Synopsis
A sweeping narrative history of abortion rights in America — from whispered remedies and underground networks to the legal battles, activists, and political forces that shaped modern reproductive freedom.
For more than a century, the fight for abortion access has been told in fragments — court cases, headlines, protests, and political battles that rarely capture the human story underneath. Given No Choice brings those pieces together. Drawing on archival research, rare interviews, oral histories, legislative transcripts, and firsthand accounts, Cody McDevitt weaves an urgent, intimate, and deeply human history of how abortion rights were won, lost, and defended across generations.
From midwives and discreet physicians operating in the shadows, to the women forced into dangerous decisions, to the organizers and attorneys who risked livelihoods to challenge the law, this book lays bare the truth: abortion in America has never been just a medical issue — it has always been a struggle for autonomy, dignity, and power.
Inside this groundbreaking book, readers will discover:
The hidden networks that allowed women to access abortions long before Roe v. Wade
How politicians, judges, and religious movements reshaped reproductive law
The real stories of women harmed — and sometimes saved — by the choices available to them
The rise of the anti-abortion movement and the strategies it still uses today
Exclusive interviews with doctors, activists, and legal experts who witnessed the fight firsthand
What the post-Roe landscape reveals about the future of reproductive freedom
Blending investigative journalism with narrative nonfiction, Given No Choice offers a definitive, unflinching account of one of the most consequential civil rights battles of our time.
A vital book for anyone who wants to understand how we got here — and what comes next.
Perfect for readers of Reproductive Rights Today, The Family Roe, After Roe, and The New Handbook for a Post-Roe America, this book is both a historical document and a call to remain vigilant as the future of bodily autonomy hangs in the balance.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Search results for Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights
Stock Image
Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights
Seller: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 53331149-n
Stock Image
Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights
Seller: California Books, Miami, FL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # I-9798994112625
Stock Image
Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights
Seller: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: As New. Unread book in perfect condition. Seller Inventory # 53331149
Stock Image
Given No Choice (Hardcover)
Print on DemandSeller: Grand Eagle Retail, Bensenville, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights is a deeply reported history of abortion in the United States, tracing the legal, political, and human realities of reproductive care before and after legalization. Drawing on years of archival research, court records, and original reporting, the book reconstructs a world often reduced to abstraction-one shaped by underground networks, quiet acts of resistance, and the evolving boundaries of law and medicine.Moving from the early twentieth century through the fall of Roe v. Wade and into the aftermath of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, the book situates abortion not only as a legal issue, but as a central thread in American political and social life. It examines how laws were enforced, how physicians and patients navigated risk, and how activists on all sides reshaped the national debate.Through detailed case studies and on-the-ground reporting, Given No Choice captures the lived consequences of shifting policy: from the realities of illegal abortion and the emergence of informal provider networks, to the modern landscape of restrictions, ballot initiatives, and renewed legal battles. It highlights the role of doctors, patients, law enforcement, and political actors in defining what access meant in different eras-and what it continues to mean today.Written with the narrative depth of long-form journalism and grounded in primary sources, this book offers a comprehensive account of one of the most consequential and contested issues in American history. It is essential reading for those seeking to understand how the past informs the present, and how the future of reproductive rights is still being shaped. A deeply reported history of abortion in the United States, Given No Choice traces the evolution of reproductive rights from the pre-Roe v. Wade era to the post-Dobbs landscape. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9798994112625
Stock Image
Given No Choice
Print on DemandSeller: PBShop.store US, Wood Dale, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
HRD. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. THIS BOOK IS PRINTED ON DEMAND. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # L1-9798994112625
Stock Image
Given No Choice
Print on DemandSeller: PBShop.store UK, Fairford, GLOS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
HRD. Condition: New. New Book. Delivered from our UK warehouse in 4 to 14 business days. THIS BOOK IS PRINTED ON DEMAND. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # L1-9798994112625
Buy New
US$ 36.78
US$ 6.71 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: Over 20 available
Stock Image
Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights
Seller: GreatBookPricesUK, Woodford Green, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: As New. Unread book in perfect condition. Seller Inventory # 53331149
Buy Used
US$ 35.30
US$ 20.06 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: Over 20 available
Stock Image
Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights
Seller: GreatBookPricesUK, Woodford Green, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 53331149-n
Buy New
US$ 36.77
US$ 20.06 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: Over 20 available
Stock Image
Given No Choice (Hardcover)
Print on DemandSeller: AussieBookSeller, Truganina, VIC, Australia
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights is a deeply reported history of abortion in the United States, tracing the legal, political, and human realities of reproductive care before and after legalization. Drawing on years of archival research, court records, and original reporting, the book reconstructs a world often reduced to abstraction-one shaped by underground networks, quiet acts of resistance, and the evolving boundaries of law and medicine.Moving from the early twentieth century through the fall of Roe v. Wade and into the aftermath of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, the book situates abortion not only as a legal issue, but as a central thread in American political and social life. It examines how laws were enforced, how physicians and patients navigated risk, and how activists on all sides reshaped the national debate.Through detailed case studies and on-the-ground reporting, Given No Choice captures the lived consequences of shifting policy: from the realities of illegal abortion and the emergence of informal provider networks, to the modern landscape of restrictions, ballot initiatives, and renewed legal battles. It highlights the role of doctors, patients, law enforcement, and political actors in defining what access meant in different eras-and what it continues to mean today.Written with the narrative depth of long-form journalism and grounded in primary sources, this book offers a comprehensive account of one of the most consequential and contested issues in American history. It is essential reading for those seeking to understand how the past informs the present, and how the future of reproductive rights is still being shaped. A deeply reported history of abortion in the United States, Given No Choice traces the evolution of reproductive rights from the pre-Roe v. Wade era to the post-Dobbs landscape. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9798994112625
Buy New
US$ 52.38
US$ 37.00 shipping
Ships from Australia to U.S.A.
Ships from Australia to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Given No Choice (Hardcover)
Print on DemandSeller: CitiRetail, Stevenage, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights is a deeply reported history of abortion in the United States, tracing the legal, political, and human realities of reproductive care before and after legalization. Drawing on years of archival research, court records, and original reporting, the book reconstructs a world often reduced to abstraction-one shaped by underground networks, quiet acts of resistance, and the evolving boundaries of law and medicine.Moving from the early twentieth century through the fall of Roe v. Wade and into the aftermath of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, the book situates abortion not only as a legal issue, but as a central thread in American political and social life. It examines how laws were enforced, how physicians and patients navigated risk, and how activists on all sides reshaped the national debate.Through detailed case studies and on-the-ground reporting, Given No Choice captures the lived consequences of shifting policy: from the realities of illegal abortion and the emergence of informal provider networks, to the modern landscape of restrictions, ballot initiatives, and renewed legal battles. It highlights the role of doctors, patients, law enforcement, and political actors in defining what access meant in different eras-and what it continues to mean today.Written with the narrative depth of long-form journalism and grounded in primary sources, this book offers a comprehensive account of one of the most consequential and contested issues in American history. It is essential reading for those seeking to understand how the past informs the present, and how the future of reproductive rights is still being shaped. A deeply reported history of abortion in the United States, Given No Choice traces the evolution of reproductive rights from the pre-Roe v. Wade era to the post-Dobbs landscape. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9798994112625
Buy New
US$ 41.30
US$ 49.47 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available