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64th out of 383 books
—
262 voters
Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty
This is a no-holds-barred response to the liberal and conservative retreat from an assertive, activist, and socially transformative civil rights agenda of recent years--using a black feminist lens and the issue ofthe impact of recent legislation, social policy, and welfare "reform" on black women's--especially poor black women's--control over their bodies' autonomy and the...more
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
December 29th 1998
by Vintage
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simialar to The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, this book uses the existing racial caste system and social dynamics of poverty to look at reproductive questions - both abortion as well as ivf and other fertility treatments. the author does a fantastic job with that. the only drawback for me was there was too much time spent discussing constitutional theory, specifically whether a liberty based view or an equality based view is better. while i suppose that is import...more
When I first read this book it was sophomore year of College, and it was assigned for one of the most enlightening courses offered - Prisons, Punishment, and Democracy. Recently I wanted to revisit the horrible truths revealed/explored in the texts assigned in the course. "Killing The Black Body" is certainly not a light read, but if you're looking for honest information about shocking political policies, Black history, the truth about the exploitation of Black women and the forced control of th...more
Wow.
This book took me like a month and a half to read, because it's both dense and depressing, but also informative and insightful. She asked questions that made me think about issues in new ways (eg her discussion of objections to allowing teenagers access to birth control). It also reminded me that a whole lot of things in the US that are still influenced by racism.
Minor qvetches: she spends an awful lot of time on Norplant, which was a super-big deal at the time but I had to look back up. And...more
This book took me like a month and a half to read, because it's both dense and depressing, but also informative and insightful. She asked questions that made me think about issues in new ways (eg her discussion of objections to allowing teenagers access to birth control). It also reminded me that a whole lot of things in the US that are still influenced by racism.
Minor qvetches: she spends an awful lot of time on Norplant, which was a super-big deal at the time but I had to look back up. And...more
LJ user littlemousling :
Professor Roberts chronicles the American history of white control over black female reproduction from colonialism and slavery up through the present. She covers everything you've heard of ("At no time in America was it illegal to rape a slave," Mississippi appendectomies, Margaret Sanger) and more that you haven't. It made me cry, a lot, and I've had occasion to reference it about a kajillion times since I read it. It's comprehensive, and it's fantastic.
Professor Roberts chronicles the American history of white control over black female reproduction from colonialism and slavery up through the present. She covers everything you've heard of ("At no time in America was it illegal to rape a slave," Mississippi appendectomies, Margaret Sanger) and more that you haven't. It made me cry, a lot, and I've had occasion to reference it about a kajillion times since I read it. It's comprehensive, and it's fantastic.
Pretty conflicted about this one.
Things it does well:
1) Lays out a very clear, concise case for the intersection of reproductive rights and race. As many other reviewers have noted, Roberts does make a lot of arguments that you probably have not really thought about before. Reproductive rights have historically been a middle class white woman's issue, so it was interesting to see how the argument for those rights is completely different for black women and sometimes even antithetical to white wo...more
Things it does well:
1) Lays out a very clear, concise case for the intersection of reproductive rights and race. As many other reviewers have noted, Roberts does make a lot of arguments that you probably have not really thought about before. Reproductive rights have historically been a middle class white woman's issue, so it was interesting to see how the argument for those rights is completely different for black women and sometimes even antithetical to white wo...more
Although Dorothy Roberts may have written this analysis of challenges for black women's reproductive rights in the late 1990s, it is, if anything, even more depressingly relevant today. Many white feminists get a bad rap for focusing on abortion rights to the exclusion of all else in the world of reproductive politics, and Roberts incisively highlights this by raising the issues of coercing long-acting contraception through public programs and punishments mothers on welfare receive for their sti...more
A very important book on the history of medical abuse meted out upon women of color and how this practice, rooted in racism and the epitome of objectification, unfortunately still continues today. While Dorothy (whose other writings on bioethics I've enjoyed) lays an important outline of oppression and abuse of (mostly) black women medically, she mentions-- but doesn't much chronicle-- their resistance to these practices leaving the reader unsatisfied. Stories of resistance are just as important...more
This book is a comprehensive argument at how historically and currently black women have been denied autonomy over their procreative decisions. Starting with slavery where black female slaves were either impregnated by their white masters or other male black slaves, usually not of their choosing, in order to create a larger labor force and increased wealth for white plantation owners. We also see how the eugenics movement, the feminist movement, the antiabortion movement, and even political libe...more
Its a very college level book so as a highschooler i found it hard to understand at some times. It was very straight forward and hit very intresting points that i think some people are scared to talk about. Race. It shows how black women are shown as welfare rats and have no goal or anything. I think everyone should read this. Everyone.
Aug 01, 2009
Books written by POC
added it
Although it's not quite as brilliant as Yxta Maya Murray's Conquest in the scope of synthesis, it's still a very good and indicting piece of work on reproductive freedom and black women, with references to the same pushes for sterilization via uninformed drug trials and etc.
Sep 30, 2007
Jessica
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
white, middle-class, pro-choice feminists
Important book. I'm just being smarmy with the recommendation: this is essential reading for anyone who wishes to clarify her or his perspective on reproductive rights.
Roberts is good: even if you're no beginner when it comes to understanding how oppression of some groups contributes in less-than-obvious ways to the oppression of others, and how the interests of some relatively privileged women have not just eclipsed but seriously undermined the interests of less-privileged others, this book wil...more
Roberts is good: even if you're no beginner when it comes to understanding how oppression of some groups contributes in less-than-obvious ways to the oppression of others, and how the interests of some relatively privileged women have not just eclipsed but seriously undermined the interests of less-privileged others, this book wil...more
A must-read for anyone interested in reproductive rights. Roberts makes an important intervention in what have often been treated as "white women's issues," shifting the conversation surrounding birth control, abortion, and reproductive freedom from individual liberty to social justice.
Everyone out there should read this book. I stumbled upon this book when I was doing some research about poor black women and how the government controls their homes, bodies and who stays with them in a home.
I truly enjoyed this book. The author, Dorothy Roberts, is a lawyer. Her profession lends to a really analytical style. I learned a lot, and the style was sharp and different than books that I generally read.
Dense and exhaustive, the case Roberts makes is rock solid. If reproductive rights for black women simply means access to birth control and abortion to you, then you are the target audience for this book.
Jul 04, 2010
Hey Sailor!
added it
JRAE a long long long time ago from her big shelf marked "reproductive rights/midwife shit" in her garlicy second story room with the mattress on the floor and tea on the window sills.
Wow. This is one of the best books I've read in a while. Granted, I just finished it five minutes ago, so I'm aware that I'll be able to write about it more coherently later, once I've had time to let it settle into my system. But I couldn't put this down (except for the times when the stuff addressed made me throw it across the room and scream at it).
Basically, if you care about reproductive issues, this is a must-read. It was published fourteen years ago. Shame on me for not reading it sooner...more
Basically, if you care about reproductive issues, this is a must-read. It was published fourteen years ago. Shame on me for not reading it sooner...more
A really great book on how social policy has been enacted in extreme ways to control the reproductive rights of black women from historical American slavery to current welfare policy. Well-written and accessible, though a bit dated since its publication in the mid 1990s.
Certainly eye opening and educational but at times I think a little sensational.
Apr 26, 2009
Joanna
added it
race and repro health stuff but a good read
This was an amazing and formative book
Mar 31, 2010
Rebecca
marked it as to-read
I wanna read everything Karin reads!
This was really an excelent book if you'd like to learn about the ways our society has consistantly discriminated against Black/poor women's reproductive rights.
My problem was that it felt like she was ignoring the class issues to focus on the race issues, or she acted as if they were somehow one in the same. As if all poor people are Black. Umm, no.
My problem was that it felt like she was ignoring the class issues to focus on the race issues, or she acted as if they were somehow one in the same. As if all poor people are Black. Umm, no.
I didn't get very far before this book went back to the library, but I will definitely get it again and keep plugging away at it. It is a very tough read; the subject matter is depressing and frustrating, and I had some trouble focusing, but I think it's important.
This is for the Planned Parenthood book club, which meets every second Tuesday at 6:30 at Bentley's. It's open to everyone and you get 10% off if you buy the book at Antigone! So read up and join us on June 10!
This book is a very important analysis of how black women's bodies are discussed (or not discussed) in the reproductive rights movement and in American culture in general. Extremely insightful and compelling.
An important book for feminists/womynists and those interested in reproductive rights. A well-researched and strongly written case study of how race and reproduction overlap in the United States.
Feb 03, 2008
Jalan
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
individuals interested in health/ reproductive rights
Recommended to Jalan by:
I cannot remember
Excellent book about the interplay between reproductive rights and technology and race. Must read for those interested in repro/ sexual rights and the health of women of color.
This book was so fascinating! It's non-fiction. Heartbreaking but fascinating and educational!
Excellent exploration of race, sexuality, and domination as they intersect with the body.
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Hello there. I wanted to say that I very much enjoyed reading your analysis and discussion on Roberts work. I too am a fan of her work (her wo...more
Dec 23, 2009 12:38pm