Were "coat-hanger" abortions common before roe vs wade?

Question

Some pro-choicers use the argument that if abortion was not legal, women would seek other ways to end the pregnancy that might be very dangerous. Is it true that women commonly did dangerous things like this before abortion was legal? Or is it an urban myth perpetuated by the pro-choice campaign? lf you have real sources, that would be awesome!

Answer 1

It's absolutely true. And it's not just coat hangers either. They also took poisons, drank copious amounts of alcohol to try to abort the fetus too.

There is a book from the 1920s that is an excellent read, and the main character of the Book actually kills the woman he impregnated because he did not want to marry her and have a child with her. It's based on a true story and is a fascinating read. "An American Tragedy" is the name, by Theodore Dreiser.

The reason I'm so familiar with this story is because the pregnant woman who was murded in real life was my great great aunt, Grace Brown. But it really helps you understand what life was like if abortions weren't legal. Perhaps my great aunt would never have been murdered.

BTW....if you want to real the true life story and the facts behind the real people of An American Tragedy, read the book "Murder in the Adirondacks"

Answer 2

I don't know for sure, but I do know that there are some ramifications we need to consider before fighting to overturn Roe V Wade, even if you oppose continuing the right to choose.

I don't have citations, but you might also want to research how illegal abortions are now performed in countries like Peru and Northern Ireland.

One of the tragedies that has happened in Peru is that there are many children abandoned by parents unwilling or unable to care for them. Because the country is predominantly Roman Catholic, I don't think the abortion rate is that high over there, but these women go through the pregnancy and then you have the real tragedy: children not being cared for.

This is why, although I believe abortion is murder, I also cannot support making abortions illegal once again. Overturning Roe V Wade will create the same issues that countries like Peru now face. For research on this, I recommend doing research on some of the orphanages and children's homes in Peru and the mission work that is going on over there. They have 100s of children waiting for loving homes.

And to the right to lifers that say there is a waiting list to adopt these babies: realize that a lot of times the mother will raise the infant, but abandon the child at a later age.

Are you prepared to deal with the surplus children abandoned at ages 7 or 14 or 16? If you say yes, then why do we have a surplus of children waiting to be adopted that are older than 7 years old right here in the US?

Preventing abortions is not about protecting cute cuddly babies, it's about protecting children who grow up beyond the cute and cuddly babies!!

Answer 3

Women (especially rich women) have always had access to abortions. Either in a sterile "private" facility or in a freight car in the stock yards.

When I was in college before Roe vs Wade, there was a cute little girl about 18 or so, that was a friend of a friend who did just that....the Box car in the fright yard. She got a terrible fever and looked horrible and was hemorrhaging when I left the apartment where my friend lived as soon as they called the police. I will never forget her, and to this day, hope that she came out of it alright. Poor thing.

Answer 4

it did happen. some women who were wealthy enough were able to go to other places where abortion was legal. women who could not afford to go to another place, had very little resources. she could go to a back-alley butcher who didn't know what he was doing but was willing to make a profit. she could throw herself down a flight of stairs, have someone beat her until she miscarried OR she could stick a sharp object up her vagina and attempt to kill the fetus. many women were injured and many women died. it is not a myth. it's reality and IF abortion is illegalized again, history may repeat itself.

Answer 5

Yes... they actually happened. They were not "common," but happened enough to be a problem. Just imagine yourself as being a young teen, date raped, and facing a pregnancy... your life ruined, your family rejecting you, and your body put prematurely through a high risk pregnancy (putting your life at risk).

I will post a link...

Answer 6

Yes,it is true..but now, thanks to our new age sense of decency and civility, this act of extreme barbarism is no longer the protocol,as the murder of innocents,has been legalised and the procedure can be performed in a sterile,clinical environment with classical music playing in the backgound,drowning out the cries of injustice,from the womb and evidently, searing and soothing the concience of those who have the power,to simply say...no.

Answer 7

Yes, it is. Just like drinking alcohol, people will do it regardless of whether it's legal. And also like alcohol, it shouldn't be illegal.