Abortion beyond the Law

The feminists across Latin America, Africa, and Europe making self-managed abortion available to all – and the transnational movement they have built along the way. Drawing on years of research with activists around the world, sociologist Naomi Braine describes the strategies, politics, and tactics of direct action feminists bringing abortion pills, information, and support to people seeking to end unwanted pregnancies. From combatting the legal strictures of Bolsonaro’s Brazil, to navigating the NGO-dominated landscape of Kenya and Nigeria, feminist activists are making safe, accessible abortion care available against the odds. Even more important, these women are building a robust transnational feminist network. Tactics developed in the Global South – hotlines, practices of accompaniment and peer-to-peer care, and scientific information – are now being shared with activists in Europe and North America, building a new model for international feminist solidarity.