Exploring the Abortion Issue Essay

The debate on the issue of abortion began with a Supreme Court ruling in 1973, overturning the previous American policy of banning abortions. At the time of this ruling, it was believed by President Nixon that banning abortions was not necessarily the wisest course of action, due to different circumstances of pregnancy, such as pregnancy resulting from rape, or the ability to for a doctor to see whether a child is developing in a healthy manner. The paper will analyze this issue with a focus on the pro-life movement, and will detail how this movement began, how it has grown and how it continues to affect American society.

There are several sub-categories within the moral justification for women having the right to choose whether to have an abortion or not. These are: the feminist quality of life argument, the general quality of life argument, the not-a-person argument, and finally the no-duty-to-sustain argument. Each one of these examines something that makes those who support a woman’s right to choose tick.

Leslie R. Reagan a professor of history, medicine, and women’s studies at the University of Illinois, brings attention and helps articulate the myth, that if abortion is made illegal then we could end all abortions. Reagan traced the history of abortion in her book, and reminds individuals that the law is not fixed, but, rather fluid. She mentions that in the early history of abortion, abortions were widely accepted and done in homes and offices of physicians and midwives. During the 1930’s this begin to shift and abortions were often done, in hospitals and clinics rather than homes and offices. However, in the 1940s, the acceptance of abortion began to decline and new methods and ways of controlling abortion were put into place. She mentions that, “As authorities prosecuted abortion with the same urgency as communism, prosecutors and the police systematically raided abortion clinics, publicly interrogated women who had sought abortions, and humiliated both clients and abortion providers in the courtroom” (Joffe, et al., 2000). When abortion become

In the Scholarly Article “New Life for Prolife” is a report written for both the prolife and prochoice group. The main point in this article is to give information on how far the prolife movement has come since the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. The Article gives you examples of the different accomplishments that the prolife group has gotten for example: The prolife movement won the midterm elections of 200, the NRLC won 64 of 82 races that was involved. The Prolife movement is defiantly on the right side of history.

In 1973, the United States Supreme Court voted to uphold the legality of abortion. In the period immediately after the decision, small steps were staring to be made to make basic women’s healthcare available to all women in the country; regardless of race, religion, or income bracket. The role of pro-choice activists, however, quickly began to need to shape itself around countering antiabortion initiatives. At the front of the conservative agenda is the restriction of affordable contraception and pregnancy care. In the current political climate, for the first time since Roe v. Wade, for many women of all backgrounds, it is hard to receive an abortion safely and privately. Modern laws and policies have so greatly

In her work Reproductive Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know, Rickie Solinger writes that it was the American Medical Association that began to advocate for the creation of anti-abortion laws in the Mid 1800s (Solinger 2013). Solinger states that the complete criminalization of abortion was not achieved until the very early 1900s, and that much of the rhetoric used in favor of criminalization is similar to the rhetoric heard today (Solinger 2013). According to Solinger, the time period after the criminalization brought forth the use of sterilization as a method of birth control. Although contraceptives had become increasingly more available, sterilization was heavily promoted by eugenicists, who believed that this would prevent the reproduction of groups they deemed inferior, such as minorities and individuals with disabilities (Solinger 2013; Espino 2015). In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a woman’s right to obtain an abortion in Roe v. Wade. Solinger argues that this is when the “first” anti-abortion activists emerged (Solinger 2013). We see confirmation of this statement in the much earlier work Contested Lives: The Abortion Debate in an American Community, by Faye Ginsburg. Ginsburg follows the everyday workings of the only abortion clinic in Fargo, North Dakota. An important trend that Ginsburg notes is that although in the beginning there was a small

The abortion controversy in America is of broad and current interest as a result of the newly sworn in President, Donald Trump. American’s emotions are stirring due to the the United States republican-dominated Congress quickly fabricating bills opposing abortion for Donald Trump to swiftly approve. Following Donald Trump’s inauguration, millions of Americans bound together for the Women’s March. Protesters stormed the streets to revolt against the inevitable injustices inflicted upon women’s reproductive rights. Historically abortion has been an ongoing debate since 1821, when the first recorded law pertaining abortion was ratified. The United States government continues to maintain an influence on women’s reproductive rights

The public discourse on abortion has been, and still is, a tremendous debatable topic. I chose the topic on abortion during the Women’s Movement because I am a low-grade feminist, but I believe in pro-choice. Feminist’s advocate for women’s equality to men in areas such as social, political, legal, and economic rights. Growing up, I have always been competitive with the opposite sex and believe that women can do things men can do. The purpose of this paper is to explore how the Women’s Movement began specifically the time period when reproductive rights were an issue, the leaders and organizations during the movement, the course of actions taken, what has changed, and the role of social work.

In 1959, The American Law Institute (ALI) proposes a model correctional code for state abortion laws ("Abortion History Timeline" par. 1). Next in 1968, pro-abortion efforts are formed to protest for the right to life (par. 3). Then in 1970, New York allows abortion to happen up to 24 weeks of pregnancy (par. 4). In 1972, four states allow abortion on demand, but 31 states only allow abortion to save a mother’s life (par. 6).

In 1973, Roe versus Wade instigated an ongoing debate in the United States concerning the implementation of abortion (Rubin 1). Prior to Roe, abortion was illegal, however it was practiced. In 1846, a few blocks south of Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, Madame Restell performed illegal abortions to “cure” female irregularities, or pregnancies (Rubin 1). After Restell, a group called “Jane”, also known as the Abortion Counseling Service of the Chicago Women’s Liberation Union, performed more than 11,000 illegal abortions from 1969-73 in Chicago alone (Horst 1). Though the Court decision lawfully settled the argument, the abortion issue developed further creating a substantial amount of turmoil between the opposing

Abortion has affected society on a massive scale, it has impacting the beyond the destruction of life. This policy has been going for years since 1973. The policy is an interest of public policy that involved health and the economic strength policy. They even passed a Hyde amendment, “In 1977 Congress

Although abortion was decriminalized in 1973, the fight for abortion rights did not end with Roe v. Wade. Just in the past three years, there have been systematic restrictions on abortion rights sweeping the country sate by state. In 2013, 22 states enacted 70 antiabortion measures, including pre-viability abortion bans, unnecessary doctor and clinic procedures, limits on medicated abortion, and bans on insurance coverage of abortion In 2011, 92 abortion restrictions were enacted, an in 2012, that number was 43. More abortion restrictions have been passed in the last three years than in the previous decade combined (Guttmacher Institute, 2014). These facts prove even in an increasingly progressive society, the antiabortion movement is winning many battles, as the rights of women across the country are continually threatened.

During the late 1960s and the early 1970s, the United States performed reforms that made abortions available. Abortion was defined as a “health right” and it allowed the procedure when doctors concluded it was medically necessary. The supreme court appointed for life issued sweeping rules that shocked the lawyers for expanded abortion rights. The public opinion defined abortion as a privacy right and open abortions at the request of a pregnant woman. Opponents of abortion came back with strong complaints that assumed the power of democratically elected legislatures.

This contentious debate has been involved in the United State’s history for quite some time. Abortion was practiced until 1880, when it was banned except to save a mother’s life. This legislation was put into place to eliminate midwives due to the threat they posed on the male medical establishments. In addition, it confined women to the childbearing role and used against the women’s suffrage movements. With abortion being illegal, dangerous alternatives were practiced. Women of color or poverty used dangerous methods, such as the coat hanger method. While women with title or wealth, could often find a physician to complete the “under the table” procedure for a high cost. With many not being able to afford this, many women ended up hospitalized from self induced abortions. In 1960, the Women 's Liberation Movement began to fight for safe and legal abortions. On January 22nd, 1973, the Supreme Court recognized women to have the right to terminate a pregnancy in the Roe vs. Wade case.

In the 1960s, more women became activists for the rights of women in the united States. The turning point for abortion was 1970 when New York allowed abortion on the 24th week of LMP if it is done by a medical doctor. After this decision many states made similar laws allowing abortion with certain criterias. As of 1973, the well known Roe vs. Wade court decision stated that “right of privacy...founded in the Fourteenth Amendment's concept of personal liberty...is broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy” changed the ongoing negative impacts of abortion for many women even lowering the cost. Many women still couldn’t afford this, but by the 1980s and 1990s more