Scarlet A Audiobook By Katie Watson cover art

Scarlet A

The Ethics, Law, and Politics of Ordinary Abortion

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Scarlet A

By: Katie Watson
Narrated by: Coleen Marlo
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Although Roe v. Wade identified abortion as a constitutional right 45 years ago, it still bears stigma - a proverbial scarlet A. Millions of Americans have participated in or benefited from an abortion, but few want to reveal that they have done so. Approximately one in five pregnancies in the US ends in abortion. Why is something so common, which has been legal so long, still a source of shame and secrecy? Why is it so regularly debated by politicians and so seldom divulged from friend to friend?

In public discussion, both proponents and opponents of abortion's legality tend to focus on extraordinary cases. This tendency keeps the national debate polarized and contentious and keeps our focus on the cases that occur the least.

Professor Katie Watson focuses instead on the cases that happen the most, which she calls "ordinary abortion". Scarlet A gives the reflective listener a more accurate impression of what the majority of American abortion practice really looks like. It explains how our silence around private experience has distorted public opinion, and how, including both ordinary abortion and abortion ethics, could make our public exchanges more fruitful.

©2018 Katie Watson (P)2018 Tantor Ethics & Morality Gender Studies Law Medical Ethics Medicine & Health Care Industry Philosophy Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences Sexual Health Pregnancy

Featured Article: The 10 Best Blog Moments of 2022


In 2022, the Audible editors brought you more interviews than ever, from debut and emerging talent to heavy-hitting authors, performers, and cultural icons. We highlighted essential listens on reproductive justice, launched a weekly feature for new releases, and took a moment to share some strange and wonderfully obscure picks from our own libraries. From deep-dive discussions with top creators to an exploration of the most wonderfully weird titles in audio, here are our editors' favorite blog posts from 2022.

Featured Article The 10 Best Blog Moments of 2022
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Thank you so much for this thoughtful and caring book. This perspective is badly needed in our country.

Thank you!

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This is one of the best nonfiction books I have read. I would love to send it to everybody I know so we would be more likely to have civil discourse on this topic. Very educational, thoughtful and fair.

Everyone should read this book

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An engaging combination of practical facts, philosophy, and case studies. A comprehensive outline on the cultural and ethical debate over abortion.

Complete and Engaging

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I wanted to learn all I could about abortion. It seems so black and white for some. This helped

learning

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whatever position you have on abortion, this book covers the topic respectfully and intelligently.

very engaging great listen. makes you think

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But after losing my religion I decided that I have no right to tell another woman what she can or can't do with her body. I understand there are people who don't believe in abortion. that's fine, they don't need to ever get one but they have no right to tell someone else how to live their lives. Leave religion out of this. I think abortion should just be...not legal or illegal, it's just there for whatever WOMAN (men need to butt out) needs/wants one.

I used to be Anti-choice

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