The Janes

Challenging the state laws that banned abortion, the Catholic Church’s disapproval, and the Chicago Mob’s exploitation of the situation, the members of “Jane” put their personal and professional lives on the line to assist women facing unwanted pregnancies. During the period before Roe v. Wade, when abortion was illegal in most states and sharing information about it was a criminal offense in Illinois, the Janes offered affordable and free abortion services to approximately 11,000 women.