Scan barcode
lnkc's review against another edition
2.0
Some interesting historical anecdotes and conclusions but it took a bit too long to get there and the writing was too dry.
lennatheunicorncat's review against another edition
5.0
I read this several years back. It scared me, and it scares me even today with all the shit going on thanks to our current administration attempting to ban abortions. Women deserve the choice to have an abortion or not, to have kids or not, and when they want to on their own time! I'm sick of people regulating my freaking body! Ms. Goldberg did a terrific job going over everything that has been experienced and I remembered enjoying it immensely, even though it's so horrific. Some parts are slow, but I think that was because of all the facts presented in the book.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
5.0
Tired of hearing about the magic sperm rejecting powers of women's bodies? Want to smack people who simply say "she should keep her legs closed"?
Read this.
A few months ago, my local NPR hosted a radio program about proposed changes to PA's abortion law. These changes would've included a vagina ultrasound as well making the woman carry around a picture from said ultrasound. The woman on the NPR show pointed out that in countries where men control reproduction that abortion is not really an issue of debate, and it's not because abortion doesn't exist in those places.
Abortion is a complicted topic if only because of what everyone brings to the table. Both Pro-Choice and Pro-Life are valid points; however, taking about sperm killing powers of women's bodies during rape is not (and is what I have an issue with). Goldberg's look at the issue of reproduction covers abortion in terms of population control as well as the woman's right, but she also looks at other sorts of control over women and thier reproduction. It's a must read simply because it forces a closer look at the issue (like, more recently, NPR's Being program).
Read this.
A few months ago, my local NPR hosted a radio program about proposed changes to PA's abortion law. These changes would've included a vagina ultrasound as well making the woman carry around a picture from said ultrasound. The woman on the NPR show pointed out that in countries where men control reproduction that abortion is not really an issue of debate, and it's not because abortion doesn't exist in those places.
Abortion is a complicted topic if only because of what everyone brings to the table. Both Pro-Choice and Pro-Life are valid points; however, taking about sperm killing powers of women's bodies during rape is not (and is what I have an issue with). Goldberg's look at the issue of reproduction covers abortion in terms of population control as well as the woman's right, but she also looks at other sorts of control over women and thier reproduction. It's a must read simply because it forces a closer look at the issue (like, more recently, NPR's Being program).
darkernight's review against another edition
4.0
The book was informative and well-written in my opinion. The book mainly deals with the necessity of women needing the power to choose.
Goldberg has traced the history of reproductive rights and the fight for it pretty eloquently. She has tackled the history of abortion laws, the customs/rites regarding females across continents and a lot of real world examples of people who have worked for the rights.
Goldberg has traced the history of reproductive rights and the fight for it pretty eloquently. She has tackled the history of abortion laws, the customs/rites regarding females across continents and a lot of real world examples of people who have worked for the rights.
vegancleopatra's review
3.0
Overall The Means of Reproduction is well-written and informative. I think the opening chapter was jammed pack with information and expected you to have background information on South American issues that not many people are likely to have. This made the book have a shaky beginning for me and I worried that the entire book would be an attempt to jam as much information as possible into the pages, readability be damned. However, after this shaky beginning I found the topics and historical connections to issues more concise and readable. The topics vary but always come down to women's rights and how reproductive rights greatly impact the world as a whole. This is probably the first book of any kind I've read where the topic of female genital mutilation was actually discussed in-depth, with both sides of the issue portrayed. This is probably the most difficult chapter to get through but I think it was an important one. It is also difficult to swallow the fact the U.S. politics continue to impact world reproductive rights and health. Republicans being in the White House should not suddenly mean a woman halfway around the world will now die or suffer because she cannot have proper access to healthcare, including abortion. It is really appalling.
The Means of Reproduction is an important read but prepare for frustration.
The Means of Reproduction is an important read but prepare for frustration.
violettesinbloom's review
5.0
A comprehensive look at the global population movement, and how its success is intimately entwined with gender equality efforts. Starting in the 50's, it follows the population movement through it's early days, informed by a fear of overpopulation, communism and demography shift, through it's growth into feminism-based support for women's liberation around the globe.
The coverage of contraception, abortion, FGM and female infanticide/feticide (largely in Asia) was excellent. The author really emphasized the fact that the empowerment of women is necessary for all of the goals of population, and how it's lack (such as in areas that highly utilize sex-specific fetal termination) leads directly to some of the most pressing issues for the global community (such as countries with large populations of young, single men and all the attendant violence that accompanies that demographic shift).
I'm so glad that she also covered birth rate decline in developed nations. So many would shy away from that topic because of the uncomfortable truths that need to be addressed, but low birthrates are still a symptom of oppression and should be discussed even though they largely affect relatively wealthy and liberalized nations.
The coverage of contraception, abortion, FGM and female infanticide/feticide (largely in Asia) was excellent. The author really emphasized the fact that the empowerment of women is necessary for all of the goals of population, and how it's lack (such as in areas that highly utilize sex-specific fetal termination) leads directly to some of the most pressing issues for the global community (such as countries with large populations of young, single men and all the attendant violence that accompanies that demographic shift).
I'm so glad that she also covered birth rate decline in developed nations. So many would shy away from that topic because of the uncomfortable truths that need to be addressed, but low birthrates are still a symptom of oppression and should be discussed even though they largely affect relatively wealthy and liberalized nations.
More...