Journal of Family History

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.

This article examines how sexual violence was dealt with by the Weimar women's group, based on little-known archives, placing it in the specific context of the 1980s in the GDR. By secretly presenting a report and circulating a questionnaire, these women sought to break a taboo, inform and support victims. They also opened a women-only space to encourage discussion and exchange. These practices of solidarity, production and appropriation of knowledge and skills, outside official institutions, are placed in the context of feminist ideas in the GDR.