Reports
“Their Body, Their Voices” – Listen to the stories of women to understand how important abortion rights are
- GHRD Team
- 27 June 2022
The choice to get an abortion is a woman’s personal decision. Yet, abortion remains an issue that provokes moral outrage and political polarisation. Even with Roe v. Wade (1973), American women’s choice for abortion is only possible in the first trimester. Once a foetus is considered viable, the state can interfere and set limitations based on its beliefs in the second and final trimester. Therefore, despite Roe v. Wade guaranteeing women the right to choose, states like Arkansas (banning abortion after
twelve weeks) or Texas (restricting the supply of abortions) take steps to restrict abortion. Since 2011, at least 424 restrictive abortion policies have been implemented (Redd et al., 2022). According, to the leaked opinion draft, in June, the Supreme Court is set to overturn Roe v. Wade which gave women partial body autonomy in the first three months of a pregnancy. Although abortion is considered a standard and safe healthcare procedure, an increasing number of people want to ban abortions due to
their own moral and religious beliefs. Briefly, pro-choice advocates view abortion as a question of individual liberty, privacy, and public health. At the same time, pro-life advocates are considered social conservatives who abhor abortion based on the premise of saving human life and defending family morals (Htun, 2003). In recent years, many pro-life activists have espoused arguments claiming they care about women and push an ‘abortion is bad for women’ rhetoric (Roberti, 2021). The
recent emphasis on women rather than the previous ‘purity of foetal life’ and ‘sinfulness of abortion’ arguments is strategic. The tactic is opportunistic as the group realised that the ‘foetal personhood model’ had its limits. By presenting the illusion of being pro-woman, anti-abortion legislation produces a narrative of making women the priority.
Nonetheless, despite differing personal opinions and beliefs, every woman should have the opportunity to access safe and legal abortions. Abortion is not an easy decision for a woman. Therefore, a woman should be given the right to choose the option that best suits her and her circumstances. Considering the conservative direction in the United States with the conservative
majority in the Supreme Court and many states, overturning Roe v. Wade and banning abortion is not a distant future anymore. However, the decision to ban abortion would only harm women. It is unfair that a woman’s personal decision to have a child or not is taken away from her. Criminalising and banning abortions does not mean stopping abortions (Oberman, 2022). Banning abortions only restrict women from accessing safe and legal procedures. However, the problem with the debate is that there is an inherent danger of separating the physical body from the issue of abortion. Despite abortion being a lived reality for many women, the issue is discussed in abstraction. Therefore, this report will focus on documenting various people’s experiences with abortion or its ban.
1
twelve weeks) or Texas (restricting the supply of abortions) take steps to restrict abortion. Since 2011, at least 424 restrictive abortion policies have been implemented (Redd et al., 2022). According, to the leaked opinion draft, in June, the Supreme Court is set to overturn Roe v. Wade which gave women partial body autonomy in the first three months of a pregnancy. Although abortion is considered a standard and safe healthcare procedure, an increasing number of people want to ban abortions due to
their own moral and religious beliefs. Briefly, pro-choice advocates view abortion as a question of individual liberty, privacy, and public health. At the same time, pro-life advocates are considered social conservatives who abhor abortion based on the premise of saving human life and defending family morals (Htun, 2003). In recent years, many pro-life activists have espoused arguments claiming they care about women and push an ‘abortion is bad for women’ rhetoric (Roberti, 2021). The
recent emphasis on women rather than the previous ‘purity of foetal life’ and ‘sinfulness of abortion’ arguments is strategic. The tactic is opportunistic as the group realised that the ‘foetal personhood model’ had its limits. By presenting the illusion of being pro-woman, anti-abortion legislation produces a narrative of making women the priority.
Nonetheless, despite differing personal opinions and beliefs, every woman should have the opportunity to access safe and legal abortions. Abortion is not an easy decision for a woman. Therefore, a woman should be given the right to choose the option that best suits her and her circumstances. Considering the conservative direction in the United States with the conservative
majority in the Supreme Court and many states, overturning Roe v. Wade and banning abortion is not a distant future anymore. However, the decision to ban abortion would only harm women. It is unfair that a woman’s personal decision to have a child or not is taken away from her. Criminalising and banning abortions does not mean stopping abortions (Oberman, 2022). Banning abortions only restrict women from accessing safe and legal procedures. However, the problem with the debate is that there is an inherent danger of separating the physical body from the issue of abortion. Despite abortion being a lived reality for many women, the issue is discussed in abstraction. Therefore, this report will focus on documenting various people’s experiences with abortion or its ban.
1
✨ AI summary
The choice to get an abortion is a woman’s personal decision. Yet, abortion remains an issue that provokes moral outrage and political polarisation. Even with Roe v. Wade (1973), American women’s choice for abortion is only possible in the first trimester. Once a foetus is considered viable, the state can interfere and set limitations based on its beliefs in the second and final trimester. Therefore, despite Roe v. Wade guaranteeing women the right to choose, states like Arkansas (banning abortion after
twelve weeks) or Texas (restricting the supply of abortions) take steps to restrict abortion. Since 2011, at least 424 restrictive abortion policies have been implemented (Redd et al., 2022). According, to the leaked opinion draft, in June, the Supreme Court is set to overturn Roe v. Wade which gave women partial body autonomy in the first three months of a pregnancy. Although abortion is considered a standard and safe healthcare procedure, an increasing number of people want to ban abortions due to
their own moral and religious beliefs. Briefly, pro-choice advocates view abortion as a question of individual liberty, privacy, and public health. At the same time, pro-life advocates are considered social conservatives who abhor abortion based on the premise of saving human life and defending family morals (Htun, 2003). In recent years, many pro-life activists have espoused arguments claiming they care about women and push an ‘abortion is bad for women’ rhetoric (Roberti, 2021). The
recent emphasis on women rather than the previous ‘purity of foetal life’ and ‘sinfulness of abortion’ arguments is strategic. The tactic is opportunistic as the group realised that the ‘foetal personhood model’ had its limits. By presenting the illusion of being pro-woman, anti-abortion legislation produces a narrative of making women the priority.
Nonetheless, despite differing personal opinions and beliefs, every woman should have the opportunity to access safe and legal abortions. Abortion is not an easy decision for a woman. Therefore, a woman should be given the right to choose the option that best suits her and her circumstances. Considering the conservative direction in the United States with the conservative
majority in the Supreme Court and many states, overturning Roe v. Wade and banning abortion is not a distant future anymore. However, the decision to ban abortion would only harm women. It is unfair that a woman’s personal decision to have a child or not is taken away from her. Criminalising and banning abortions does not mean stopping abortions (Oberman, 2022). Banning abortions only restrict women from accessing safe and legal procedures. However, the problem with the debate is that there is an inherent danger of separating the physical body from the issue of abortion. Despite abortion being a lived reality for many women, the issue is discussed in abstraction. Therefore, this report will focus on documenting various people’s experiences with abortion or its ban.
1
twelve weeks) or Texas (restricting the supply of abortions) take steps to restrict abortion. Since 2011, at least 424 restrictive abortion policies have been implemented (Redd et al., 2022). According, to the leaked opinion draft, in June, the Supreme Court is set to overturn Roe v. Wade which gave women partial body autonomy in the first three months of a pregnancy. Although abortion is considered a standard and safe healthcare procedure, an increasing number of people want to ban abortions due to
their own moral and religious beliefs. Briefly, pro-choice advocates view abortion as a question of individual liberty, privacy, and public health. At the same time, pro-life advocates are considered social conservatives who abhor abortion based on the premise of saving human life and defending family morals (Htun, 2003). In recent years, many pro-life activists have espoused arguments claiming they care about women and push an ‘abortion is bad for women’ rhetoric (Roberti, 2021). The
recent emphasis on women rather than the previous ‘purity of foetal life’ and ‘sinfulness of abortion’ arguments is strategic. The tactic is opportunistic as the group realised that the ‘foetal personhood model’ had its limits. By presenting the illusion of being pro-woman, anti-abortion legislation produces a narrative of making women the priority.
Nonetheless, despite differing personal opinions and beliefs, every woman should have the opportunity to access safe and legal abortions. Abortion is not an easy decision for a woman. Therefore, a woman should be given the right to choose the option that best suits her and her circumstances. Considering the conservative direction in the United States with the conservative
majority in the Supreme Court and many states, overturning Roe v. Wade and banning abortion is not a distant future anymore. However, the decision to ban abortion would only harm women. It is unfair that a woman’s personal decision to have a child or not is taken away from her. Criminalising and banning abortions does not mean stopping abortions (Oberman, 2022). Banning abortions only restrict women from accessing safe and legal procedures. However, the problem with the debate is that there is an inherent danger of separating the physical body from the issue of abortion. Despite abortion being a lived reality for many women, the issue is discussed in abstraction. Therefore, this report will focus on documenting various people’s experiences with abortion or its ban.
1
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