The ‘Karman method’ and the boundaries of self-help: Itinerary of an abortion technology

Abstract

This article explores the controversial itinerary of Harvey Karman and his development in the 1970s of a manual vacuum abortion method which promised a simpler alternative to traditional methods. It highlights Karman's role, often overlooked in abortion rights narratives, as he navigated the transition from illegal to legal abortion, engaging with feminist collectives, doctors and population controllers. Drawing on diverse sources, it examines Karman's efforts to promote his devices and his complex position within medical and feminist circles. The article argues that post-1972 tension between Karman and feminist activists reveals the gendered alliance dynamics of the abortion movement before and just after Roe v. Wade (1973). It also shows how these tensions encouraged feminist groups to redefine their own practices and led to the delineation of the boundaries of self-help.