The Turnaway Study

The Cost of Denying Women Access to Abortion

By: Diana Greene Foster Ph.D Ph.D, Diana Greene Foster - introduction Ph.D Ph.D

Narrated by: Samantha Desz, Full Cast

“If you read only one book about democracy, The Turnaway Study should be it. Why? Because without the power to make decisions about our own bodies, there is no democracy.” —Gloria Steinem

The “remarkable” (The New Yorker) landmark study of the consequences on women’s lives—emotional, physical, financial, professional, personal, and psychological—of receiving versus being denied an abortion that “should be required reading for every judge, member of Congress, and candidate for office—as well as anyone who hopes to better understand this complex and important issue” (Cecile Richards).

What happens when a woman seeking an abortion is turned away? To answer this question, Diana Greene Foster assembled a team of scientists—psychologists, epidemiologists, demographers, nurses, physicians, economists, sociologists, and public health researchers—to conduct a ten-year study. They followed a thousand women from across America, some of whom received abortions, some of whom were turned away. Now, for the first time, Dr. Foster presents the results of this landmark study in one extraordinary, groundbreaking book.

Judges, politicians, and pro-life advocates routinely defend their anti-abortion stance by claiming that abortion is physically risky and leads to depression and remorse. Dr. Foster’s data proves the opposite to be true. Foster documents the outcomes for women who received and were denied an abortion, analyzing the impact on their mental and physical health, their careers, their romantic relationships, and their other children, if they have them. Women who received an abortion were better off by almost every measure than women who did not, and five years after they receive an abortion, 99 percent of women do not regret it.

As the national debate around abortion intensifies, The Turnaway Study offers the first thorough, data-driven examination of the negative consequences for women who cannot get abortions and provides incontrovertible evidence to refute the claim that abortion harms women. Interwoven with the study findings are ten “engaging, in-depth” (Ms. Magazine) first-person narratives. Candid, intimate, and deeply revealing, they bring to life the women and the stories behind the science.

Revelatory, essential, and “particularly relevant now” (HuffPost), this is a must-read for anyone who cares about the impact of abortion and abortion restrictions on people’s lives.

Enlightening

Whenever I converse with someone about abortion I ask if they’ve read this book, because I believe it is one the most comprehensive resources that is data-driven rather than the typical talking points I hear again and again. I recommend this book to everyone as a great way to be better informed about the whole matter.

Excellent. Well researched.

This is a much needed book in any era. Most especially is post Roe era. Very well researched and the personal stories help to round it out.

Gloomy topic but interesting.

Regardless of your position in the topic this reads like the huge research project that it was. The sections with statistics and data a bit dry, but necessary. Women’s stories interlaced gave credence to the dire situations some found themselves in and added clarity to the survey results. I feel enriched and more educated on the topic.

Thought provoking

This is the best landscape for abortion that I have read. It’s thorough and pushed me to think about my current position on abortion. I see myself as neither fully pro-choice or pro-life. It gives reason to think carefully about the beliefs and policies we supports and how it can effect others around this issue.

Establishing empathy with others

This book does a wonderful job of pairing facts with true stories and how the choice for abortion impacts women before and after the choice is made.