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Dorothy Fadiman, Beth Seltzer, and Daniel MeyersFrom Danger To Dignity: The Fight For Safe Abortion (1995)

After more than a century of back-alley tragedies, a national movement to decriminalize abortion took root. FROM DANGER to DIGNITY combines rare archival footage with present-day interviews to weave together two parallel stories: the evolution of underground networks to help women find safe abortions outside the law and the intensive efforts of activists and legislators who broke the silence and changed the laws.


This movie is part of the collection: Fadiman Social Documentaries

Director: Dorothy Fadiman, Beth Seltzer, and Daniel Meyers
Producer: Dorothy Fadiman
Production Company: Concentric Media
Sponsor: KTEH-TV
Audio/Visual: sound, color
Keywords: Dorothy Fadiman; Concentric Media; Emmy Award; reproductive rights; women; women's rights; abortion; abortion laws; abortion legislation; abortion rights; women's history; women's health; pro-choice; pro-choice activism; personal stories; reproductive health; reproductive choice; medical issues; health care; public policy; human rights; underground networks; back alleys; women's history; legislators; clergy; doctors; gynecology; the Janes; clergy consultation; Pat Maginnis; Sarah Weddington; Roe v. Wade; Erika Luckett
Contact Information: Distributed by Women Make Movies: info@wmm.com

Creative Commons license: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs

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Reviewer: elisabethgb - - March 27, 2011
Subject: It boils down to ONE reason
People here (and everywhere) can list a million reasons why abortion is immoral and wrong, or they can list a million reasons why a woman has the right to choose what happens to her own body. Both lists would, hopefully, make some good points and hold merit in some way or the other. What this documentary is stating, however, is that none of that really matters when you get down to it. Abortion needed to be legalized for ONE single predominant reason. It's going to happen whether it's legal or not. Women are going to abort whether or not they have the legal right to do so. Statistically, a large number of those women who sought abortions when it was illegal, died. When those women died, their fetuses died. Today, regardless of whether it's right or wrong, women can get safe abortions and live through it. For those who choose to see it as murder, then you're essentially choosing between the murder of one person or two. There's no choice to stop women from doing it, there's no choice to save the woman and her fetus. The choice is simply, how many lives do you want to lose through abortions? One or two?

Reviewer: nighthouse66 - - January 1, 2011
Subject: How About Some Real Reviews, Not Politics?
For those of you determined to preach your beliefs in your review, i suggest going to a forum for that for two reasons- first, this is not the place, and second, you aren't going to change anyone's mind. Maybe you get a little self-satisfaction, but NO one is going to be swayed toward your point of view simply because you choose to pontificate about it on a website. Do you go to your grocery and step on a soapbox and start windbagging? No. Don't do it here. But since you are, I will say, to every pro-lifer who values human life- put your money where your mouth is. Do not interfere with a woman's legal right to abort a fledgling that is not even a child yet. Should we force the women to give birth to 2, 3 and 4 month old fetuses so you can raise them? You are in the court of absurdity when you waste your time interfering with the rights of adults when you COULD be out campaigning for the end of the death penalty, or the end of war, or the end of hunger. Every pro-lifer I know is also pro-war. And none of yas have EVER given me a viable reason for why that is. Put up or shut up. Go take in a crack baby, go help out a homeless person. Don't get in the face of a woman who is exercising her legal right.
(Stepping down off soapbox)

Reviewer: mrmr44 - - May 30, 2010
Subject: Five Stars
Thank you!

Reviewer: DiamondPaul - - October 22, 2008
Subject: Why stop at partial birth abortion
Why stop at partial birth abortion? Why not fight for rights to kill after the birth?. Horible you say? How twisted can the human mind get? Kill and call it a right. (While you are at it, why not lobby agaist the states who charge a double homicide for killing a pregnent woman). Maybe you could fight for rights to kill your elderly parents who are a burden.

Reviewer: joseppe - - June 1, 2008
Subject: Truly it is a fight...
I thought the purpose of abortion was to kill the baby so you can get on with your life without any further inconvenience?

So this is truly a paradox as there really is no way to make abortion safe for the baby.

Maybe someday you'll get it, but its not about your rights, its about your responsibilities.

Reviewer: Rosemary Vivianne - - June 1, 2008
Subject: 53 Million Unborn Babies Dead and Counting!
53 million unborn babies dead and counting since Roe v Wade. Those who support abortion are morally responsible.

Reviewer: Braders - - November 17, 2007
Subject: One or Two
There can be no right or wrong with legal abortion. We, as a society, have decided that the health of two should prevail of the health of one.
The 13 year old who may have been "forced" into pregnancy should not have to be "forced" into a life of being unable to support herself and her child in todays world. The likely result would be the premature death of both, not one.

Reviewer: Within Temptation - - October 2, 2007
Subject: "Dignity"?
There's nothing dignified about abortion -- neither for the mother to be or the shredded unborn baby. There's also nothing remotely in the "minority" about those who oppose abortion. Buddhists look askew at it as a violation of the First Precept. Christians (Catholic and Protestant) take a dim view of it as well as a violation of one of the Ten Commandments. The so-called "back-alley" abortions so touted by pro-abortion factions are also a myth. However, even if they did occur, why should everything that takes place in a back alley be legalized? Prostituion? Drugs (sale and use)? Crime (rape, mugging, assault)? Bringing something from the back alley and making it legal does NOT make imbue it with dignity. Abortion will be a tragedy wherever it occurs.

Reviewer: xuxu102 - - October 2, 2007
Subject: A brilliant, moving piece
I have had 20 years of Catholic upbringing, and I can say that I am very glad that this film was made. The only person who should decide whether or not to have an abortion is the woman who is facing that decision, and her alone. No man, no institution, no system, NO ONE should take that decision away from her.

Reviewer: McCully - - October 1, 2007
Subject: With Dignity
I can't imagine a more difficult topic than abortion for a documentary -- but this truly was done with dignity. Thank you for offering a perspective that is so often drowned out by a vocal minority.

Reviewer: scifigrrrl - - October 1, 2007
Subject: Safe Abortions = Humane, Legal Medical Care
This documentary exemplifies the reason abortion MUST remain legal and accessible.

Reviewer: Claeyborn - - May 30, 2007
Subject: Safe abortions...
Safe abortions = no abortions!