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lbarsk's review against another edition
4.0
WE FINALLY GOT HERE. I FINALLY FINISHED THIS BOOK.
It's not that I didn't like it, I just took a big fiction-reading hiatus in the middle of this book. Pollitt is an amazing writer and this book's message is CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT. She re-frames the abortion narrative in a way that all abortion advocates should, and all of her arguments are based in hard facts and real, lived experiences of American women. The book made me angry and scared and sad because things are SO MESSED UP in this country and SO DANGEROUS FOR WOMEN, mothers or no.
It's not that I didn't like it, I just took a big fiction-reading hiatus in the middle of this book. Pollitt is an amazing writer and this book's message is CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT. She re-frames the abortion narrative in a way that all abortion advocates should, and all of her arguments are based in hard facts and real, lived experiences of American women. The book made me angry and scared and sad because things are SO MESSED UP in this country and SO DANGEROUS FOR WOMEN, mothers or no.
yikesbmg's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book because one of my favorite podcast hosts, Aminatou Sow of Call Your Girlfriend, raved about it in an episode. I was expecting a history of abortion access and rights but didn't get that. This book looks at the pro-life movement of the past one and a half decades and argues against it. I'm giving it three stars because, as a pro-choicer, I didn't learn much from it. I learned about some nuances of the pro-life movement that I didn't know before and that's pretty much it.
I couldn't figure out if this book was geared towards super young pro-choice people that are just learning about the issue, or for pro-life people to convince them to be pro-choice, or what. Pollitt argues that the anti-choice movement is meant to limit the personhood for all women, but for middle class white women in particular. I get what she was saying although I don't agree on focusing the majority do the book's narrative on that demographic. She mentions women of color and low income women every so often, but not nearly enough.
After finishing the book, I wished she had taken a race critical approach and a way stronger class analysis. I wish she had spent more time arguing for a strong, comprehensive pro-choice movement that doesn't just say "we want abortion!! but we don't want women to go crazy with it either." At the end of the book, I realized what I want to learn about is reproductive justice and not reproductive rights.
I couldn't figure out if this book was geared towards super young pro-choice people that are just learning about the issue, or for pro-life people to convince them to be pro-choice, or what. Pollitt argues that the anti-choice movement is meant to limit the personhood for all women, but for middle class white women in particular. I get what she was saying although I don't agree on focusing the majority do the book's narrative on that demographic. She mentions women of color and low income women every so often, but not nearly enough.
After finishing the book, I wished she had taken a race critical approach and a way stronger class analysis. I wish she had spent more time arguing for a strong, comprehensive pro-choice movement that doesn't just say "we want abortion!! but we don't want women to go crazy with it either." At the end of the book, I realized what I want to learn about is reproductive justice and not reproductive rights.
alexisrt's review against another edition
5.0
This isn't a book that aims to change the minds of people who are intractably opposed to abortion--as Pollitt herself says. It's a rallying cry to pro choice advocates and the confused, to remind us of what's really at stake--a woman's right to control her body and by extension her place in society. Instead of placing the baby at the center of the argument, Pollitt frames the argument where it should be: around women who make the choice, around the attempts to control women's bodies, sexuality, and economy.
truittclark's review against another edition
4.0
This book probably won't change the minds of the fiercest abortion opponents, but I do think it will help reframe abortion arguments for people that have not made up their minds or feel uncomfortable supporting abortion rights. Pollitt does a fine job examining many different anti-abortion arguments and refuting them in a convincing manner, and gives a better picture of the types of women that actually seek abortions. My only gripe was that the style can be a little condescending in places, a tone that almost never works if you're trying to change someone's viewpoint.
meganmatson's review against another edition
5.0
Katha Pollitt has brilliantly dismantled the anti-abortion rhetoric in her latest book. Her arguments are made with such intelligent humor, that you'll want to highlight every other paragraph to use as a retort in your next heated discussion. Pro is not a perfect book - she does explore race and class in relation to abortion rights with care (though exonerates Margaret Sanger by brushing off accusations of racism by arguing that she was simply of her time - an issue that's more complicated and should be treated with better care by pro-choice activists), but doesn't address the issue of abortion from areas of gender, sexuality (only heterosexual cis women need abortions I guess), or disability.
Pollitt's audience is clearly pro-choice and this book is great for activating the base. She highlights how organized the anti-abortion movement is and makes a highly compelling argument for rethinking the language and approach of the pro-choice movement. She urges us to stop trying to win arguments by saying things like we need the pill for acne and instead be unapologetic about being human, and wanting to enjoy sex without having to care for a child (a luxury men have enjoyed since the dawn of time). She urges us to stop treating abortion as a horrible thing that we will forever be haunted by, and start admitting that abortions are not only necessary but good things. Ending unwanted pregnancies benefits society. We need to stop playing the placating defense while anti-abortion activists just continue to chip away at our rights.
One thing I would have liked to see at the end of the book (perhaps an idea for the paperback edition) was a list of pro-choice organizations with additional ways to support them aside from petition signing or giving money.
Pollitt's audience is clearly pro-choice and this book is great for activating the base. She highlights how organized the anti-abortion movement is and makes a highly compelling argument for rethinking the language and approach of the pro-choice movement. She urges us to stop trying to win arguments by saying things like we need the pill for acne and instead be unapologetic about being human, and wanting to enjoy sex without having to care for a child (a luxury men have enjoyed since the dawn of time). She urges us to stop treating abortion as a horrible thing that we will forever be haunted by, and start admitting that abortions are not only necessary but good things. Ending unwanted pregnancies benefits society. We need to stop playing the placating defense while anti-abortion activists just continue to chip away at our rights.
One thing I would have liked to see at the end of the book (perhaps an idea for the paperback edition) was a list of pro-choice organizations with additional ways to support them aside from petition signing or giving money.
hc21's review against another edition
3.0
Pro provides some great information and arguments for the pro choice and "muddled middle." Unfortunately, it suffers from uneven writing and some audience confusion. At times Pollitt seems to be berating her readers for failing to act while other chapters feel more like advice shared among activist friends. It made what was otherwise a pretty good book with interesting points hard to read. Honestly, most people would be better off reading a detailed review or watching Pollitt speak than reading the entire book.
larryerick's review against another edition
5.0
Every so often, over the years, I come across a book that tremendously sharpens and solidifies my thoughts on significant issues that draw on my own values system. This is one such book. While the books subtitle implies that it is about abortion rights -- which is most certainly is -- it goes way beyond that to the role and rights of women in our society, and, of course, it does that because abortion rights cannot be separated from the total female experience. Make no mistake about it, the author covers abortion issues with laser-like efficiency, from every possible angle. As the book title states, she is "pro" -- but wait, "pro" what? She even gets into the various shades of what that means. Pro abortion, pro choice, pro death, pro what? But even as she presents the many "pro" arguments, she offers abundant "anti" views, and discusses them in great depth, never being too biased to state their merits, where merits exist. If I see any downsides to this tome, it comes in two areas. The first is that the second half of the book feels more relaxed and, thus, unfocused, compared to the first half. Part of that comes from the utter efficiency and clarity with which she "presents" her case. But just like the Q&A after many presentations gets stuck with audience questions that were amply answered during the presentation, there is a certain level of redundancy toward the end as she tries to fill any possible gaps in what came earlier. The second issue of concern is her lack of acknowledgment of the conservative right's faith-based arguments against abortion and woman having any rights in general. There is indeed a section dealing entirely with Bible verses, which she uses effectively against the "Anti" position. Also, at another point, the author points out how differently the liberal, more secular, science-based, pro community drives support for its "cause" versus the Christian faith-based anti community. What she skips over is how very differently the faith-based mind works. In its essence, faith says something exists for no other reason than because someone said "because I said so" and for no other reason. The book has great value for those who value science and logic. And it will give values clarification to those who have religious foundations but still appreciate science and logic. But, let's face it, for a great many fundamentalists, this book will sail right over their heads, and be damned as the devil's work -- just because.
evelikesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Despite my philosophical differences with Pollitt's insistence on using "women" so frequently (though I noticed more in the early part of the book) and what I perceived as a certain condescending attitude to her readers, especially in the first half, I thought this was a good overview of pro-choice arguments and gave some very helpful talking points for those of us who need to discuss these issues with others who are not so well-informed.
She also calls the reproductive rights movement to work for change in other areas -- to build a society that is more supportive of child-raising, especially for poor people. She points out that our members are mostly white and middle-class, and we need to take a good hard look at why that is.
She also calls the reproductive rights movement to work for change in other areas -- to build a society that is more supportive of child-raising, especially for poor people. She points out that our members are mostly white and middle-class, and we need to take a good hard look at why that is.
jrobles76's review against another edition
5.0
This is seriously an important book and should be read by anyone who considers themselves Pro-choice and a feminist. Author Katha Pollitt writes with equal amounts humor and passion. The book aims to help us argue the debate on our terms not their's and to remind us that while we sit on the sidelines, they are making progress at diluting Roe v. Wade.
whichthreewords's review against another edition
5.0
Probably 4.5 stars - I think it might have been stronger without the last chapter. Impressively non-shouty... The data are enough.