logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2022
40m 34s

Abortion in the UK

History Hit
About this episode

As the right to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy is challenged on the other side of the Atlantic, today Betwixt the Sheets we are looking at the history of abortions here in Britain.


This is the second episode in our two-part series on abortion in the US and the UK.


First, Kate speaks to Elinor Cleghorn, author of Unwell Women, about the history of abortion law in the UK, and the significance of harrowing case of 'the horse with a green tail’ in the journey to legalising abortion.


Kate is then joined by Diane Munday, an abortion rights activist who became active in the movement in the 1960s, and believes that her work is not yet done.


*WARNING there is discussion about abortion, sexual assault and death in this episode*


Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee.


Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Up next
Jul 8
The Power of Medieval Gossip
People have always gossiped, but what did they gossip about in medieval times? How were women punished for gossiping? And where does the term 'gossip' come from?Joining Kate today to gossip about all things medieval gossip is the wonderful Eleanor Janega, co-host of our sister po ... Show More
34m 25s
Jul 4
Royal Sex: Queen Victoria
With NINE children, it can probably be assumed that Queen Victoria was no stranger to the sheets, but what do we actually know about her love (and sex) life?To examine Victoria's diaries, her passionate relationship and her society's attitude to sex, Kate is joined for this speci ... Show More
47m 34s
Jul 1
Why Were Ancient Dicks So Small?
Have you ever been puzzled by proportions when looking at Ancient Greek statues? It can't just be us.From quarrying the stone to chipping away the final touches on your masterpiece - sculpting is a drawn out process. So why, after possibly years of work, did Ancient Greek artists ... Show More
35m 22s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2022
How abortion was legalised in Great Britain
In the 1960s, a young mother, Diane Munday became well-known in Britain for her work demanding abortion rights for women. She and others in the campaign faced fierce opposition, but in 1967 abortion was legalised in England, Scotland and Wales under certain circumstances. Diane h ... Show More
10m 19s
Jun 2022
Coming soon … Abortion: The Body Politic
Forty-nine years ago, the landmark Roe v Wade decision guaranteed women the right to a safe, legal abortion. This June, the Supreme Court is expected to gut that historic ruling, triggering restrictive abortion laws in at least 23 states. While the United States is on the precipi ... Show More
3m 1s
Mar 2021
Roe v. Wade
One of the most historic cases in the fight for reproductive justice was founded on the “penumbra” of cases that came before it--and it’s still one of the cornerstones of abortion law today.We want to hear from you! If you have an abortion story you want to share, leave us a mess ... Show More
41m 9s
Jan 2022
Roe v. Wade: America's Landmark Ruling
On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas law banning abortion, effectively legalising the procedure nationwide. The court held that a woman’s right to an abortion was implicit in the right to privacy protected by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Roe ... Show More
33m 58s
Mar 2021
Jane: The underground abortion network
A group of feminists working under the name “Jane” carried out underground abortions in 1960s Chicago – when abortions were still illegal in most of the US.Initially they gave abortion counselling and put women who wanted to terminate their pregnancies in touch with doctors who w ... Show More
8m 59s
Jun 2022
Abortion: The Body Politic, Part 4
In Part 4 of Abortion: The Body Politic, Katie examines how abortion is explored and reflected in popular culture and Hollywood. Because whether we realize it or not, the movies we have loved and the TV shows we watch represent the collective imagination of our culture at particu ... Show More
59m 59s
May 2022
Abortion in the US
Abortion is a deeply divisive issue in the United States that spans the law, religion and women’s rights. It has been a legal right for almost 50 years. Now, the Supreme Court – the top court in the country – is expected to overturn the law and rule that abortions can banned. It’ ... Show More
24m 19s
Jul 2022
Special episode: Abortion rights around the world
In June, the US Supreme Court overruled Roe v Wade and ended the constitutional right to abortion in America. In a special episode, we investigate the changing dynamic of abortion rights globally in countries like Colombia, China and Ireland. We'll also be examining the restricti ... Show More
31m 38s
Oct 2021
Inside a Texas Abortion Clinic
On August 31st, Marva Sadler stood outside the Whole Women’s Health abortion clinic in Fort Worth, Texas, and vowed to help as many people as she could before the end of the day. Along with a small staff, Sadler and a physician performed 67 abortions before midnight. The next day ... Show More
29m 37s