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Essay on The History Of The Pro-Choice Movement

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The History Of The Pro-Choice Movement

On January 22, 1973, the movement to legalize abortion achieved its greatest victory with the Roe v. Wade ruling. This paper will analyze the rise and continuation of this movement over the course of the past forty years. Unlike other social movements, the
Pro-Choice movement as maintained it’s power even after apparent victory was achieved.
Due to this, the abortion argument continues today and will probably continue into this century and beyond.

The emergence of the Pro-Choice movement did not occur via the usual social movement routes. Most social movements emerge from within established institutions, with support from elites, or with origins that involved professional …show more content…

The ASA was crucial in bringing together activists who disagreed with the ASAs cautious approach. These activists later worked together to found the National
Association for Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL). Lawrence Lader, NARAL founder, had become a ASA boardmember as a result of his research on abortion. Ruth Smith, another NARAL founder, had served as executive director of the ASA. Also, Dr. Lonny
Myers was crucial to the founding of NARAL and Lader contacted her through his ASA contacts. Early organizers used their connections to recruit professionals who would lend this movement prestige and influential power.

The early Pro-Choice movement also benefited from other social movements of the era. Women, college students and other young people who were activated by earlier movements of the 1960s became the grass-roots constituents of the movement to legalize abortion. These constituents were available and also felt very strongly about the issues at hand.

The population organizations of the time also aided the early Pro-Choice movement. The Association for Voluntary Sterilization (AVS) and Zero Population
Growth(ZPG) shared members with NARAL. ZPG, especially, had local chapters that were heavily student influenced. These local chapters became deeply involved in the mobilization of the

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