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Reproductive Rites: The Real-Life Witches and Witch Hunts in the Centuries-Long Fight for Abortion Paperback – October 15, 2024

by Sophie Saint Thomas (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars 6 ratings
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A provocative pop history that explores the witches—and witch hunts—in the untold story of abortion, from the days of Socrates through the Salem Witch Trials and the 1980s Satanic Panic, all the way to our fraught present.

“Not only fascinating and engaging but, in our current post-Roe climate, necessary . . . with wit, humor, and verve that make it an unputdownable read for every feminist.” —Jennifer Wright, author of Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist

For millennia, across cultures and continents, both providers and recipients of reproductive healthcare and abortions have been persecuted as witches (whether they actually practiced the craft or not). In this dauntless reassessment of that history, journalist Sophie Saint Thomas follows the tangled threads of witches and reproductive rights through the ages.

Along the way, she maintains an intersectional eye toward the communities most affected by reproductive oppression (including Native Americans, enslaved Black women, and trans people) and offers a scathing look at the hypocrisy of anti-choice crusaders (from eugenicists in the Church of Satan to an astrology-following Republican First Lady). With heart, humor, and deeply researched insights, Reproductive Rites brings new context to the urgency of our ongoing fight.
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  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    October 15, 2024
  4. Dimensions
    5.45 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0762485299
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0762485291
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Reproductive Rites

Reproductive Rites

Reproductive Rites

Reproductive Rites

Reproductive Rites

Reproductive Rites

Reproductive Rites

Weed Witch: The Essential Guide to Cannabis for Magic and Wellness
Revolutionary Witchcraft: A Guide to Magical Activism
How to Study Magic: A Guide to History, Lore, and Building Your Own Practice
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Editorial Reviews

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“Reproductive Rites is not only a fascinating and engaging read but, in our current post-Roe climate, a necessary one. From the time of the Pharaohs to Donald Trump, Sophie Saint Thomas details society’s conflicted relationship with reproductive rights. This volume offers readers exacting research into everyone from ancient midwives to modern day anti-choicers. The facts will help every reader understand how we came to find ourselves in our current position. And it’s all presented with wit, humor, and verve that make it an unputdownable read for every feminist.” ―Jennifer Wright, author of Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist

“An exciting, racy, angry, and well-informed survey, which ranges across a wide span of history in order to make points of tremendous relevance to the present.” ―Ronald Hutton, author of The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present

“Through a cross-cultural lens, Saint Thomas offers us a fascinating exploration into the socio-psychological dynamics which underscore the practice of witch persecution and the ongoing oppression of women’s reproductive rights. Her work is an incisive critique of human prejudice and its historical consequences.” ―Alan Kilpatrick, author of The Night Has a Naked Soul: Witchcraft and Sorcery among the Western Cherokee

“A tongue-in-cheek, frequently sarcastic history of abortion practices from ancient times to the present. . . . Saint Thomas mines the historical record for some engaging reminders of the long history of the vilification of abortionists, midwives, and so-called witches.” ―Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Sophie Saint Thomas is a writer based in New York City and originally from the US Virgin Islands. She is the author of books including Weed Witch. She has been published in GQ, Playboy, VICE, Cosmopolitan, Forbes, Allure, Glamour, Marie Claire, High Times, Nylon, Refinery29, Complex, Harper’s Bazaar, PRIDEMagazine, SELF, and more.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Running Press Adult
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 15, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0762485299
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0762485291
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.45 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 6 ratings

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Sophie Saint Thomas

Sophie Saint Thomas

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Sophie Saint Thomas is a New York City-based journalist and author originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands. She is published in GQ, Playboy, VICE, Cosmopolitan, Forbes, Allure, Glamour, Marie Claire, High Times, Nylon, Refinery29, Complex, Harper’s Bazaar, PRIDE Magazine, SELF, and more. Her writing focuses on sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll as well as the occult and other subcultures.

Saint Thomas is the author of multiple books, including Finding Your Higher Self: Your Guide to Cannabis for Self-Care, The Little Book of CBD for Self-Care, and Sex Witch: Magickal Spells for Love, Lust, and Self-Protection.

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3.8 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Tawny Lara
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Stunning History of Abortion by a Brilliant Journalist
    Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2024
    Sophie St. Thomas tackles several incredibly difficult subjects (Satanism! Abortion! Witches! Politics!) and thoughtfully shares her research in easy-to-digest writing. I'm blown away by the research that she did for this book. Brava, Sophie!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Randi
    1.0 out of 5 stars Poorly Written
    Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2025
    This book is poorly written. I wanted to like it because the topics it discusses are of interest to me. However, the book reads more like a social media rant than a book or even an essay. The paragraphs are poorly constructed and are seemingly just stream-of-thought ramblings. The author is heavy-handed with attempts at humor that don't really land and just end up adding unneeded bulk and distraction where there could be clarity and and organization.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Robin M
    4.0 out of 5 stars abortion, reproductive justice, & history
    Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2024
    Sophie Saint Thomas’ latest book tackles reproductive rights, systemic injustices, and lack of bodily autonomy issues for women throughout the ages. According to an old medical papyrus, she writes, it’s been proven that ancient Egyptians used birth control and emmenagogues or abortifacients. Through withdrawal, suppositories, barrier methods, and nature’s own herbal pharmacy, earlier peoples learned by trial and error how to limit or encourage pregnancies as needed.

    While misogyny certainly existed back then, it grew exponentially with the Roman Empire converting to Christianity—and controlled by (purportedly) celibate, cloistered men. After all, German monk Martin Luther (95 Theses) said “let [women] bear children to death. … They were created for that.” Although Catholic church policy was against birth control, some leaders like Saint Augustine of Hippo believed abortion was acceptable before a clearly human shape formed or the “ensoulment” of a fetus occurred.

    For witches, Saint Thomas includes French midwife, abortion provider, and fortuneteller Catherine Monvoisin, who also provided deadly poisons and performed Black Masses for her clients. She was burned at the stake for witchcraft in 1680. In more modern times, Laurie Cabot (b. 1933) was designated the Official Witch of Salem in 1977 by the Massachusetts governor.

    For witch hunts, Saint Thomas relies on Stacy Schiff’s The Witches: Salem 1692—a book lambasted by Jane Kamensky in the New York Times—causing her to repeat debunked information. For example, trial documents refer to Tituba as an Indian servant. After being released from jail, she disappears from the historical record yet later becomes known as Tituba the Black Witch of Salem. Saint Thomas says, “this indicates that she was associated with black magic … [but] it could also have a more straightforward explanation: her skin color.” Fifty years ago, Chadwick Hansen proved that Tituba’s metamorphosis from an Indian to a Black person occurred and was based on prevalent 19th-century racism, which in turn made Tituba the scapegoat for the Salem witch trials (New England Quarterly, March 1974).

    For centuries, witches have been associated with Satan, since the (female) witch’s power comes from her pact with the (male) Devil. Between Anton LaVey’s Church of Satan and the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, Saint Thomas shows how wild ideas about devil-worshipping sex groups, Black Masses, and child sacrifices became rampant in the news.

    And that’s how the Christian right uses Americans’ fears to demonize any person or movement supporting reproductive rights.

    Written in a pop-history style, Saint Thomas makes accessible 4,000 years of health care. With Roe v. Wade overturned in 2022, reproductive justice is on the ballot in 2024. And the difference between Republican and Democratic platforms are starkly different. As a reminder, Saint Thomas points out that Justice Samuel Alito cited 17th-century jurist Matthew Hale when announcing the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. “Hale asserted that marital rape could not constitute a crime.” Your vote matters.

    Thanks to Running Press for the ARC.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Really interesting and I loved how it tied in the present-day stuff
    Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2024
    This felt like listening to a really great podcast - deep dive into specific moments in history that I loved. Looking for more books like this!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Grace
    5.0 out of 5 stars comprehensive and rebellious view of witchcraft and
    Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2024
    I learned so much reading this book! It was so informative and even funny, and covered such an impressive span of history.
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