A Fraught History of Abortion and Contraception in Arkansas

Published July 28, 2022 at 11:41 AM CDT

Ways To Subscribe

Spotify
Apple
Stitcher
Google

Lavender was a common herb consumed by women in the 19th century as an abortifacient.

A century before Roe v. Wade federally legalized abortion in America, girls and women in Arkansas seeking to prevent or terminate unwanted pregnancies were often required to resort to extreme measures. Independent historian Melanie K. Welch, Ph.D. chronicles the history of contraception and abortionin Arkansas.