The Story of Jane
Subtitle: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service
Edition: 1st edition
Publisher: Pantheon; Pantheon Books
Published: January 13, 1996
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 314
ISBN-13: 9780679420125
Subjects: Jane (Abortion service); Women's Studies - Abortion; History - General History; Abortion (Sociological Aspects); United States; Sociology; Illinois; General; Women's Studies - History; Non-Classifiable; Abortion services; Abortion; Chicago; History
First sentence: The first voice Jenny heard as the anesthetic lifted was the surgeon's, "The sterilization procedure was a success, and congratulations, you're eight weeks pregnant."
Description: In 1969 - four years before Roe v. Wade decriminalized abortion - a group of women in Chicago responded to a critical problem: the danger and desperation faced by women who could not obtain legal abortions. The group set up an underground abortion referral service with a phone number and a single name: Jane.

Soon in constant demand, the service saved lives while giving women affirmation of their right to control their own bodies. Determined to lower cost and increase safety, Jane eventually put an abortionist "on contract," and learned, while assisting him, the art of his work. Then, in their boldest step, the members took control of the entire process and began performing the abortions themselves.

During the four years of the group's existence, Jane provided more than 11,000 women with safe and affordable abortions, abortion counseling, and health education.