📖 Overview
Johanna Schoen is a professor of history at Rutgers University and a prominent scholar of reproductive rights, women's health, and the history of medicine in the United States. Her research has focused extensively on abortion, sterilization, and birth control policies in twentieth-century America.
Schoen's 2005 book "Choice and Coercion: Birth Control, Sterilization, and Abortion in Public Health and Welfare" is considered a landmark work examining North Carolina's reproductive health policies between 1920-1970. The book revealed how public health programs simultaneously expanded and restricted women's reproductive options, particularly for poor and minority women.
Her 2015 publication "Abortion After Roe" investigates the complex landscape of abortion provision in the United States after the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. This work documents the experiences of abortion providers and patients while analyzing how anti-abortion activism has shaped access to reproductive healthcare.
Beyond her academic work, Schoen has served as an expert witness in cases involving reproductive rights and has contributed historical documents and research to various women's health organizations and archives. Her scholarship continues to inform contemporary debates about reproductive healthcare policy and access.
👀 Reviews
Readers consistently note Schoen's thorough research and detailed documentation of reproductive healthcare history. Academic reviewers particularly value her balanced examination of complex issues around sterilization and abortion policies.
What readers liked:
- Clear presentation of historical evidence and primary sources
- Balanced handling of sensitive subject matter
- Connection between historical policies and current debates
What readers disliked:
- Dense academic writing style can be challenging for general readers
- Limited exploration of patient perspectives in some sections
- High price point of academic editions
Ratings:
Goodreads: Choice and Coercion - 4.0/5 (32 ratings)
Abortion After Roe - 4.2/5 (25 ratings)
Amazon: Choice and Coercion - 4.5/5 (8 reviews)
Abortion After Roe - 4.7/5 (6 reviews)
One reader noted: "Essential historical context for understanding today's reproductive rights debates, though the academic tone requires careful reading." Another commented: "Detailed research but would benefit from more personal narratives."
📚 Books by Johanna Schoen
Choice and Coercion: Birth Control, Sterilization, and Abortion in Public Health and Welfare (2005)
Documents the history of reproductive healthcare in the American South from the 1920s-1970s, examining birth control programs, sterilization policies, and abortion access.
Abortion After Roe (2015) Chronicles the evolution of abortion care in the United States after Roe v. Wade, focusing on providers, clinics, and political challenges from 1973 to the present.
Case Against Coerced Birth Control (2016) Analyzes historical instances of forced sterilization and contraception in the United States, with particular emphasis on marginalized communities and public health policies.
Abortion After Roe (2015) Chronicles the evolution of abortion care in the United States after Roe v. Wade, focusing on providers, clinics, and political challenges from 1973 to the present.
Case Against Coerced Birth Control (2016) Analyzes historical instances of forced sterilization and contraception in the United States, with particular emphasis on marginalized communities and public health policies.
👥 Similar authors
Leslie Reagan examines reproductive rights and abortion history in America through archival research and oral histories. Her work "When Abortion Was a Crime" covers similar territory to Schoen's research on abortion access and public health policy.
Rickie Solinger focuses on pregnancy, motherhood, and reproductive politics in the United States. Her research on pregnancy, adoption, and welfare intersects with Schoen's work on reproductive healthcare and women's rights.
Linda Gordon writes about birth control and reproductive rights through a historical lens. Her book "The Moral Property of Women" traces the history of birth control politics in ways that complement Schoen's research.
Ruth Schwartz Cowan analyzes the intersection of medicine, technology, and women's health in American history. Her work examining medical technologies and genetic testing aligns with Schoen's interests in public health policy.
Rebecca Kluchin studies sterilization, reproductive rights, and women's health care in twentieth-century America. Her research on eugenic sterilization policies covers themes found in Schoen's work on reproductive justice.
Rickie Solinger focuses on pregnancy, motherhood, and reproductive politics in the United States. Her research on pregnancy, adoption, and welfare intersects with Schoen's work on reproductive healthcare and women's rights.
Linda Gordon writes about birth control and reproductive rights through a historical lens. Her book "The Moral Property of Women" traces the history of birth control politics in ways that complement Schoen's research.
Ruth Schwartz Cowan analyzes the intersection of medicine, technology, and women's health in American history. Her work examining medical technologies and genetic testing aligns with Schoen's interests in public health policy.
Rebecca Kluchin studies sterilization, reproductive rights, and women's health care in twentieth-century America. Her research on eugenic sterilization policies covers themes found in Schoen's work on reproductive justice.