The Life and Times of the Woman Who Changed Abortion: The Roe v. Wade Story

Norma McCorvey, the woman known as "Jane Roe" in the landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, lived a life marked by both tragedy and triumph. Born into poverty in 1947, she endured a childhood marred by abuse and neglect. By the age of 22, she was pregnant for the third time and desperate for an abortion. However, in 1969, abortion was illegal in most states, and McCorvey was forced to seek a back-alley procedure.

Intimate Wars: The Life and Times of the Woman Who Brought Abortion from the Back Alley to the Boardroom

by Merle Hoffman

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	420 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	274 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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The experience was so traumatic that McCorvey resolved to fight for women's reproductive rights. She joined a group of activists who were challenging the anti-abortion laws in Texas, and in 1971, she became the plaintiff in the case that would eventually make abortion legal throughout the United States.

Roe v. Wade was a landmark decision that legalized abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy. However, it also sparked a fierce debate that has continued to divide the country for decades. McCorvey herself became a controversial figure, as both pro-choice and pro-life activists sought to use her story to promote their agendas.

In her later years, McCorvey had a change of heart about abortion, and she became an outspoken opponent of the procedure. However, she never wavered in her belief that women should have the right to choose.

Norma McCorvey died in 2017, but her legacy continues to shape the debate over abortion in America. She was a complex and contradictory figure, but she was also a courageous woman who fought for what she believed in.

Early life and family

Norma McCorvey was born in Houston, Texas, on September 22, 1947. Her mother, Mary Edna McCorvey, was a 15-year-old waitress, and her father, Elwood McCorvey, was a 20-year-old construction worker. Norma's parents never married, and she never knew her father.

Norma's mother was an alcoholic, and she often left Norma and her younger sister, Debbie, alone for days at a time. Norma was frequently beaten by her mother and stepfather, and she was sexually abused by her uncle.

At the age of 13, Norma ran away from home and began living on the streets. She was soon picked up by a man who took her to a brothel in Louisiana. Norma worked as a prostitute for several years, and she became addicted to drugs and alcohol.

The Roe v. Wade case

In 1969, Norma McCorvey became pregnant for the third time. She was already the mother of two children, and she did not want any more. However, abortion was illegal in Texas at the time, and Norma was unable to obtain a legal abortion.

Norma eventually met a group of activists who were challenging the anti-abortion laws in Texas. The activists agreed to help Norma file a lawsuit against the state, and in 1971, she became the plaintiff in the case that would eventually make abortion legal throughout the United States.

The case, known as Roe v. Wade, was argued before the Supreme Court in 1973. The Court ruled in favor of Norma, holding that the Constitution protects a woman's right to have an abortion.

Roe v. Wade was a landmark decision that legalized abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy. However, it also sparked a fierce debate that has continued to divide the country for decades.

Later life and legacy

In her later years, Norma McCorvey had a change of heart about abortion. She became an outspoken opponent of the procedure, and she even appeared in pro-life commercials. However, she never wavered in her belief that women should have the right to choose.

Norma McCorvey died in 2017, but her legacy continues to shape the debate over abortion in America. She was a complex and contradictory figure, but she was also a courageous woman who fought for what she believed in.

Norma McCorvey was a complex and contradictory figure. She was a victim of abuse and neglect, and she struggled with addiction and prostitution. However, she was also a courageous woman who fought for what she believed in. Her legacy continues to shape the debate over abortion in America.

Intimate Wars: The Life and Times of the Woman Who Brought Abortion from the Back Alley to the Boardroom

by Merle Hoffman

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	420 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	274 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE