Domestic Violence and Abortion: The Case of Soviet Lithuania

Abstract

Drawing on extensive archival sources, egodocuments – letters written by women during the Soviet era – and papers from governmental institutions within the medical system, this article explores the correlation of domestic violence and decisions around pregnancy termination in Soviet Lithuania. The author argues that social, economic, and emotional dependence on male partners, as well as physical and emotional violence women experienced, determined their reproductive choices, and were major factors in abortion decisions. Furthermore, this research reveals a problematic representation of domestic violence and abortion motives in the strategy of the Soviet public discourse, and explores the limitations of local government-sanctioned experts in addressing relevant concerns.