Taking Chances: Abortion and the Decision Not to Contracept

Taking Chances: Abortion and the Decision Not to Contracept by Kristin Luker explores the social, cultural, and personal dynamics that shape contraceptive behavior and the decision to seek abortion. It challenges prevailing assumptions about who seeks abortion and why, demonstrating how middle-class, seemingly well-adjusted women repeatedly confronted unintended pregnancies and chose abortion as a solution. Luker argues that assumptions embedded in family planning programs, medical practice, and social research often reflect unexamined values rather than empirical reality, subtly reinforcing gendered inequities. By reconnecting contraception to its intimate ties with sexuality and situating abortion within the everyday calculus of women's and men's lives, Taking Chances reframes reproductive behavior as a socially constructed process rather than an individual anomaly.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 13 May 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Taking Chances: Abortion and the Decision Not to Contracept by Kristin Luker investigates the social, cultural, and personal dynamics that shape contraceptive behavior and the decision to seek abortion. Beginning with clinical encounters that challenged prevailing assumptions about who seeks abortion and why, Luker questions the rules of plausibility that long framed abortion as a rare, traumatic, and socially stigmatized act. Through careful sociological analysis, she demonstrates how middle-class, seemingly well-adjusted women—women who did not fit conventional stereotypes of the non-contracepting—repeatedly confronted unintended pregnancies and chose abortion as a solution. Their experiences suggest that prevailing narratives about abortion and contraception have obscured the complexity of reproductive decision-making and underestimated the interplay of values, sexuality, and social norms.

At its core, the book is a study of how risk-taking in matters of sex and reproduction reflects broader cultural beliefs and institutional practices. Luker argues that assumptions embedded in family planning programs, medical practice, and social research often reflect unexamined values rather than empirical reality, subtly reinforcing gendered inequities. By reconnecting contraception to its intimate ties with sexuality and by situating abortion within the everyday calculus of women's and men's lives, Taking Chances reframes reproductive behavior as a socially constructed process rather than an individual anomaly. This work speaks to sociologists, feminists, and policymakers alike, offering a critical and nuanced account of how good intentions and accepted truths can inadvertently create oppressive realities for women navigating the politics of reproduction.

This title is part of a series of books published by the University of California Press. The series explores the social, cultural, and political dimensions of reproductive health and rights, and includes works by leading scholars in the field.

The book begins with a series of clinical encounters that challenge prevailing assumptions about who seeks abortion and why. Luker recounts the stories of women who had unintended pregnancies and chose abortion as a solution. These women were not the stereotypical "non-contracepting" women that many people assume seek abortion, but rather were middle-class, well-educated, and seemingly well-adjusted individuals.

Luker's analysis reveals that these women faced a number of barriers to contraception, including cost, access, and stigma. They also faced social pressures to conform to traditional gender roles and to have children. Despite these barriers, these women repeatedly chose abortion as a solution to their unintended pregnancies.

Luker argues that these women's experiences suggest that prevailing narratives about abortion and contraception have obscured the complexity of reproductive decision-making and underestimated the interplay of values, sexuality, and social norms. She suggests that these narratives have been shaped by a variety of factors, including religious beliefs, cultural norms, and political ideologies.

One of the key factors that Luker explores is the role of family planning programs in shaping reproductive decision-making. She argues that these programs often prioritize contraception over abortion, and that this prioritization can have negative consequences for women. For example, family planning programs may provide limited access to contraception, or may require women to undergo invasive procedures or to meet certain eligibility criteria. This can make it difficult for women to access contraception, and can lead to unintended pregnancies.

Luker also explores the role of medical practice in shaping reproductive decision-making. She argues that medical professionals often prioritize the health of the fetus over the health of the woman, and that this can lead to women being denied access to abortion. For example, medical professionals may refuse to perform abortions on women who are pregnant with fetuses that have genetic abnormalities, or may require women to undergo invasive procedures that may be harmful to their health.

Luker also explores the role of social research in shaping reproductive decision-making. She argues that social research often focuses on the negative consequences of abortion, and that this can lead to a negative perception of abortion among the public. This can make it difficult for women to access abortion, and can lead to a lack of support for women who choose to have an abortion.

In addition to these factors, Luker also explores the role of gender in shaping reproductive decision-making. She argues that women are often treated differently than men in the healthcare system, and that this can lead to women being denied access to abortion. For example, women may be required to undergo invasive procedures or to meet certain eligibility criteria that are not required of men.

Luker's analysis suggests that there are a number of ways to address these barriers to contraception and abortion. She suggests that family planning programs should prioritize access to contraception, and that medical professionals should provide women with comprehensive and respectful care. She also suggests that social research should focus on the positive consequences of abortion, and that women should be supported in their decision-making.

One of the strengths of Taking Chances is its use of sociological analysis. Luker uses a variety of methods to analyze her data, including interviews, surveys, and ethnography. This allows her to gain a deep understanding of the experiences of women who seek abortion and contraception.

Another strength of Taking Chances is its ability to connect the experiences of women to broader cultural beliefs and institutional practices. Luker shows how these beliefs and practices can shape women's reproductive decision-making, and how they can have negative consequences for women.

However, Taking Chances also has some limitations. One of the limitations is that it focuses primarily on the experiences of women in the United States. This means that it may not be applicable to women in other countries, where the healthcare system and cultural norms may be different.

Another limitation is that it does not address the issue of abortion access in the United States. While Luker discusses the barriers to abortion access, she does not provide a comprehensive solution to this issue. This is a significant issue, as abortion access is a fundamental human right.

Despite these limitations, Taking Chances is a valuable book that offers a critical and nuanced account of how good intentions and accepted truths can inadvertently create oppressive realities for women navigating the politics of reproduction. It is a must-read for sociologists, feminists, and policymakers alike.

In conclusion, Taking Chances: Abortion and the Decision Not to Contracept by Kristin Luker is a valuable book that investigates the social, cultural, and personal dynamics that shape contraceptive behavior and the decision to seek abortion. Through careful sociological analysis, Luker demonstrates how middle-class, seemingly well-adjusted women repeatedly confronted unintended pregnancies and chose abortion as a solution. Her analysis suggests that prevailing narratives about abortion and contraception have obscured the complexity of reproductive decision-making and underestimated the interplay of values, sexuality, and social norms. By reconnecting contraception to its intimate ties with sexuality and by situating abortion within the everyday calculus of women's and men's lives, Taking Chances reframes reproductive behavior as a socially constructed process rather than an individual anomaly. This work speaks to sociologists, feminists, and policymakers alike, offering a critical and nuanced account of how good intentions and accepted truths can inadvertently create oppressive realities for women navigating the politics of reproduction.

Weight: 272g
Dimension: 210 x 140 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520310490