Obstacle Course: The Everyday Struggle to Get an Abortion in America

Obstacle Course is a book that tells the story of abortion in America, capturing the insurmountable barriers people face when trying to exercise their legal rights to medical services. It reveals the unstoppable determination required of women in the pursuit of reproductive autonomy and the incredible commitment of abortion providers.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 296 pages
\n Publication date: 27 July 2021
\n Publisher: University of California Press
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It is unfathomable that individuals residing in one of the most influential nations globally must jeopardize their well-being and livelihoods in pursuit of accessing essential healthcare services. Nevertheless, it is not surprising that obtaining an abortion remains a formidable challenge in numerous regions throughout the United States. Anti-choice politicians and activists have exerted relentless efforts to impose unnecessary restrictions on this straightforward medical procedure, which, at best, prolongs it and, at worst, poses medical risks and infringes upon women's constitutionally protected right to choose.

Obstacle Course, a compelling narrative, unveils the distressing reality of insurmountable barriers encountered by individuals seeking to exercise their legal rights to medical services. Authored by David S. Cohen and Carole Joffe, the book meticulously outlines the often arduous and unnecessarily burdensome process of terminating a pregnancy. It exposes the sabotaged decision-making, clinics located in remote areas, insurance bans, harassing protesters, forced ultrasounds, and misleading medical information. Additionally, it highlights arbitrary waiting periods, unjustified procedure limitations, and the relentless determination required of women in their pursuit of reproductive autonomy, as well as the unwavering commitment of abortion providers.

Through the accounts of patients and interviews with abortion providers and allies from every state in the country, Obstacle Course sheds light on the unwavering resilience exhibited by women in their quest for reproductive autonomy. It underscores the indispensable role of an unheralded army of medical professionals, clinic administrators, counselors, activists, and volunteers who tirelessly work to ensure that what is a legal right remains meaningful for the nearly one million individuals who undergo abortions annually. While there exists a more optimal approach, treating abortion as any other form of healthcare, the United States remains a significant distance from achieving this ideal.

\n Weight: 366g\n
Dimension: 144 x 222 x 20 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780520385665\n \n