
- 350 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
The political hypocrisy and personal horrors of one of the most repressive anti-abortion regimes in history came to the world's attention soon after the fall of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Photographs of orphans with vacant eyes, sad faces, and wasted bodies circled the globe, as did alarming maternal mortality statistics and heart-breaking details of a devastating infant AIDS epidemic. Gail Kligman's chilling ethnographyâof the state and of the politics of reproductionâis the first in-depth examination of this extreme case of political intervention into the most intimate aspects of everyday life. Ceausescu's reproductive policies, among which the banning of abortion was central, affected the physical and emotional well-being not only of individual men, women, children, and families but also of society as a whole. Sexuality, intimacy, and fertility control were fraught with fear, which permeated daily life and took a heavy moral toll as lying and dissimulation transformed both individuals and the state. This powerful study is based on moving interviews with women and physicians as well as on documentary and archival material. In addition to discussing the social implications and human costs of restrictive reproductive legislation, Kligman explores the means by which reproductive issues become embedded in national and international agendas. She concludes with a review of the lessons the rest of the world can learn from Romania's tragic experience.
The political hypocrisy and personal horrors of one of the most repressive anti-abortion regimes in history came to the world's attention soon after the fall of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Photographs of orphans with vacant eyes, sad faces, and w
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- CONTENTS
- ILLUSTRATIONS
- TABLES
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- NOTE ON DIACRITICS
- Introduction Politics, Reproduction, and Duplicity
- APPENDIX: COURT CASES
- NOTES
- CHAPTER 1. BUILDING SOCIALISM IN CEAUSESCUâS ROMANIA
- CHAPTER 2. LEGISLATING REPRODUCTION UNDER SOCIALISM
- CHAPTER 3. âPROTECTINGâ WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND THE FAMILY
- CHAPTER 4. INSTITUTIONALIZING POLITICAL DEMOGRAPHY
- CHAPTER 5. SPREADING THE WORDâPROPAGANDA
- CHAPTER 6. BITTER MEMORIES
- CHAPTER 7. LEGACIES OF POLITICAL DEMOGRAPHY
- CHAPTER 8. COERCION AND REPRODUCTIVE POLITICS
- SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
- INDEX