Pills and Protest
Abortion Access in Ireland
Published on 26. June 2025
192 pages
979-8-8818-0799-3 (ISBN)
Description
The Republic of Ireland lived under one of the strictest abortion bans in Europe for decades, then in 2018, their voters passed one of the most liberal abortion provision schemes in the world.
Pills & Protest: Abortion Access in Ireland tells the story of how feminist activists strategically used abortion pills to help people while abortion was illegal and to influence the legal and medical changes to come. Drawing on three years of interviews with activists, doctors, and politicians in Ireland, Brenna McCaffrey illuminates the story of how the abortion pill transitioned from a controversial object to a legally recognized medical solution. The result is an energizing story - one of creative protest, passion, and activism in pursuit of reproductive freedom. Pills and Protest demonstrates how understanding medication abortion is essential to understanding reproductive healthcare in Ireland - and globally - today.
Pills & Protest: Abortion Access in Ireland tells the story of how feminist activists strategically used abortion pills to help people while abortion was illegal and to influence the legal and medical changes to come. Drawing on three years of interviews with activists, doctors, and politicians in Ireland, Brenna McCaffrey illuminates the story of how the abortion pill transitioned from a controversial object to a legally recognized medical solution. The result is an energizing story - one of creative protest, passion, and activism in pursuit of reproductive freedom. Pills and Protest demonstrates how understanding medication abortion is essential to understanding reproductive healthcare in Ireland - and globally - today.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
9 b/w photos
File size
1,88 MB
ISBN-13
979-8-8818-0799-3 (9798881807993)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
09/2025
Bloomsbury Academic
€35.50
Shipment within 10-20 days
Person
Brenna McCaffrey is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at SUNY Geneseo. Her work on the politics of abortion in Ireland has been published in Sapiens, Feminist Anthropology and Medical Anthropology Quarterly. Dr. McCaffrey is active in many efforts to improve abortion access in the United States, including volunteering with the New York Abortion Access Fund, the Miscarriage & Abortion Hotline, and the Online Abortion Resource Squad.
Content
List of Figures
Map of Ireland
Glossary of Terms
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Pharmaceutical Insert #1
Chapter 1. Taking The Boat
Pharmaceutical Insert #2
Chapter 2. All Aboard the Abortion Pill Train
Pharmaceutical Insert #3
Chapter 3. How a Pill Becomes a Law
Pharmaceutical Insert #4
Chapter 4. Rebel Doctors
Chapter 5. Becoming Abortion Providers
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
Map of Ireland
Glossary of Terms
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Pharmaceutical Insert #1
Chapter 1. Taking The Boat
Pharmaceutical Insert #2
Chapter 2. All Aboard the Abortion Pill Train
Pharmaceutical Insert #3
Chapter 3. How a Pill Becomes a Law
Pharmaceutical Insert #4
Chapter 4. Rebel Doctors
Chapter 5. Becoming Abortion Providers
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
