree with. Taxes fund wars, jails, bailouts for the rich, stadiums and sports arenas and all sorts of programs to oppose. Yet somehow a moral objection by a minority of Americans to the legal act of terminating a pregnancy has become an issue so sacrosanct that abortions has been removed line by line from the entire US tax code. That's not a reasonable moral objection, that's weaponizing a political view.
-Abortion doulas offer assistance to individuals inside and outside of clinics.
-More than 1/3rd of ob-gyn residency programs do not offer routine abortion training. Alumni, especially donors, can contact local colleges and universities to advocate for abortion training.
-Medication abortion is an induced miscarriage with the same symptoms. There is no difference to how doctors treat complications, no laws mandating individuals or hospitals to report an abortion, and no test to show if a person has ingested medications meant to induce a miscarriage. *Patients should only disclose information they feel comfortable with sharing.
-The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service

Resources list:
-Ineedana (www.ineedana.com) offers links to resources for those who may need financial assistance, lodging, or help obtaining abortion care. Find the closest clinics to you.
-Guttmacher Institute to see which states require mandatory in-person visits
-FreethePill.org to identify online distribution channels for birth control
-Open-sourced list of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (https://reproaction.org/fakeclinicdat...)
-Model reproductive rights and health bills (http://publicleadershipinstitute.org/...)
-A Womb of One's Own (wombofonesown.wordpress.com) to create an emergency contraception dose using birth control pills
-National Network of Abortion Funds provides policy support, technical support, fundraising, and other resources to members while fighting against abortion-funding bans
-Interfaith Voices for Reproductive Justice (http://iv.4rj.org/)
-Aid Access is a doctor supported telemedicine service for self managed abortion
-Downloadable pdf explaining how to self manage an abortion (https://repoaction.org/wp-content/upl...)

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very straightforward and does exactly what it says. Incredibly prescient considering even this updated edition came out in 2021, before Dobbs, and the information on potential state restrictions is still pretty accurate. I had only small disagreements with some parts. The "Autonomous Pelvic Care" resource listed didn't have the same disclaimers as the other sections like on "herbal abortion" and all the descriptors on self-managed, non-medication abortion that laid out things like legal risks and it being not an endorsement, but when I looked at their website some of the things they offer include "herbal contraception" and other, questionable self-medication and self-diagnosing practices. My other issue was the intro by Amanda Palmer. Obviously, the author could not have foreseen the allegations against Palmer and Neil Gaiman. Completely separate from that, I was very uncomfortable that Palmer shared an abortion story that was not her own and did not indicate she had permission to share it, especially so widely. It's not even clear the person who told her had the permission to share that information with her, as it was about a 3rd person Palmer hadn't even known. She proceeds to describe being at a holiday party with this person and their family and wonders if the other family members even knew. It seems if Palmer didn't even know if other family members knew this person had recently had an abortion, she probably shouldn't have shared it in a widely available book, and didn't do a particularly good job of disguising the situation. For a book that separately did a great job running down how to protect your privacy and that of other people seeking or assisting in abortion care, it was oddly out of place.

[Natalie T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely helpful nuts-and-bolts guidebook for things a reader needs to consider regarding her own reproductive health and/or what sorts of assistance could be rendered in a wider social justice struggle (from the personal, such as rendering assistance or advice to a family member or friend, to the political, such as protesting, providing escort service at a clinic, etc.). Checklists are provided for what to consider before taking any steps (including how much bail money to have if you're planning to protest; how to stay safe if you're doing an online search, etc.; how to assess your own tolerance for risk).

The one flaw (not the writer's fault, but simply a function of when the book was published) is the dated nature of the information about where abortion is legal in the U.S. and what the deadlines and penalties are. This edition was published when it was clear Roe would fall but before the Dobbs decision was issued. Since then, there have been so many different restrictions in so many states that it is hard to keep up with the pace of change. Readers would be best advised to read the material on how to hide your online searches and then check the regulations in home and surrounding states.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book gives good information about balancing civil disobedience with how much the cops already target you. This is in addition to giving info about security culture, dealing with respectibility culture/avoiding lawsuits, listing a bunch of resources & information about all 50 states.

I think one of the most understated parts is that Roe was decided on the basis of the 4th Amendment Right to Privacy, which surveillance capitalists & the military complex have been successfully gutting so far for at least 20 years now. So for example, the part about printing everything out was a good idea.

So it's very helpful for the topic of abortion, and it's a good introductions to security culture & how to protest in plain sight.

[Madi Nichol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every person who is capable of reproduction should have this on their shelf (or at least have access to one via a friend’s book collection). An extremely accurate and (ACTUALLY) helpful guide to learning and navigating the healthcare/reproductive space as someone who is choosing to carry a pregnancy to term or not AND for the people around them supporting them either way. Even more painfully accurate now after Dobbs than when this second edition was released. Also, the teacher in me loved the short workbook-like questions after each chapter. Check for understanding! because this stuff is too important to not know inside and out.

[Em M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very few things could ever transport me back to being 18 years old like this book did.

Published in March of 2022, Marty's handbook spells out the situation intensity of Roe vs. Wade, as well as practical solutions to problems associated with the topic. For it's time, it's not a bad reference.

But the crisis is here. As we know, on June 24th, 2022, Roe vs. Wade was overturned in the United States Supreme Court (big fuck you to a select few judges), and the verdict on abortion was left to the states.

Somehow, I feel as small and as scared as I was in 2019, but the situation has gotten astronomically worse.

[Len Dietz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found some parts of the book to be informative. Namely, the sections about where to obtain emergency contraception, what organizations are doing abortion advocacy work across the US, and the importance of full-spectrum doula work. Most of this book was a miss. I found some of the book to be medically irresponsible with too much of a focus on voting Democrats into office (look where doing exactly that has landed us). I see what the section on race was attempting to do, but it was a sharp miss for me. Surprised this was recommended so many times by my beloveds!

[The Critical Conservative]

This book instructs girls on how to obtain illegal and unsafe, possibly life-threatening abortions. This should never have been published, as it is literally a guide to breaking the law. The author should go to prison, not only for three counts of fist degree murder, as she boasts to her three abortions in the very beginning of the book, but for instructing and encouraging other "pregnant people" how to murder their own children. This is absolutely disgusting and abhorrent. I felt positively sick after the first page.

[Samantha Plante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done, very informative about static topics like reproductive health definitions, including types of birth control and the menstrual cycle. The author also includes great explanations about the difference between reproductive rights and Reproductive Justice, and I appreciated their use of gender neutral language.

Naturally, a lot of the information regarding abortion legislation and court decisions as well as clinic info was out of date, but that’s no fault of the author. It would be quite difficult to have a continuously accurate print book in this sphere.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly practical and easy to read. Whether you want info on local abortion funds to get involved with, DIY abortion methods, or how to secure your technological privacy so that the government can't surveil you for hints that you had or aided an abortion (because unfortunately we're living in a Handmaids Tale meets 1984 hellscape now) this book almost certainly has something you didn't already know. I definitely recommend getting the most up-to-date version.

[Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview with specifics for each state and what was occurring at the time of its writing. Unfortunately politics has gotten out of control with states each being able to determine abortion laws... and many states overreaching, new laws being blocked by judges, and everything that comes with that.

[May Weinmaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most comprehensive guide to repro rights I’ve seen yet. From the history of legislation, self managed abortion, tech privacy, and how to figure out where your activism would be most helpful. It was HARD to read about Roe falling in the future tense though (this is a 2nd edition published in 20’). I’m suggesting this to everyone though, it’s been really helpful.