The Story of Jane

The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service

By: Laura Kaplan

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

First published in 1997, The Story of Jane recounts the evolution of Jane, the underground group in Chicago that performed abortion services before the procedure was legalized. An extraordinary history by one of its members, this is the first account of Jane's evolution, the conflicts within the group, and the impact its work had both on the women it helped and the members themselves.

This audiobook stands as a compelling testament to a woman's most essential freedom - control over her own body - and to the power of women helping women.

A movie based on the book, titled This Is Jane, is being produced by Amazon Studios, with Michelle Williams attached to star.

©1995 Laura Kaplan (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Essential history & organizing primer

You can listen to this as a history of women's liberation viewed through the lens of women banding together to provide safe abortion services, or you can listen to it as a primer on underground social organizing. It works on both levels. What is particularly important is that Kaplan pulls no punches dissecting both the group's successes and shortcomings.

This is literally unknown ground for most people, and Kaplan covers it thoroughly and with great sensitivity. If you are resolutely anti-abortion you can still listen to this with profit if you can get beyond your knee-jerk negative reaction to the topic.

Narration is clear and workmanlike -- does not either add or detract.

Pro Choice or Pro Life - everyone should read this.

A band of women seeing a need and filling it. A group of clergy, doctors and police that helped. No extremists, just respecting autonomy and real life issues.

This book is terrific!

These women created a great clinic. We can do it too! This is no time to follow “the law”.” This basic right has been snatched from us without even a vote. Outrageous!!

So important right now... in 2022

I, like so many others, was devastated by the June 2022 Suprem Court ruling which overturned Roe v Wade. I then stumbled upon this book. I was born in 1973, so I've never lived, until now, during a time when abortions were illegal in America. This book was so insightful as to what that was like. I was also utterly gobsmacked to learn that there were many Baptist leaders supporting the woman's right to choose safe abortions. My, how things have changed. I found this book to not only be well written and an enjoyable listen, but also so very informative and inspiring.

4/5 Estrellas

Things have to be pretty terrible to force you to act.

En conmemoración del día internacional de la mujer decidí elegir una lectura cuyo tema central fuera algo relacionado con el feminismo. The history of Jane trae a la luz una increíble historia basada en hechos verídicos, donde un grupo de mujeres decidió unir fuerzas para iniciar un servicio en pro del aborto en el año de 1971, cuando tales acciones eran penadas por la ley. Desde su fundación nos vamos adentrando de la mano de una de sus miembros, siguiéndolas desde sus orígenes contactando y buscando doctores capaces de realizar los abortos (cobrando 500 dlls por operación), hasta el punto donde ellas mismas están realizando el procedimiento, cobrando a las mujeres 100 dlls (o lo que ellas pudieran aportar).
Es una historia llenas de agallas, valor y resiliencia. Una lectura imperdible para conmemorar el 8 de Marzo, sin importar si quien lo lee es una persona que reside en los EEUU.
Fue particularmente duro de escuchar dado que el libro cierra tras la aprobación de Roe V Wade en 1973; es increíble el retroceso histórico al que se llego en 2022, con la abolición de esa misma propuesta. Bien dijo Simone de Beauvoir:
"No olvidéis jamás que bastara una crisis política, económica o religiosa para que lo derechos de las mujeres vuelvan a ser cuestionados. Estos derechos nunca se dan por adquiridos, debéis permanecer vigilantes toda vuestra vida."

Hubo momentos que llegaron a sentirse repetitivos a lo largo del libro pero en general es una lectura imperdible que no dudare en recomendar a cada oportunidad que se me presente.
4.5/5 estrellas

Abortion is normal, and always has been.

This book illustrates everything you need to know about women and what they can accomplish. These women were remarkably responsible and professional. Their above and beyond care put the medical profession to shame. It still does. I thank the author for putting a spotlight on so much that’s been all but forgotten.

lol

i love how they only keep the 5 star reviews. . . . .

Salient, fascinating, amazing history

I am inspired by the process that Jane went through in transforming the landscape of the world as we know it and serving - and empowering - so many women.

Important Womens & Healthcare History

The story of Jane - an underground abortion network pre-Roe v Wade - is important history to know. Some of the points that really struck a chord with me:

- Women’s bodies were long misunderstood by the medical profession and also by women themselves. Sadly, this is likely still true.
- When there is an issue that needs to be addressed, never underestimate the power of strong, organized women.
- Sex education that is factually based is an absolutely essential. Once again this is sadly lacking for many.

While at times I found the book repetitive, I ultimately decided that was necessary when laying out the history and progression of what occurred during the years of Jane. The women in this group absolutely amaze me for many reasons and are inspirational. If you are into history, particularly that of women and/or healthcare, this is well worth a read.

The story of underground organization Jane

This audiobook is about the secret underground group called Jane. They were a women member group that provided secret abortions to women and as they progressed offered it for free. The story starts good and gets into a repeating phase during the middle unit the end with a busy and legalization. I was surprised never having heard of Jane and the narrator is easy to hear and understand. A book that has unfortunately been relevant to today’s world