Sex and Shame in a Different Era

In earlier decades, when abortion was unsafe and illegal, an out-of-wedlock pregnancy meant ruin. If a shotgun wedding was out of the question, nice Jewish girls went into hiding and gave the baby up for adoption. Here are some of their stories.

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Sex and Shame in a Different Era

The articles in this special section:

The “Illegitimate” Daughter Tells Her Birth Mother’s Story

by Michele Kriegman

Secrets and Lies: The ”Out-of-Wedlock” Son Finds Them Out

by David Siff

“Get Rid of the Baby. Let’s Go Home.”

by Campbell Armstrong

Plus...Oregon’s new legislation on "open adoption" and an update from Roseanne Barr on reuniting with the baby she gave up