Contested Lives: The Abortion Debate in an American Community

by Faye D. Ginsburg

Based on the struggle over a Fargo, North Dakota, abortion clinic, Contested Lives explores one of the central social conflicts of our time. Both wide-ranging and rich in detail, it speaks not simply to the abortion issue but also to the critical role of women's political activism.

A new introduction addresses the events of the last decade, which saw the emergence of Operation Rescue and a shift toward more violent, even deadly, forms of anti-abortion protest. Responses to this trend included government legislation, a decline in clinics and doctors offering abortion services, and also the formation of Common Ground, an alliance bringing together activists from both sides to address shared concerns. Ginsburg shows that what may have seemed an ephemeral artifact of "Midwestern feminism" of the 1980s actually foreshadowed unprecedented possibilities for reconciliation in one of the most entrenched conflicts of our times.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Anthropology, Sociology, College

356 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book taught me a lot. It was definitely superrr dense, but I think it honestly affected my perspectives and taught me so much that I didn’t know about a topic I am very passionate about.

[Sam Grace]

Apparently, people on both sides of the debate that she represents here feel like she did a good job.

[Annika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second time reading this book and Ginsburg proves herself once again insanely insightful. This is definitely a book that has reshaped my world view. I think this is the book that inspired my thesis actually. Needless to say, I’m obsessed

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first time that I could read a pro-life argument and understand where they’re coming from. I wish everybody could be so normal as the people of Fargo, North Dakota in the 1980s.

[Sophia Bahad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good, straightforward account of the abortion debate in Fargo, North Dakota. Used Fargo as a microcosm for American views. Ginsberg includes people’s narratives to paint each side of the debate. This helps to restore “humanity” to each side and build empathy. She finds a middle-ground detail and shows how each side has their own understanding about it and reasons it out.

[Karen Blanchette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tries extremely hard to be unbiased and present all sides of the abortion issue equally. It was a good book if you want to know how the abortion debate manifests itself in the practicality of the real world (in this case the opening of an abortion clinic). Being a sociologist, I love topics like this and I definitely learned a lot more where each side is coming from and how they justify their views.

I only wish that this book was written more recently, because I would be interested to see how these perspectives have changed over time. This is such a hot-button topic that I can't help but think the ideas and perspectives have shifted in the last 30 years.

[Travis Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. This book was assigned by one of my graduate courses in anthropology. I took away a bit more awareness of issues that surround abortion in the United States. My position on abortion was not changed, actually strengthened, but the book was a great read in the fact that people on both sides of the issue have many shared beliefs, concerns and ideas about abortion. Women who want to help other women is a major reality of what this book expresses across pro-life and pro-choice picket lines.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book--it is a rare find in which BOTH sides are viewed from a relativistic viewpoint with a conclusion that would surprise many an entrenched person who fails to see that both sides actually strongly care for women and children's rights--they just happen to fall on opposite sides of this contested issue.

[Yu · Rating 5 out of 5]

pro-dialogue