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Contested Lives: The Abortion Debate in an American Community
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.
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.
356 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 6, 2022
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.
August 16, 2026
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Feelings about the book:
- We talk a lot these days about how people have such insulated lives because of their political stance or their algorithms etc. But we fail to appreciate how people were insulated before the internet geographically. I understand why a lot of pro-choice activists in Fargo, North Dokota were surprised there was opposition to legalising abortion.
- What we don't talk a lot about is women who are transcending feminism and their liberation narrative. It was touched upon in this book and it reminded me that so many people, even now, view feminism as yesterday's news.
- I appreciate this book (like I did Abortion & The Politics of Motherhood by Kristin Luker), for documenting the controversy, policy, opinions around the abortion debate. All without the toxicity that it is known for today.
Premise/Plot:
- Faye D. Ginsburg was on the ground in Fargo, North Dakota as the small town (alongside the rest of America) was going through a historical period in time regarding abortion.
- Ginsburg wanted to find out why abortion is such a divisive topic. Whilst really homing in on grassroots activists, as they can be overlooked in the conversation.
- Ginsburg covers the history of abortion, plus interviews with 35 women from the pro-choice and pro-life movement for a more intimate analysis.
- This book is broken down into 4 parts:
1. Abortion and the American Body Politic
2. The Abortion Controversy in a Grass-roots Setting
3. Procreation Stories
4. Reconstructing Gender in America
Themes:
- Common ground, the importance of personal experiences, reproductive politics, pro-life and pro-choice activism, religion, family values.
Pros:
1. I like that Ginsburg continuously showed the role the Catholic Church played in pro-life organisations. Because of the indifference to the Vatican in recent decades, it can seem like they don’t have their fingers in any pies at all.
2. Ginsburg did a great service with the people she gave a voice to who were from Fargo. She also captured the nuances, common ground, unpleasantness, unwritten rules, and even honour that come with such an environment:
a. For example, she spoke with women who had opened centres and clinics. But also, those who ran agencies such as adoption agencies. I think it goes a long way in showing one’s credibility when Ginsburg included quotes of women saying that they are essentially competing for the business of pregnant teen girls and pregnant women. If these businesses don’t get clients, then they can’t remain open just like any other business. This adds a much-needed variable to the discussion of business, ethics and actions of abortion, sex and adoption.
b. Secondly, the exploration and examples of common ground between the pro-lifers and the pro-choice individuals was important. It showed that even though battle lines have been drawn, there is still a woman who needs help. Ginsburg’s illustration of this with the workers of agencies with completely different goals, was much needed.
3. Ginsburg had two chapters dedicated to interviewing pro-choice and pro-life women. She noted their careers, history, ideology and more. I appreciate how Ginsburg is able to dispel certain myths about stay-at-home wives who were pro-life. The ones highlighted in the book share quite a lot of similarities with pro-choice women.
a. Also, the talk of transcending feminism was interesting. The pro-life women talked about this and I'm glad it was included. Because the transcendence of feminism (unlike other ideologies or political positions) isn't talked about enough.
4. Fairly decent bibliography section. I wasn’t surprised seeing as what was referenced in the main text was well done and appropriate.
5. Ginsburg writing is clear, direct and accessible. It is also balanced, and one has to give credit to balanced writing when an author is attempting to capture and anlyse both sides of an argument.
Cons:
- The quality of the writing overall was high but a tad uneven. I thought that Part 1 Abortion and the American Body Politic was the weakest part of the book.
Quotes:
‘According to most scholars of the issue, in the nineteenth century the issue of abortion helped consolidate a movement to enhance the status and control of the medical profession in this country.’
‘In 1878, Comstock succeeded in arresting the country’s wealthiest and most well-known abortionist, Madame Restell of New York City. Anticipating her probable conviction, she killed herself twenty-four hours before her trial.’
‘Most of the pro-life activists in Fargo who converted to born-again Christianity did so after they had developed a strong commitment to the right-to-life cause.’
‘A North Dakota chapter of Women Exploited by Abortion (WEBA) – a group “for women who have had an abortion, now realise it was the wrong decision and want to educate other women on the trauma of abortion” – started in 1984.’
‘However, for many pro-life activists who came of age in the 1970s and left the work force to have children, this encounter with feminism is worked into the plot as a misguided identity they have transcended.’
‘The women who aborted repeatedly apparently did so when pregnancy failed to transform an uncommitted lover into a husband. Luker argues that the subjects in her study, like many American women, feel themselves “bargaining with deflated currency,” caught in an “option squeeze” between motherhood and wage labour (1978: 121).’
‘“Social feminist” was coined by historian William O’Neill for those who “while believing in women’s rights, generally subordinated them to broad social reforms” (1971: x).’
Feelings about the book:
- We talk a lot these days about how people have such insulated lives because of their political stance or their algorithms etc. But we fail to appreciate how people were insulated before the internet geographically. I understand why a lot of pro-choice activists in Fargo, North Dokota were surprised there was opposition to legalising abortion.
- What we don't talk a lot about is women who are transcending feminism and their liberation narrative. It was touched upon in this book and it reminded me that so many people, even now, view feminism as yesterday's news.
- I appreciate this book (like I did Abortion & The Politics of Motherhood by Kristin Luker), for documenting the controversy, policy, opinions around the abortion debate. All without the toxicity that it is known for today.
Premise/Plot:
- Faye D. Ginsburg was on the ground in Fargo, North Dakota as the small town (alongside the rest of America) was going through a historical period in time regarding abortion.
- Ginsburg wanted to find out why abortion is such a divisive topic. Whilst really homing in on grassroots activists, as they can be overlooked in the conversation.
- Ginsburg covers the history of abortion, plus interviews with 35 women from the pro-choice and pro-life movement for a more intimate analysis.
- This book is broken down into 4 parts:
1. Abortion and the American Body Politic
2. The Abortion Controversy in a Grass-roots Setting
3. Procreation Stories
4. Reconstructing Gender in America
Themes:
- Common ground, the importance of personal experiences, reproductive politics, pro-life and pro-choice activism, religion, family values.
Pros:
1. I like that Ginsburg continuously showed the role the Catholic Church played in pro-life organisations. Because of the indifference to the Vatican in recent decades, it can seem like they don’t have their fingers in any pies at all.
2. Ginsburg did a great service with the people she gave a voice to who were from Fargo. She also captured the nuances, common ground, unpleasantness, unwritten rules, and even honour that come with such an environment:
a. For example, she spoke with women who had opened centres and clinics. But also, those who ran agencies such as adoption agencies. I think it goes a long way in showing one’s credibility when Ginsburg included quotes of women saying that they are essentially competing for the business of pregnant teen girls and pregnant women. If these businesses don’t get clients, then they can’t remain open just like any other business. This adds a much-needed variable to the discussion of business, ethics and actions of abortion, sex and adoption.
b. Secondly, the exploration and examples of common ground between the pro-lifers and the pro-choice individuals was important. It showed that even though battle lines have been drawn, there is still a woman who needs help. Ginsburg’s illustration of this with the workers of agencies with completely different goals, was much needed.
3. Ginsburg had two chapters dedicated to interviewing pro-choice and pro-life women. She noted their careers, history, ideology and more. I appreciate how Ginsburg is able to dispel certain myths about stay-at-home wives who were pro-life. The ones highlighted in the book share quite a lot of similarities with pro-choice women.
a. Also, the talk of transcending feminism was interesting. The pro-life women talked about this and I'm glad it was included. Because the transcendence of feminism (unlike other ideologies or political positions) isn't talked about enough.
4. Fairly decent bibliography section. I wasn’t surprised seeing as what was referenced in the main text was well done and appropriate.
5. Ginsburg writing is clear, direct and accessible. It is also balanced, and one has to give credit to balanced writing when an author is attempting to capture and anlyse both sides of an argument.
Cons:
- The quality of the writing overall was high but a tad uneven. I thought that Part 1 Abortion and the American Body Politic was the weakest part of the book.
Quotes:
‘According to most scholars of the issue, in the nineteenth century the issue of abortion helped consolidate a movement to enhance the status and control of the medical profession in this country.’
‘In 1878, Comstock succeeded in arresting the country’s wealthiest and most well-known abortionist, Madame Restell of New York City. Anticipating her probable conviction, she killed herself twenty-four hours before her trial.’
‘Most of the pro-life activists in Fargo who converted to born-again Christianity did so after they had developed a strong commitment to the right-to-life cause.’
‘A North Dakota chapter of Women Exploited by Abortion (WEBA) – a group “for women who have had an abortion, now realise it was the wrong decision and want to educate other women on the trauma of abortion” – started in 1984.’
‘However, for many pro-life activists who came of age in the 1970s and left the work force to have children, this encounter with feminism is worked into the plot as a misguided identity they have transcended.’
‘The women who aborted repeatedly apparently did so when pregnancy failed to transform an uncommitted lover into a husband. Luker argues that the subjects in her study, like many American women, feel themselves “bargaining with deflated currency,” caught in an “option squeeze” between motherhood and wage labour (1978: 121).’
‘“Social feminist” was coined by historian William O’Neill for those who “while believing in women’s rights, generally subordinated them to broad social reforms” (1971: x).’
Want to Read
June 11, 2009Apparently, people on both sides of the debate that she represents here feel like she did a good job.
April 8, 2025
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
August 21, 2024
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.
Read
July 21, 2026very very interesting especially to read now in context of roe v. wade being overturned
February 27, 2024
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.
November 1, 2013
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.
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.
October 6, 2015
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.
October 2, 2008
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.
May 2, 2017
pro-dialogue
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews