Jews Who Have Had Abortions

Abstract

ABSTRACT Jewish women have been speaking publicly about their abortions for decades, even before it was legal to have an abortion. Many Jews have also written about their abortions and published them. These are the stories featured in this collection. Abortion stories reveal the way people think morally about their abortions, the complexities around accessing care, and the work that still needs to be done in reducing stigma for people who have had abortions. The fifteen narratives here do not reflect all of the abortion experiences among Jews in the United States, but they do contain a range of abortion experiences. Sharing these stories and teaching with these stories will expand understanding and normalize abortion. Having an abortion is a moral act. These narratives from Jews who have had abortions reveal that these abortions are motivated by their religious identities, in one way or another.