It's Been a Minute How Brazilians have safe abortions (regardless of the law)
Jun 30, 2025
Kelly McEvers, host of NPR's Embedded, dives into Brazil's complex landscape of reproductive health. She shares the inspiring story of grassroots networks empowering women to access safe abortions despite legal obstacles. The conversation highlights the historical struggles of Brazilian feminists during a dictatorship and the impact of Catholicism on women's health. Listeners are also introduced to the grim realities faced by women in Recife seeking unsafe abortions, contrasting that with improved practices that significantly reduced maternal mortality rates.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
The Global Abortion Rights Network
- The abortion rights network operates quietly worldwide, helping women self-manage abortions safely.
- This decentralized network includes midwives, nurses, and volunteers, offering access outside traditional clinics.
Calm Persistence of Abortion Supporters
- While many panicked after Roe v. Wade was overturned, the abortion access network remained calm and energized.
- They saw their work as continuous and unaffected by new legal restrictions.
Tiny Method Transforms Abortion Access
- The tiny abortion method pill revolutionized access to safe abortion globally.
- Experts compare its impact on reproductive health to the discovery of penicillin in medicine.