Happening

"Happening" is Annie Ernaux's powerful 2000 novel, originally published in French. It chronicles her personal experience of an illegal abortion in 1960s France, a period when such procedures were criminalised. Ernaux's unflinching account explores the physical, emotional, and societal challenges faced by women seeking control over their bodies. This work is considered a significant text within queer-feminist discourse for its raw portrayal of reproductive freedom and autonomy, vital themes for queer women and the wider LGBTQ+ community. Its enduring relevance lies in its honest examination of bodily rights and the historical struggles against systemic oppression.