The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service (Paperback)

by Laura Kaplan (Author) "The first voice Jenny heard as the anesthetic lifted was the surgeon's, "The sterilization procedure was a success, and congratulations, you're eight weeks pregnant..." (more)
Key Phrases: induced miscarriages, inducing miscarriages, doing abortions, New York, Hyde Park, University of Chicago (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
From 1969 until January 1973, when the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, a pioneering group of Chicago feminists who called themselves "Jane" provided illegal access to abortions for thousands of women. Kaplan, who is now a lay midwife, joined Jane in 1971 as a counselor. Here she draws on her personal recollections and interviews with Jane members and clients and the doctors who performed the abortions to provide a well-written, detailed history of this radical group. Initially Jane was a referral agency only, but as demand grew, members became involved in counseling and attended clients' abortions, and some eventually trained to perform the abortions. Jane volunteers were convinced that women were entitled to control over their bodies, and they acted on their principles, despite the consequences. Several members were arrested in 1972, but the suit was dropped. Jane disbanded after abortion clinics became legal. A dramatic and important piece of women's history.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
From 1969 until the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling in 1973, a group of Chicago women formed a loose underground organization whose sole purpose was to aid women who needed abortions (then illegal, of course) in getting them as safely and inexpensively as possible. They called their referral service "Jane" and worked out a set of complicated procedures to keep both themselves and their clients out of jail. At first they handled referrals to willing doctors on a very limited basis-only three or four a week-but as word about Jane got around their business increased. Eventually the women were taught by an expert to do the abortions themselves, which enabled them to charge next to nothing to those in financial need. But the operations were not all they did; every one of the 11,000 women who came to Jane also received health education and counseling. As a study of this remarkable but little known phenomenon, this book will be of value to anyone interested in women's health, the women's movement, and women's reproductive health and rights, particularly now that those rights are coming under increasing attack.
Audrey Eaglen, Cuyahoga Cty. P.L., Parma, Ohio
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 334 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (June 9, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226424219
• ISBN-13: 978-0226424217
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #437,721 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful reading, July 16, 2000

By	Robin Orlowski "political activist" (United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This book takes a historical (even if partly rose colored) look back at the days before Roe vs Wade, and a group of women with a commitment to women's self determination

Although it is still a radical idea in our day (which accounts for the stalking of patients, bombing of Clinics and the killing of medical personel)these women realized that control over one's reproductive system was essential for survival. Women who found themselves pregnant had very limited options (there were no laws against firing pregnant workers or dismissing students and child support payments were very lax in enforcement by modern standards)and Jane sought to change that system. The change is even more remarkable in light of the fact that many of these women were college students like myself.

Because this book is so well written, you can almost feel the excitement and terror as many collective members were changing the system. Understandably, the use of pseudonyms was a necesitity both then and now.

Even though we know that abortion was legalized in Roe the mood is so well set in the book, "Never Again" rings throughout the pages. Although Jane members do not regret what they did, it is obvious that they do not want another generation to resort to such extra-legal methods. One generation was once too many.

In addition to individual reading and research, this book might be useful for a course on American women's history and/or a general course in the 1960's-1970s.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Vital Resource, November 2, 2005

By	Anne Elizabeth Moore (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service (Hardcover)

The story of Jane-and *this* story of Jane-is unfortunately, a vital one in this contemporary age. It is recommended reading for medical health enthusiasts, women's rights advocates, political activists of all kinds, and people who just plain old like a tale about people getting together and making sure their own needs are met.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating account, May 24, 2006

By	Christina Dunigan (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service (Hardcover)

Though clearly romanticized and seen through the rose-colored glasses of hindsight, The Story of Jane tells a tale of women running a criminal abortion syndicate for ideological rather than financial motives. The author's treatment of Harvey Karman (whom she identifies as "Jordan Bennett") overlooks the less savory aspects of his career, such as his conviction in the death of a woman in a motel-room abortion in Los Angeles, and leaves this reader wondering what else she chooses to gloss over. Nevertheless, the book is an interesting and insightful read, and worth the trouble for prolifer and prochoicer alike.