Reproductive Rites

“A tongue-in-cheek, frequently sarcastic history of abortion practices from ancient times to the present… . Saint Thomas mines the historical record for some engaging reminders of the long history of the vilification of abortionists, midwives, and so-called witches.” –Kirkus Reviews“Reproductive Rites is not only a fascinating and engaging read but, in our current post-Roe climate, a necessary one. From the time of the Pharaohs to Donald Trump, Sophie Saint Thomas details society’s conflicted relationship with reproductive rights. This volume offers readers exacting research into everyone from ancient midwives to modern day anti-choicers. The facts will help every reader understand how we came to find ourselves in our current position. And it’s all presented with wit, humor, and verve that make it an unputdownable read for every feminist.” –Jennifer Wright, author of Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist“An exciting, racy, angry, and well-informed survey, which ranges across a wide span of history in order to make points of tremendous relevance to the present.” –Ronald Hutton, author of The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present“Through a cross-cultural lens, Saint Thomas offers us a fascinating exploration into the socio-psychological dynamics which underscore the practice of witch persecution and the ongoing oppression of women’s reproductive rights. Her work is an incisive critique of human prejudice and its historical consequences.” –Alan Kilpatrick, author of The Night Has a Naked Soul: Witchcraft and Sorcery among the Western Cherokee

Sophie Saint Thomas is a writer based in New York City and originally from the US Virgin Islands. She is the author of books including Weed Witch. She has been published in GQ, Playboy, VICE, Cosmopolitan, Forbes, Allure, Glamour, Marie Claire, High Times, Nylon, Refinery29, Complex, Harper s Bazaar, PRIDEMagazine, SELF, and more.