Gerri Santoro

The photograph of Gerri Santoro's body taken by the police.

Gerri Santoro was an American woman who became a symbol for the abortion rights movement after her death due to an illegal abortion in 1964. Her story underscores the dangers women faced before the legalization of abortion in the United States with the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973.

Early Life

Gerri Santoro was born Geraldine Santoro on August 16, 1935, in Connecticut. Details about her early life, education, and family background are sparse. She married and had two daughters, but the marriage was troubled, and she eventually separated from her husband due to domestic abuse.

Circumstances of Death

In 1964, while still legally married but estranged from her husband, Santoro became pregnant by another man, Clyde Dixon. Fearing her abusive husband's return and the social stigma of being pregnant out of wedlock, Santoro sought an abortion, which was illegal in the United States at the time except under very limited circumstances.

On June 8, 1964, Santoro and Dixon attempted to perform the abortion themselves in a motel in Norwich, Connecticut. The procedure went horribly wrong, and Santoro bled to death. Dixon fled the scene, leaving Santoro's body to be discovered by a maid the next morning. The image of her dead body, slumped over in a pool of blood, was later published by Ms. Magazine in 1973, becoming a powerful image in the fight for abortion rights.

Impact and Legacy

Gerri Santoro's death became a rallying point for the abortion rights movement. The photograph of her death scene, taken by police as evidence and later leaked, starkly illustrated the desperate and dangerous measures women resorted to in order to terminate pregnancies before abortion became legal and safe. Her story has been cited in numerous debates, articles, and discussions on the importance of safe and legal access to abortion services.

The case of Gerri Santoro highlights the tragic outcomes of restrictive abortion laws and the lengths to which women will go to assert control over their own bodies. It also serves as a reminder of the progress made since the days when abortion was illegal and the ongoing debates surrounding reproductive rights.

See Also

• Roe v. Wade
• Abortion rights movement
• History of abortion