Sep 4, 2026 – 4.56pmIn October 1972, the independent newspaper Nation Review published a full-page advertisement titled “We have had abortions and are willing to admit it in the interests of legislative change”. It was signed by 80 Australian women who risked prosecution in a bid to change the law.It was a radical act, but not an entirely original one. Earlier that year, Ms Magazine in New York published the names of 53 women who declared they had an abortion, at a time when it was illegal in most US states. The signatories included the magazine’s co-founder Gloria Steinem, who died this week, aged 92.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Emma ConnorsSenior editor and writerEmma Connors was South-east Asia correspondent from October 2019 until mid-2023, based in Jakarta and Singapore. She has previously edited Perspective and Opinion and has written extensively across the AFR and related titles.Fetching latest articles