Pro-Choice Movement     [text-only version for printing]     [back to graphical version]
The following guide provides Web site links, a list of selected books, and access to online periodical articles about this subject. The Web site links have been researched, evaluated, and annotated by Rio Hondo College Librarians. The Librarians have specifically selected these Web sites to meet the research needs of Rio Hondo College students

Web Site Links    

Abortion : Legislative Response (IB95095)     http://www.thememoryhole.org/crs/IB95095.pdf
This is a report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) which is the branch of the Library of Congress that performs research for the Congress of the United States.  Dated July 29, 2003, this issue brief contains a summary and the most recent developments with regard to abortion, followed by the judicial history (Supreme Court cases) and legislative history (bills, amendments, statutory provisions) .

The Abortion Access Project     http://www.abortionaccess.org/
Calling itself a "a grassroots coalition of reproductive rights activists and women's health care providers,"  the Abortion Access Project is dedicated to making abortion and reproductive health care accessible to all women.  The organization wants to increase the number of abortion services at hospitals, increase the number of residents being trained to perform abortions, and educate the public to see abortion as health care, not as a stigma.  The Web site "offers resources for activists, students, and health care providers."

The Alan Guttmacher Institute     http://www.guttmacher.org/
This is a very reputable nonprofit organization focused on sexual and reproductive health research, policy analysis and public education.  There is a wealth of information on the Web site that includes articles, a FAQ, and statistics and reports.  A custom table maker allows you to build your own tables from information provided in the Institute's databases.  Under "Presentation Tools" on the main page, there are links to frequently requested information, including the latest teen pregnancy statistics.

Catholics for a Free Choice     http://www.cath4choice.org
CFFC supports the right to legal abortion and promotes family planning to reduce the incidence of abortion and to increase women's choice in childbearing and child rearing.

NARAL Pro-Choice America     http://naral.org/
NARAL Pro-Choice America's mission is to protect and preserve the right to choose while promoting policies and programs that improve women's health and make abortion less necessary -- from the Web site.  This is the national organization for women who want better access to more effective contraceptive options and better access to other kinds of reproductive health care and information.  The site features Fact Sheets (http://naral.org/issues/fact-sheets.html) that range from "abortion" to "choice in the courts."  For comparisons between states' abortion legislation, see the publication Who Decides State Profiles (http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/choice-action-center/in_your_state/who-decides/state-profiles/).

National Abortion Federation     http://www.prochoice.org/
The NAF wants to keep abortion safe, legal, and accessible.  The Web site has a series of fact sheets on abortion and reproductive health topics, including a history of Roe v. Wade.  The Public Policy link will take you to legal issues, Supreme Court decisions, legislative issues, and judicial nominations.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.     http://www.plannedparenthood.org/
One of the original organizations to take up the issue of abortion and reproductive issues, Planned Parenthood was founded by Margaret Sanger in 1916 as America's first birth control clinic.  You can find FAQs, fact sheets, reports and white papers on a number of related topics such as birth control, sexuality education, teen pregnancy and abortion. 

Online Databases (Rio Hondo Students only)   
Rio Hondo College databases.

Books    
The following books can be located in the Rio Hondo College Library.

The abortion controversy (Current controversies)
Call number:  Ref HQ767.A173 2001

Encyclopedia of birth control
Call number:  Ref  HQ766.R442 2000

Historical & multicultural encyclopedia of women's reproductive rights in the United States
Call number:  Ref HQ766.5.U5H57 2002

Should abortion rights be restricted? (At issue) (Opposing viewpoints series)
Call number: Ref HQ767.15.S498 2003

Abortion -- Moral and ethical aspects

Abortion -- United States

Pro-choice movement -- United States

Pro-life movement -- United States

Media
The following media can be located in the Rio Hondo College Library at the 3rd floor Circulation Desk, to be viewed in the Library.

Abortion : desperate choices (America undercover)
Call number: Video 000835
Documentary showing pregnant women in difficult situations making decisions about abortion.  Follows patients at an abortion clinic through the initial pregnancy testing, counseling, and the abortion itself. Includes the side taken by the pro-life movement and protest marches.

Abortion : for survival
Call number:  Video 000061
Shows how the denial of abortion affects not only women's lives in the United States but also in the third world countries.

Articles  
The Rio Hondo College Library provides online access to full-text articles through our online databases -  http://library.riohondo.edu/online_databases/index.htm.  Please note:  you must be a Rio Hondo College student, faculty, staff or board member to use these services.

The 5 sample searches below are from the ProQuest database.  Use Advanced Search and type each tern in a separate box:

    1.  SU(abortion)
    2.  SU(abortion) AND SU(pro choice movement)
    3.  SUB( Pro choice movement)
    4.  (PRO CHOICE) (scholarly journals only)
    5.  (family planning) AND (abortion)

Researched and evaluated by:
J. Coe, Librarian 9/2/2003
last update: D. Banton, Librarian 9/2007

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