Abortion in the 1920s
The practice of abortion is defined as the termination of a pregnancy so that it does not result in birth. This has been practiced throughout history in almost every culture, with diverse methods, ranging from the use of herbs, to sharp instruments, to simple methods like abdominal compression. While the practice is one of the oldest in human history, it has been under scrutiny for much of its life. Opposing parties have historically used religious, morality, and human rights as reasons for their disdain. Despite these forces, abortion is currently legal in most of the west.
While the practice is legal now, constitutionally protected by the case Roe v Wade, its history in America has been tumultuous at best. During the 1920's, the time period of this novel, the feminist movement had been gaining huge advancements for their agenda, after triumphantly wining the vote in 1917. While the practice was still shunned, a study staged by Plan Parenthood showed that between 10-23% of educated white middle-class women had an abortion at one point in their lives. Its cost would vary from doctor to doctor, but a common price for the lower class was 5% of their yearly salary.
An abortion then was a very dangerous procedure, in the late 1920's fifteen thousand women died from complications with the operation. Dewey Dell's determination to go through with the procedure illustrates the necessity these procedures were for women in this age. To have a baby while being unmarried was extremely rare, and it was unlikely for one to find a husband after giving birth. The public attitude was extremely against abortion, and even feminists commonly advocated alternatives to abortion.
While the practice is legal now, constitutionally protected by the case Roe v Wade, its history in America has been tumultuous at best. During the 1920's, the time period of this novel, the feminist movement had been gaining huge advancements for their agenda, after triumphantly wining the vote in 1917. While the practice was still shunned, a study staged by Plan Parenthood showed that between 10-23% of educated white middle-class women had an abortion at one point in their lives. Its cost would vary from doctor to doctor, but a common price for the lower class was 5% of their yearly salary.
An abortion then was a very dangerous procedure, in the late 1920's fifteen thousand women died from complications with the operation. Dewey Dell's determination to go through with the procedure illustrates the necessity these procedures were for women in this age. To have a baby while being unmarried was extremely rare, and it was unlikely for one to find a husband after giving birth. The public attitude was extremely against abortion, and even feminists commonly advocated alternatives to abortion.