Behind Every Choice Is a Story (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "My mother visited me in New York City a few years ago..." (more)
Key Phrases: jelly woman, global gag rule, childbearing choices, Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Behind Every Choice is a Story will change how America talks about reproductive rights. Gloria's book inspires us to heed the clarlon call, tell our stories and raise our voices together." - Kathleen Turner

Product Description

Behind Every Choice Is a Story is a poignant blend of personal stories, commentary, and memoir that chronicles the life-changing reproductive choices that women, men, and teens make every day. The book also traces Gloria Feldt's personal journey from the dusty oil fields of West Texas to becoming a Head Start teacher and activist in the civil rights and women's movement, culminating in her current standing as one of the most influential voices in the reproductive freedom movement. The book was inspired by the 1928 Motherhood in Bondage, a collection of letters written by women to Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood. Publishing these letters from women in desparate circumstances helped to equate the concept of birth control with higher values of wanted children, healthy mothers, loving couples, self realization, and female emancipation. Behind Every Choice Is a Story addresses many of those same issues and values and advances a new agenda for the twenty-first century. Behind Every Choice Is a Story sounds a clarion call by highlighting the importance of storytelling as a cultural force in encouraging change. Feldt recognizes and values women's stories for their personal, social, and political importance. The book uniquely positions current issues of reproductive freedom in the context of everyday experiences and provides a refreshing new framework to understand the current political and social landscape. Although the primary audience for this book is women who support reproductive freedom, a wide audience including men and teens will find their experiences among the compelling stories. It will also appeal to those who are intrigued by the unique perspective the book gives to the real-life impact of reproductive choices.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 242 pages
• Publisher: University of North Texas Press; 1 edition (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574411586
• ISBN-13: 978-1574411584
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,177,935 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sincere discussion of what is really at stake, March 22, 2003

By A Customer

Too much of the debate around abortion and reproductive choice have missed the real issue: individual lives and choices are complicated and the freedom to make the right choice is what is at stake. This book describes real people making real, difficult decisions. It reminds us why the Supreme Court was right in recognizing that reproductive freedom is one of the most basic, fundamental rights of our citizens. Read Behind Every CHoice is A Story and remember that this is what it is all about: real people, real lives, and real choices. If you want to learn more about what the struggle is about, read this book.

30 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best reads in a long time., June 8, 2003

By	Rocio Cortez (Los Angeles, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

I have never read a book as insightful and human than this book, and what it expressed.
It doesn't press the ideals of pro-choicers (for those of you who are pro-life), but instead, it gives a face to the people affected by these vary issues that so many people argue about today; people who have never and will never go through what so many woman have gone through.
All too often we forget that there are people (and their stories) behind such things as abortion, adoption, birth control, health care, child care, ecetera.
[...]
This book give a voice and a familiar face to the millions of women (the "common everyday woman")who you never get to hear speak on or during political debates.
It's a must for anyone who wants to understand the real dynamics of issues that pertain to, and affect women.

34 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elevating Our Most Contentious Debate, February 12, 2003

By	Rev. Stephen J. Mather (Anaheim, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Finally, a book that transcends the shrill debate about abortion and reproductive rights. Gloria Feldt cites "living human documents" -- real first person stories -- to support her thesis that people are best left alone from intrusive "big brother" government or ecclesiastical "father knows best" edicts to make their own personal decisions about bringing a child into the world. The power of her ground breaking narrative (including references to her own life) is to lift the level of discourse from ethereal realms to the day to day struggles of women, teens and families living out their values in shifting, ambiguous contexts. The last thing they need is to have their consciences be accountable to a "higher authority." Gloria Feldt's "Behind Every Choice Is a Story" may serve as a welcome elixir to energize the pro-choice movement at this momentous time; ironically, it may also provide a bridge for opposing factions to dialogue about these stories of people who don't fit into neat black and white categories and perhaps seek common ground on the need to promote realistic sex education.