A sweeping narrative history of abortion rights in America - from whispered remedies and underground networks to the legal battles, activists, and political forces that shaped modern reproductive freedom.
For more than a century, the fight for abortion access has been told in fragments - court cases, headlines, protests, and political battles that rarely capture the human story underneath. Given No Choice brings those pieces together. Drawing on archival research, rare interviews, oral histories, legislative transcripts, and firsthand accounts, Cody McDevitt weaves an urgent, intimate, and deeply human history of how abortion rights were won, lost, and defended across generations.
From midwives and discreet physicians operating in the shadows, to the women forced into dangerous decisions, to the organizers and attorneys who risked livelihoods to challenge the law, this book lays bare the truth: abortion in America has never been just a medical issue - it has always been a struggle for autonomy, dignity, and power.
Inside this groundbreaking book, readers will discover:
- The hidden networks that allowed women to access abortions long before Roe v. Wade
- How politicians, judges, and religious movements reshaped reproductive law
- The real stories of women harmed - and sometimes saved - by the choices available to them
- The rise of the anti-abortion movement and the strategies it still uses today
- Exclusive interviews with doctors, activists, and legal experts who witnessed the fight firsthand
- What the post-Roe landscape reveals about the future of reproductive freedom
About the Author :
Cody McDevitt is an award-winning journalist, historian, playwright, and author known for bringing overlooked and complex histories to life. He is the author of Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights, a sweeping narrative grounded in archival documents, interviews, and legal records that traces the long struggle for reproductive freedom in the United States. His previous books include Banished from Johnstown, a deeply reported history of racial expulsion in Western Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh Drinks, a cultural history of the region's cocktail and spirits scene.McDevitt's journalism and nonfiction writing combine investigative depth with narrative storytelling, illuminating the human experiences behind major social and legal shifts. Alongside his books, he is developing plays and screenplays based on true events, including the stories of Dr. Aleck Bourne, Joan Malleson, and the Rosedale Banishment.He shares ongoing research and commentary through his newsletter, Repro Rights Now, and continues to work on new book, theatre, and film projects. He lives in Pennsylvania.
Review :
"This is a must read book on the history of abortion politics in the US. If, like me, you think you know it all, you will be blown away by the intimate and absolutely accurate history of the movement, the leaders on both sides and the paths they took to either block or provide access to safe abortion. If you are new to the issue-perhaps concerned now that Roe has been overturned and every woman has lost all right to end a pregnancy-you will be inspired by those who have gone before and the struggle that lies before us. Frankly, it is the best book on the issue I have ever read-and I've read them all."
-Frances Kissling, President, The Center for Health ethics and Social Policy
"Finally! A rights-based approach to the history of abortion in the United States. This book tells the abortion rights story at the right time, giving us an accurate view of where the fight has come from and where we have to take it to secure sexual and reproductive freedom for now, for all, forever."
-Dazon Dixon Diallo, Founder of SisterLove
"Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights is an engaging and authoritative account of one of the central stories of our time-the struggle for and against abortion rights. This book is valuable beyond the story of where we've been and how we got here. It also surfaces important lessons learned-many by those who dedicated their lives to the cause. These lessons may very well inform our current political moment as well as generations to come. Whether you have a passionate, passing, or professional interest, Given No Choice is a good read and an essential reference."
-- Frederick Clarkson, Senior Research Analyst, Political Research Associates
"Cody McDevitt's book illuminates the complex history of a woman's struggle to maintain bodily autonomy in order to protect her life, health and ability to maintain economic equality with men. By understanding the past, McDevitt's important, well-documented work can help men and women work together to create a more just and enlightened nation on this issue."
-Bill Baird, Reproductive Rights Pioneer
