Ever since Roe v. Wade was decided by the Supreme Court in 1973, it has been under threat of rollbacks and restrictions. The Hyde Amendment, enacted just four years after Roe, may be the most widely known example. Although many of us had been expecting the new conservative majority on the Supreme Court to overturn Roe, the Dobbs decision still came as quite a blow to the rights of anyone able to become pregnant. Limiting abortion access and reproductive care will have far-reaching implications for countless people, families and communities. While there may be more questions than answers at this point, the library can serve as an important space to find resources and information about both the history and future of abortion access in the U.S.
Public libraries are often one of the first places people turn to when they are seeking information, whether they come to chat with library workers at the reference desk or access our free books and resources in private. As trusted neighborhood spaces, public libraries also play a key role in the health and well-being of the communities we serve. We stock our shelves with books about navigating illness and seeking care, we hand out free COVID tests, we host workshops on menstruation and parenthood health and so much more.
In the months and years to come, many community members may be turning to their local library once again to find the information they need in a post-Roe world. Below are some book suggestions and resources that will hopefully provide context for what reproductive rights and access to care have looked like throughout U.S. history, what led us to the Supreme Court’s recent ruling and what is at stake for reproductive rights and overall community health going forward. For a list on this topic, please check out our booklist, Reproductive Injustice.
A quick note
We have deliberately chosen to use non-gendered terms where possible in our post for a very important reason: Trans, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming people are frequently left out of these conversations and networks of support. Not every person who can give birth is a woman and many cisgender women out there choose not to, or cannot, give birth. It is important to broaden the conversation to include people who use the term mother, as well as birthing parents who use other terms, because we are all impacted by these issues and we are stronger together.
Books
The Turnaway Study written by Dr. Diana Greene Foster
How does having an abortion or being denied one impact someone’s life? In The Turnaway Study, Dr. Diana Greene Foster offers a window into the lived experiences of people who seek out abortions. Dr. Foster shares her findings from a comprehensive ten-year study of the long-term impact of abortion access on the lives of women and pregnant people, one of the most expansive studies of its kind ever. This book is for anyone looking to better understand the personal, economic and health outcomes of people who have had abortions or were denied care.
Check the CatalogStory of Jane written by Laura Kaplan
Story of Jane offers an in-depth look into the underground Chicago group that helped thousands of people get an abortion in the years before Roe v. Wade made such services legal. Written by a former member of Jane, and featuring interviews with many of the women who quietly worked to provide these services, this book is a testament to the power of community organizing and care. It offers a glimpse into the pre-Roe era and what lengths people may have to go to again to help others find the care they need. To learn more about the Jane Collective and their work to provide safe abortions, check out this free zine from Crimethinc.
Check the CatalogUnder The Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation written by Linda Villarosa
While the new Supreme Court ruling will likely have disastrous effects on the health of women and pregnant people across the U.S., for many Black women the system has never provided equal access to care. In Under The Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation, Linda Villarosa charts the cruel legacy of slavery and structural racism on Black health. As more conversations arise about reproductive health, it will be even more important to center Black voices and experiences in accessing care.
Check the CatalogI Know What's Best for You: Stories on Reproductive Freedom written by Shelly Oria
I Know What's Best for You: Stories on Reproductive Freedom is an impactful collection of creative and nonfiction writings edited by Shelly Oria, in collaboration with the Brigid Alliance. Each story presents a different experience with reproductive care, highlighting the myriad ways in which abortion access can impact individual lives across the U.S. I Know What’s Best for You All Over the World is a supplemental online collection of writings from international authors. In Poland, a country that lost the right to legal abortion nearly 30 years ago, one activist recounts what it is like to navigate reproductive care in a country where abortion is illegal. She writes, “You don’t want kids? That’s your problem. You want children? That’s also your problem. And again, those who have money can and will go to neighboring countries for surgery, and the rest will use home methods or pills ordered on the internet to try to terminate the pregnancy.” Her words offer a stark warning for what may come next here in the U.S.
Check the Catalog
A People's History of the Supreme Court written by Peter Irons
A People's History of the Supreme Court provides information and insight into cases and the justices who have served. This book is thorough and quite heavy on history, so if you want to skip to some of the major cases around reproductive rights, check out the sections on Griswold v. Connecticut, Roe v. Wade, Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and Stenberg v. Carhart. For more court cases, check out the ACLU’s Timeline of Important Reproductive Freedom Cases.
Check the Catalog"Abortion and contraception are not new. They are not a product of modernity or rising secularism or a reflection of the downfall of the traditional family. Throughout history, [people] have chosen to limit their families for the sake of their health, happiness, and economic viability... Sexual values surrounding abortion and birth control have changed with time and cultures, a historical truth that everyone on the political spectrum must recognize."—From Scarlet Letters: Getting the History of Abortion and Contraception Right
Want to learn more? These online resources are a great place to start!
- Abortion Finder Directory
- Abortion isn't just a women's issue
- Auntie Network on Reddit
- Being an Abortion Doula
- Haven Coalition
- Center for Brooklyn History Blog: 1950's Anti-Abortion Extortionists
- Know Your Rights: Reproductive Health Care (Government website)
- National LGBTQ Task Force - Queering Reproductive Justice
- NARAL Pro-Choice America
- National Network of Abortion Funds
- Plan C Pills
- Planned Parenthood - Fact Sheets and Reports
- Pew Research Center - Public Opinion on Abortion
- Pro-choice playlist (YouTube)
Djaz Frederick Zulida is a trans librarian, labor studies student and a fan of pirate shows. They believe in the role of the library to support learning and understanding complex current issues and believe in bodily autonomy for all humans.
Maura Johnson is a public librarian with a background in oral history and labor organizing. She sees libraries as key spaces for community health. When not at her local library branch, she can be found biking around brooklyn and helping out in her community garden.