In the summer of 2013, Texas senator Wendy Davis stood on her feet for thirteen hours (with no restroom breaks) to fight against a bill that would close numerous abortion clinics in Texas. During the filibuster, Davis presented an important question: “What purpose does this bill serve? And could it be, might it just be a desire to limit women's access to safe, healthy, legal, constitutionally-protected abortions in the state of Texas?” (Bassett, “Wendy Davis …”). For centuries women have struggled for adequate access to birth control and resorted to abhorrent means of abortion when they face unwanted pregnancies.
Her thesis for the book is that the criminal justice system in the United States has brought back the disparity in race that was first experienced
“it's a woman’s right to control her own destiny, to be able to make choices without the Big Brother state telling her what she and cannot do” (Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg). Women have fought for their entire lives for equal rights which for some apparent reasons have not been acknowledged. Roe vs. Wade had changed the outlook on the United States and on a woman’s rights to her own body. Roe vs. Wade goes back to 1973 which was between a women who had an unplanned surgery in Texas who wanted to make abortions legal. Norma Leah McCorvey, better known as “Jane Roe” was the plaintiff in this case, after her case the U.S Supreme Court had ruled that state laws banning abortion are unconstitutional.
Through Cross’s article “Abortion in Canada: Legal but Not Accessible”, I will discuss the conflicts of abortion that range across Canada and how it can lead to the reduction of women’s rights and consequently cause harm to a woman’s mental health. I also follow Cross’s example of self-proclamation of pro-choice movements in YWCA and women’s empowerment to ensure a positive attitude towards women’s health. Canada is currently one of very few countries where no legal restrictions on abortions exist today. Since the first criminal law against abortion was enacted within Canada in 1869, regulations and accessibility to abortion have undergone serious changes (Cross 3). Today, the rights and morality of a woman who access abortions are brought into question in both educational and political thought in our nation, since the topic is complex in the nature of a woman’s body, it is in deep importance of Canadian history and current politics relating to sexuality.
You succinctly described fetal homicide laws and the different standards used. With advances in technology, medicine has taken leap and bounds in being able to see fetuses earlier through ultrasounds and keep fetuses alive who are born prematurely. Therefore, the Born-Alive Standard and the Viability Standard are outdated and difficult to hold to standard due to differences in development between fetuses. As you noted, the Conception Standard should then be utilized as the standard in fetal homicide laws which in turn will provide a strong deterrent towards violence against pregnant women. Utilizing a conception standard will cause disagreement from those who are pro-choice as they view it as infringing on standards established through Roe v. Wade (1973).
The purpose of the case is a value to my investigation as its verdict resulted in paramount reproductive independencies, demonstrating the Court’s authority over human freedoms, paired with progressiveness towards individual liberties. The content of the case is a value to my investigation as it includes several provisions expanding women’s rights, including the need for privacy, removal of limitations on the frequency of abortions and the attempts to save fetuses, demonstrating the severe lack of rights in 1985, necessitating revisions. The contents of this case is a limitation as it discusses the involvement of states and physicians to halt abortions, subsequently not focusing on actual limitations of reproductive rights, including cases in which abortion was illegal. This fails to demonstrate the full scope of restrictions on women’s rights
Fight for Women’s Rights Book Review of Katha Pollitt’s book PRO: reclaiming abortion rights. Katha Pollitt does not hesitate in voicing her sarcasm, critique opinions, and resourceful facts in the book PRO: RECLAIMING ABORTION RIGHTS; With A New Twist. Pollitt identifies with reshaping abortion views into a normal reproductive life with women and centralizing women in the reproductive decision process. The book is designed into talking to the “muddled middle”, who is a group of people who do not have a significant stance on the issue and informing them with facts on both sides of the abortion debate followed with primary and secondary sources for evidence.
The language and concepts used, as well as the arguments made by the authors, contribute to the ongoing conversation and discourse surrounding reproductive rights. They provide a medical and health-centered perspective on the issue, highlighting the importance of access to safe and legal abortion in protecting maternal health and reproductive rights (Bunch 487). Notably, the poem’s focus on the fetus's physical and emotional experiences highlights the unborn's humanity and agency. At the same time, the sources provide a broader context for understanding the political and social issues at play in the fight for reproductive rights (Kim). This demonstrates the importance of nuanced language in discussions of reproductive rights and how language can shape our understanding of these issues.
As humans, we are given different rights that are meant to provide us with a chance at a good life. However, these rights can become compromised when it comes to conflicts between a pregnant woman and her fetus. The right of the fetus to live is seen as inferior to the right of the mother to have an abortion. Although each of the rights is different, it is not appropriate to say that one citizen’s rights are more superior than another citizen’s rights.
By 1900, most abortions, except those ”necessary to save the life of a women,” had been outlawed through the efforts of physicians, legislators, and the American Medical Association. Although abortions were illegal and frowned upon, even with early feminists such as Susan B. Anthony, women were still able to
The definition of a woman's freedom is never truly free. In an article, author Edward M. Kennedy, wrote “Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994,” published in May of 1994. He argues that the groups of pro-life people gathering outside and blocking abortion clinics from women has gotten out of hand. Kennedy beginning to build his credibility with images and reputable sources, citing both statistics and persuasive facts, and is successfully reaching the readers emotional appeals throughout the article. This is especially when towards the end when Kennedy begins stating reliable statistics to reach the readers emotions one more time to really strengthen his argument.
Before Roe v. wade the number of deaths from illegal abortions was around 5000 and in the 50s and 60s the number of illegal abortions ranged from 200,000 to 1.2 million per year. These illegal abortions pose major health risks to the life of the woman including damage to the bladder, intestines as well as rupturing of the uterus. The choice to become a mother must be given to the woman most importantly because it’s her body, her health, and she will be taking on a great responsibility. A woman’s choice to choose abortion should not be restricted by anyone; there are multiple reasons why abortion will be the more sensible decision for the female.
Women’s rights have been a long struggle in America’s legal system, as well as in the religious world, for many decades and women continue to have challenges, concerns, and struggles today. Fighting for what is best for their bodies such as a woman’s right to contraceptives to control whether she will get pregnant or not was not ideal for religious and personal reasons but would find a worthy advocate in a woman who would dedicate her life for women’s reproductive rights. The right for a woman to have an abortion became a legal battle that went all the way to the Supreme Courts in a very well-known case. It has always been a double standard in what was right and wrong, moral or immoral, towards women than men. A man was looked at with respect
In 1960, the first birth control pill was put on the market. This was the first time a woman’s reproductive health was in her own control. Ever since the 1900’s women have been fighting for the right to their own reproductive rights (“The Fight for Reproductive Rights”). With the upcoming presidential election the right to obtain birth control and other contraceptives for women could be jeopardized, and taken out of the control of the woman. Thus, the history of birth control, the statistics of how it affects today’s society, why women should have the ability to obtain it easily, and how if outlawed it would not only hurt women, but also the economy are all important topics in the women’s rights movement and very relevant in modern day society.
Doris Gudino Professor Chounlamountry Political Science 1 27 July 2015 Pro-Choice Anyone? A woman has, undoubtedly, the freedom to procreate, but once a woman chooses to retreat from that freedom, a commotion arises. Abortion is a woman’s choice for many reasons. It’s her body, therefore, no one else can decide for said person.
