This work investigates the historical evolution of reproductive rights in the United States, specifically examining the social and political struggle for access to contraception and abortion. Linda Perlman Gordon, a historian specializing in women's history, utilizes archival research and social analysis to document how American women challenged legal prohibitions throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The text argues that reproductive control is central to women's autonomy and traces the shifting legislative landscape from the mid-1800s to contemporary political debates.

Scholars and historians recognize this text as a foundational resource for understanding the political history of reproductive rights in America. Readers frequently note the academic rigor of the research and the clarity with which the author connects historical legislative shifts to modern social movements.