【Japan Archives】

This article has been published to coincide with an episode of Mashable's new podcast,Japan Archives History Becomes Her.Listen here.

Vicky Spratt and Diane Munday are campaigningto decriminalise abortion in England, Scotland, and Wales.

Diane Munday campaigned to legalise abortion in Britain in the 1960s. Her activism has not only changed women’s lives in this country — but saved them. Along with journalist Vicky Spratt, Munday is fighting for the decrimalisation of abortion in England and Wales. Spratt has also changed the law. Her #MakeRentingFair campaignresulted in the government banning letting agency fees for tenants. 

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Munday had a termination in 1961, when it was illegal. Her husband’s salary meant she was able to afford the procedure. But a friend of hers who had a backstreet abortion died. She went on to fight for the legalisation of abortion in Britain. Over 50 years after the 1967 Abortion Act was passed, Munday is fighting for legal reform.

You can listen to the episode onApple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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From left to right: Vicky Spratt, Diane Munday, and Rachel Thompson Credit: Mashable

Now, Spratt and Munday — two women who’ve already changed the law — are campaigning legal reform with Refinery29's #ImACriminal campaign. Listen to the episode to find out more about this important campaign. You can sign their Change.org petition here.

In this episode of History Becomes Her, Munday talks about how she fought in the 1960s to make abortion legal in this country, sharing the challenges she faced then. Spratt shares her admiration for Munday and her lifetime commitment to campaigning for women's reproductive rights. Spratt also shares how she went about changing the law to ban letting agents’ fees and what she learned about the process of bringing about change in society.

Abortion campaigner Diane Munday, who campaigned in the 1960s to pass the 1967 Abortion Act. Credit: Diane Munday

"The power of women's stories. Shame and stigma and taboo exist to keep us silent," Spratt said during the episode.

"Shame and stigma and taboo exist to keep us silent."

"And in talking about abortion, in saying this is why this is why I needed one, this is why it's my right to choose what I do with my body, my future, you are going some way towards getting rid of that shame and there should be no shame attached, but there still is."

Munday explained the reason she's still campaigning 50 years after the 1967 Abortion Act was passed."I am still fighting because I feel partially responsible for the worst bits of the act, the ones we've got to get rid of," she said. "And I was part of the group that brought it about and allowing it to happen. I'm not sure I could have stopped it."

Credit: Bex Wade for Vice

Subscribe to History Becomes Her onApple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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