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Impossible Motherhood

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Publication date
  
October 6, 2009

Dewey Decimal
  
616.85/84 B 22

Followed by
  
N/A

Author
  
Publisher
  
3.4/5
Goodreads

Language
  
English

ISBN
  
978-1-59051-320-0

LC Class
  
HQ767 .V55 2009

Originally published
  
6 October 2009

Genre
  
Country
  
United States of America

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Preceded by
  
The Ladies' Gallery: A Memoir of Family Secrets

Similar
  
The Ladies' Gallery: A Memoir of, American Nerd: The Story of M, A Message from God in the Atomi, The Paradox of Choice

Impossible Motherhood (full title: Impossible Motherhood: Testimony of an Abortion Addict) is a memoir by Irene Vilar. It is the second memoir published by Vilar, the first being The Ladies’ Gallery.

Contents

Controversy

Impossible Motherhood generated controversy on publication for the revelation that the author had 15 abortions in 17 years between the ages of 16 and 33. Vilar confesses to an "abortion addiction" and argues that the abortions were an act of rebellion against her controlling husband who did not want any children. In the memoir she described how between the ninth abortion and tenth pregnancy she "needed another self-injury to get the high." Vilar also blamed American society for her actions, stating that women were expected to be perfect mothers but to achieve professionally. She states that she still holds pro-choice views but admits abusing the lawful procedure. The cycle of abortions began during a relationship with literary critic Pedro Cuperman. Vilar remarried in 2003 and now has two children.

Reaction

The work angered American pro-life groups and Vilar received death threats and hate mail after publication. The work was rejected 51 times before publishers accepted it. Dr. Lauren Streicher, clinical assistant professor at the Northwestern University School of Medicine suggested that Vilar could have mental health problems. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that pro-choice groups have been largely silent in response to the publication.

References

Impossible Motherhood Wikipedia


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