Controlling women : what we must do now to save reproductive freedom

Title:

Author:

Summary:

"While Roe v. Wade is a household name in America, few are aware of the impact of Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the Supreme Court's 1992 ruling that preserved but redefined and substantially limited abortion rights, especially for the most marginalized women. Casey rather than Roe has established the constitutional standards that today govern abortion in the U.S. When pundits talk about the reversal of Roe, they really mean the reversal of Casey. Within the next two years and likely far sooner, we are going to lose the protections of Roe and Casey. Through state legislation, the appointment of hundreds of anti-abortion federal judges, and the rapidly changing makeup of the Supreme Court, reproductive freedom has never been in more dire straits. Legal titans Kathryn Kolbert and Julie F. Kay share the story of one of the most divisive issues in American politics through behind-the-scenes personal narratives of the stunning losses and hard-earned victories in landmark abortion rights cases. They chronicle how a convergence of Supreme Court appointments and the strategies of political movements on both sides of this contentious debate have led us to a make-or-break moment for legal abortion in the United States. Most urgently, they propose a bold new strategy for engaging a fresh generation and broadening the scope of abortion rights supporters."-- Provided by publisher.

Edition:

First edition.

Contents:

Introduction -- Gender, sex, race, and power: why abortion matters -- A Texas-sized win: Roe v. Wade -- A high five from the Supremes: the surprising story of Planned Parenthood v. Casey (Kitty) -- A Roe-shaped piñata: five decades of abortion litigation in the U.S. -- Dr. Jekyll and representative Hyde: the battle over government funding for abortion -- The kids are not all right: states limit teen access to sex education, birth control, and abortion -- Death by a thousand pinpricks: attacks on clinics and doctors move abortion further out of reach -- In-your-face politics: abortion bans inflame the debate -- A wolf at the door: new Supreme Court majority puts procreative and sexual freedoms at risk -- Meanwhile, across the pond: a human rights approach to abortion (Julie) -- New tactics, new triumphs: time for big ambitions -- Give me an "A!": abortion access for all -- And the nominees are...: ten steps forward -- Fueling an audacious and inclusive movement: reproductive freedom in the twenty-first century.

Physical Description:

viii, 296 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 22 cm

Subject Term:

Abortion.

Women's rights.

Author(s):

Kay, Julie F.,

Publisher:

Hachette Books,

Publication Date:

2021

ISBN:

9780306925634

Publication Information:

New York : Hachette Books, 2021.

Call Number:

362.198 KOLBERT

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003524298	Adult Nonfiction	362.198 KOLBERT	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

From two lawyers at the forefront of the reproductive rights movement, this fully updated book shares bold strategies meant to help restore and expand reproductive and sexual rights.

Reproductive freedom has never been in more dire straits. Roe v. Wade protected abortion rights and Planned Parenthood v. Casey unexpectedly preserved them. Yet in the following decades these rights have been gutted by restrictive state legislation, the appointment of hundreds of anti-abortion judges, and violence against abortion providers. Today, the ultra-conservative majority at the Supreme Court has overturned our most fundamental reproductive protections.

With Roe toppled, abortion is now a criminal offense in nearly one-third of the United States. At least six states have enacted bans on abortion as early as six weeks of pregnancy--before many women are even aware they are pregnant. Today, 89% of U.S. counties do not have a single abortion provider, in part due to escalating violence and intimidation aimed at disrupting services. We should all be free to make these personal and private decisions that affect our lives and wellbeing without government interference or bias, but we can no longer depend on Roe v. Wade and the federal courts to preserve our liberties.

Legal titans Kathryn Kolbert and Julie F. Kay share the story of one of the most divisive issues in American politics through behind-the-scenes personal narratives of stunning losses, hard-earned victories, and moving accounts of women and health care providers at the heart of nearly five decades of legal battles. Kolbert and Kay propose audacious new strategies inspired by medical advances, state-level protections, human rights models, and activists across the globe whose courage and determination are making a difference.

No more banging our heads against the Court's marble walls. It is time for a new direction.

Author Notes

Kathryn Kolbert has had a long and distinguished career advancing women's rights. In 1992, she made her second appearance before the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing Planned Parenthood v. Casey , the landmark case that has been widely credited with saving Roe v. Wade . A co-founder of the Center for Reproductive Rights and the Athena Film Festival, she also created NPR's Justice Talking and the Athena Center for Leadership at Barnard College.

Julie F. Kay began her legal career at the Center for Reproductive Rights and has spent the ensuing decades developing innovative legal and policy initiatives to advance gender equality and religious freedom in the U.S. and internationally. She helped lay the groundwork for the legalization of abortion in Ireland through the first direct challenge to the country's absolute ban before the European Court of Human Rights and has fought for legal reform to protect the parenting rights of people leaving ultra-religious communities.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

In light of the threat that the Supreme Court's new "ultra-conservative majority" poses to Roe v. Wade, attorneys Kolbert, who cofounded the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Kay, who argued against Ireland's total ban on abortion at the European Court of Human Rights, make a powerful case for rethinking the legal and political strategies "for gaining equal access to a wider range of reproductive freedoms." The authors discuss their work on key cases including Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), describe the targeting of state laws that restrict abortion access as legal "whack-a-mole," and note that 10 state legislatures have already passed "trigger laws" that will effectively ban abortion if and when Roe is overturned. They propose a set of ambitious legislative tactics to replace the rallying cry of "save Roe," including a Gender Equity Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; the repeal of the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for abortion services; and an explicit shield against criminal liability for women who have abortions. Kolbert and Kay also call on activists and policymakers to widen the reproductive rights agenda to include affordable childcare, reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, and improved sex education. This impassioned and well-argued rallying cry rings loud and clear. (July)

Library Journal Review

Kolbert and Kay, both attorneys who have spent their legal careers in service of reproductive justice, co-author a concise and pragmatic discourse on abortion rights. Their book is neither reassuring nor despairing, and the authors outline steps for activists to take in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned by a conservative federal judiciary. Kolbert and Kay write that Roe's overturn is an inevitability, not a fear or suspicion. Their book is not intended to convince anti-abortion stalwarts to change their minds; it is written as a blueprint for advocates of reproductive justice. The steps it outlines go beyond access to contraception or abortion clinics; taking a holistic approach, it emphasizes the need for universal health care and affordable child care. Kolbert and Kay note throughout the book that the people most impacted by a ban on abortion will be people of color and impoverished people in rural areas, as part of their argument that reproductive justice activism must factor in the needs of LGBTQ families and be trans-inclusive. VERDICT The authors make clear that the ability to determine for oneself how and when to bear children is a human right and is essential to a person's agency over their own life and future. An essential guide; recommended for all collections.--Barrie Olmstead, Lewiston P.L., ID

Introduction	p. 1
1 Gender, Sex, Race, and Power: Why Abortion Matters	p. 6
2 A Texas-Sized Win: Roe v. Wade	p. 20
3 A High Five from the Supremes: The Surprising Story of Planned Parenthood v. Casey (Kitty)	p. 38
4 A Roe-Shaped Piñata: Five Decades of Abortion Litigation in the US	p. 63
5 Dr. Jekyll and Representative Hyde: The Battle over Government Funding for Abortion	p. 70
6 The Kids Are Not All Right: States Limit Teen Access to Sex Education, Birth Control, and Abortion	p. 86
7 Death by a Thousand Pinpricks: Attacks on Clinics and Doctors Move Abortion Further Out of Reach	p. 100
8 In-Your-Face Politics: Abortion Bans Inflame the Debate	p. 116
9 A Wolf at the Door: New Supreme Court Majority Puts Procreative and Sexual Freedoms at Risk	p. 130
10 Meanwhile, Across the Pond: A Human Rights Approach to Abortion (Julie)	p. 146
11 New Tactics, New Triumphs: Now It's Time for Big Ambitions	p. 168
12 Give Me an Al: Abortion Access for All	p. 183
13 And the Nominees Are ... : Ten Steps Forward	p. 200
14 Fueling an Audacious and Inclusive Movement: Reproductive Freedom in the Twenty-First Century	p. 219
Acknowledgments	p. 231
Authors' Note	p. 235
Notes	p. 237
Index	p. 283

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Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Library Journal Review

Table of Contents