Join us for the launch of the book Abortion Trail Activism: The Global Infrastructures for Abortion Access by Dr Deirdre Duffy, Senior Lecturer in Sociology (Global Social Inequalities).  This event is taking place in the Events and Exhibtion Space (A385) at Lancaster University Library on October 7^th , 4-6pm and includes a conversation followed by a drinks reception. Directions to the event location are available here. 

Abortion trail activists are national and transnational organizations and movements that enable access to safe abortion – this open access book adopts a global perspective to explore their historic contribution to reproductive justice, their innovative work, and the continuing and emergent problems they face.

Deirdre Duffy offers the first dedicated analysis of both the historic and on-going relationship between groups supporting access to abortion and abortion politics, drawing on theoretical perspectives and debates including post-colonialism, feminist anarchism and health activism. Challenging assumptions about the achievements of pro-choice politics, Duffy examines the race-based exclusions within and created by dominant historic pro-choice narratives, critiquing the prochoice movements' whiteness, and the limitations of a focus on legal change. Case studies are drawn from across the Global North and South, including examples from Argentina, Kenya, Poland, the Netherlands, and Ireland.

The event will feature a panel conversation and Q&A on the book’s key themes between Dr Deirdre Duffy, Dr Ala Sirriyeh (Senior Lecturer in Sociology) and Dr Claire Pierson (Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Liverpool). The panel will be chaired by Dr Laura Clancy (Lecturer in Media and Cultural Studies and Co-Director of the Centre for Gender Studies).

This book has been published Open Access with support from Lancaster University, meaning it is available to access online free of charge. Find out more about Open Access Books here.