Feminist Book Club: Without Permission by Charlotte Taft

What is it to claim authority in one's reproductive life, without permission? To listen to women's hearts? How are we taking care of ourselves - and each other - in these times?

What: Over five virtual sessions, Charlotte Taft will lead discussion around her book 'Without Permission', the first novel in the Jane Smith trilogy. Charlotte Taft has been a pioneer in abortion care for 50+ years and we are so excited to team up with her and Abortion Conversation Projects to bring this special event to our audience. If you would like to donate, you can do so on the form at the bottom of this page or when you RSVP for this event. Please Note: We will be screening applicants through a series of short questions on our RSVP form for safety and security reasons. Though we suggest a donation, admittance is not dependent on one. After you RSVP, we will send you a personal email confirmation if you are accepted. Thank you for your understanding!

Buy the book on Bookshop.

Buy the book on Amazon. When: The book club takes place over five sessions, all on Sundays from 1:00 - 2:00pm EST. A week before the event, we will add everyone who RSVPs to all five virtual sessions (via Google Meet), so you can add them to your calendar and get a notification a few days before each one. Session 1: October 12, 2025 Session 2: October 26, 2025

Session 3: November 9, 2025

Session 4: November 23, 2025

Session 5: December 7, 2025

Cost: This event is free, with a suggested donation to benefit Abortion Conversation Projects and the Peg Johnston Memorial Fund. You can find the donation form at the bottom of this page or on the RSVP page. Anyone is welcome to donate even if you are unable to join the event.

About Charlotte Taft:  Charlotte has worked in abortion care for more than half a century. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a master’s degree in feminist studies from Goddard College, Charlotte served as the director of an abortion clinic in Dallas, Texas for seventeen years. During this time, she worked with her staff to pioneer a unique style of abortion counseling tailored to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of each patient. With her partner Shelley Oram, Charlotte created Imagine to provide experiential workshops and retreats to deepen abortion providers understandings of ourselves and our work. Charlotte served as the director of the national non-profit organization, Abortion Care Network, for six years, where she was at the helm supporting independent abortion providers and fostering open conversations around abortion. Today, Charlotte lives in rural New Mexico with Shelley, her partner of thirty-five years. She continues to work with women who need help to look deeper in order to make a decision and to resolve difficult feelings after an abortion. About 'Without Permission':

Amidst the turmoil of Occupied Paris, 25-year-old teacher Jane Smith is tested as she discovers that sometimes doing the right thing requires breaking rules when her Aunt Mathilde draws her into the dangerous task of smuggling Jewish girls out of France. Adding another layer of danger, the school’s doctor seeks Jane’s help in providing abortions, thrusting her into a clandestine world. Jane embarks on a mission to provide care for those marginalized by society, from migrant workers in California, to women in post-war Japan. When she enlists in the Navy, Jane falls in love with an admiral’s daughter, adding another secret and another rule broken.

In this first book of a trilogy that spans decades and continents, Jane’s journey paints a vivid portrait of essential care given without permission, without authority, and without apology. Without Permission is a poignant tale of love, the power and peril of secrets, and the emotional and spiritual essence of abortion care. Jane’s enduring quest for justice offers a window into the resilience and courage of women who live outside of the laws of men.