#susan wicklund

[megsfeministblog]

My latest read, "This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor" by Susan Wicklund

This was an amazing book, I finished it in less than 48 hours I just couldn't put it down. It's a memoir following Dr Susan Wicklund from her decision to go to medical school in the 1980s (when it was still uncommon for women to become doctors,) to her path as an abortion provider. Working in multiple clinics, at times owning her own, often traveling across the country, from the late 1980s through to the time this book was published in 2007 (she continued to work as an abortion provider until retiring in 2013.)

The book describes the realities of working as an abortion provider in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. Angry protesters, death threats, stalking, colleagues actually being shot, stabbed, at times even murdered. Dr Wicklund writes of intermittently wearing a bullet proof vest to and from work, and keeping a gun holstered under her scrubs.

I think this book should be required reading for anyone who takes a "centrist" approach to the abortion debate. This is the reality of the "pro-life" movement, whether an individual is directly involved in violence or threats of violence, this is the behaviour they affiliate themself with.

I also found myself wondering what Dr Wicklund's thoughts are on what's happening in America today. This book was released in 2007, it mentions the death of Dr Gunn and the first shooting of Dr Tiller. Two years after it's release, Dr Tiller would be shot again, this time fatally. 15 years after it's release, America would see Roe v Wade overturned allowing states to implement stricter and stricter abortion regulations, sometimes even near total bans.

Dr Wicklund fought for the people who needed her help. She performed safe legal abortions in multiple states, often as the only provider available. She did this despite threats to her life, harassment towards herself and her family, opposition from law makers and board members, she refused to give up and let the anti abortion movement win.

Highly, highly recommend this book, especially in today's political climate. Knowing the history and reality of abortion access is increasingly important.

[megsfeministblog]

"No other medical procedure is shackled by such restrictions. Tubal ligation, vasectomy, and even open heart surgery rely only on the discretion of a physician in consultation with his or her patient."

- Susan Wicklund This Common Secret: My Life as an Abortion Doctor

[nutfreenerd]

Feminist Fridays: On the memoir of an abortion doctor

Feminist Fridays: On the memoir of an abortion doctor

Instead of writing a book review of This Common Secret by Susan Wicklund, I wanted to highlight it in the context of a Feminist Friday post. The content and even existence of this book is so important, and I’m hoping framing my post about it in this way will drive that point home.

This Common Secret is a memoir written by Susan Wicklund, a doctor who has provided legal abortions to patients in…

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[katriarch-y]

Two more abortion patients cycle through the lengthy process...There is much that has become standard and routine over the years.  Things I have done thousands of times.  Yet each patient is unique.  Each has her own set of fears, her own hopes and dreams and emotions.  Every woman has personal reasons behind her choice that are hers alone.  Nothing is routine about this for any of them.  And for the life of me, I couldn't describe the common reasons for abortions, couldn't sketch the typical patient.

Dr. Susan Wicklund, from This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor

[brainpickings]

Reading List #16: This Common Secret by Susan Wicklund

This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor by Susan Wicklund

  Woot!  A subject near and dear to our collective national stupidity, if you’re a sane person interested in reading both sides of a subject then this book is for you.  Of course if you’re an insane person who can only read one side a topic and then declare that the truth then this book is also for you, no matter which side you choose.

  Susan was a single parent with a high school education who never consider college and with a gentle push off she went to get a medical degree because of her own experience with having a abortion she choose to pursue that field knowing she could make it better for the patient.  She introduces us to the many different reasons why women undergo this option and surprise it’s not all black and white.

  We meet the 12 year old incest victim, the bruised and battered woman whose husband will kill the child and does, the abused woman whose own child/daughter told why bring another victim into the world for him,  and of course the business women who just can’t have a child at this stage of her career. We meet the anti-abortion “counslers” who put up concrete barrel barriers at the end of Susan’s driveway to prevent her from getting to work.  The law enforcement agents who look the other way until it’s too late, the damage is done and an hour later those arrested are back on the driveway. 

It’s a good book, a quick read, and I highly suggest you read it. 

[provoice]

Via: 4000 Years for Choice

[velmapippip]

This Common Secret by Susan Wicklund

Seriously. Read this book.

[emptydistractions-blog]

“It is one of the few areas of medicine where you are not working with a sick person, you are doing something for them that gives them back their life, their control.”