"Call Jane" radio documentary about feminist abortion group

[Scout2016]

I listened to this bbc Archive on 4 radio programme yesterday and found it really interesting and full of phenomenal women.
It's called "Call Jane at 643-3844" and is about an illegal abortion service set up by women in Chicago in 1969. Women helping other women, common sense, bravery, kindness... and timely, given how rights are rolling back in places.

Sorry if it's already been covered on here but thought it might be of interest.

That sounds interesting OP will try to find it on Sounds. Thanks for noting.

50 years on and women are still running and using similar services...

Call Jane at 643-3844
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000djx2

I remember reading about this sort of thing in the 80s (set in the 70s I suppose) it always haunted me because of the fear that we would have to re-invent this sort of thing in the UK- when ever there was a challenge to our rights to abortion. Which thankfully don't seem to come around so frequently now.

As a one off this BBC radio documentary "Call Jane at 643-3844" about n underground abortion service run by women in Chicago from 1969-1973.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000djx2

Wrong thread, sorry. Meant to post on the good podcasts one

I read the book and it was utterly fascinating.

Women were taught by the doctors who performed the back street abortions how to do it safely.

Women call the number ask for Jane, leave a message and the activists pick up the message and put them in contact with people who can help them.

Normal women, mothers etc trying to be there for marginalised and oppressed women who weren’t legally allowed to make their own decisions regarding their own body

@IheartJKR oooohhhh,I didn't know there was a book. Thanks!

There was a film made in 2016, 'Ask for Jane'. It's on Amazon Prime; I can't seem to find a DVD.

It's a good film. Some bits are a bit clunky - a few times they talked of 'people' when they just meant women, but at others they were clear about sex-based marginalisation; there was a scene near the end where they had a black woman who'd come in complain that all their volunteers were white - wikipedia relates something similar did happen, but honestly as a scene it was rather clunky.