The Politics of Abortion Week 22 Sociology of Human Reproduction

Recap Considered at the social construction of families and motherhood Considered the concepts of ‘good motherhood’ and ‘un/respectable’ users of contraception Considered the debates around ARTs and prenatal screening and disability

Outline Examine the construction of the divide between contraception and abortion Examine abortion in the UK context Consider wider global issues of abortion

What is the difference between contraception and abortion?

Contraception and Abortion Historical sanctions against abortion were common But division between contraception and abortion changes in relation to when pregnancy ‘begins’ No clear biological moment, only socially constructed explanations

‘Quickening’ In the UK, before 1803, ‘quickening’ (baby moved) was the moment when pregnancy began Actions taken to ‘bring on’ periods before then did not constitute abortion 19th century saw a tightening of laws both in the UK and most of Europe

19th Century Abortion Despite its illegal status, abortion continued to be common during the 19th 1898 trial of a case of blackmail where an advert for ‘women’s pills’ was placed in a newspaper and when answered the women were threatened with exposure if they did not pay 12,000 women had asked for the pills in 2 years

Birth Control campaigns The 19th century also saw the rise of birth control campaigners They sought to tighten up the distinction between contraceptives and abortion. To make their ideas ‘respectable’ they argued that contraception could reduce abortion

Divides today Popular understanding today often divides contraception and abortion by sex Contraception is before sex, abortion afterwards But this divide is not biological based nor necessarily related to contraceptive technologies

Is it useful to think of contraception and abortion as two different entities or should we think of it as a continuum?

Abortion Law in England, Scotland and Wales Abortion is NOT legal, it is decriminalised in certain circumstances Abortion can be performed when 2 doctors believe risk to the life of the pregnant woman risk of grave permanent injury of the woman injury to a woman’s physical or mental health injury to the physical or mental health of any existing child(ren) Foetus is seriously handicapped

Abortion Law in England, Scotland and Wales Women have no ‘right’ to abortion Men have no ‘right’ to prevent a woman having an abortion Doctors can refuse to refer women for an abortion The Act did not apply to Northern Ireland

Framing Abortion Debates 1960 feminist campaigns for abortion argued for ‘a woman’s right to choose’ Medical reformers wanted to reduce number of deaths and permanent injury caused by illegal abortion Anti-abortion groups emerged from religious organisations focused on foetus as a ‘life’

Re/framing Abortion Debates Since 1960s shift in tone of the abortion debate Supporters of abortion often focus on ‘genuine reason’ rather than ‘choice’ Rape and Incest Poverty Foetal anomaly To prevent backstreet abortions Women’s autonomy less often mentioned

Re/framing Abortion Debates Post-abortion syndrome More recently anti-abortion campaigners have argued that abortion is damaging for women’s health Post-abortion syndrome Higher risk of some cancers No medical evidence to support these ideas, but have become powerful nevertheless Women undergoing abortion often feel guilty because they do not feel traumatised

Re/framing Abortion Debates Late abortion In the UK, current debates have focused around a category of ‘late-abortion’ Anti-abortion activists argue that the abortion limit (24 weeks) should be reduced Linked to advances in premature baby care

Re/framing Abortion Debates Late abortion Anti-abortionists aiming for restrictions as little public support for a complete ban Medical evidence does not support the view that the foetus could generally survive before 24 weeks Late abortions take place for several reasons including Women not realising they were pregnant Women taking time to decide about the pregnancy Women being unable to access abortion earlier

What does changes in the framing of the abortion debate tell you about the relative success or failure of the different positions?

Abortion in a global context The legal status of abortion makes little difference to the incidence The WHO estimates that 1/5 pregnancies are ended through abortion Abortions are more common in the developing than the developed world But the likelihood of a woman having an abortion is about the same

Abortion in a global context The WHO defines unsafe abortion as one carried out by those lacking the professional skills and/or in an unsafe medical environment 48% of abortions (19 million pa) are unsafe 92% unsafe abortions are in developing countries 68,000 women die each year

Restricting abortion What impact do you think criminalising abortion has on women?

Case of Nicaragua Nicaragua banned all abortion in 2006 Doctors and women at risk of prosecution 1-3 years in prison for the person who performs the abortion 1-2 years in prison for the woman Increase in women’s deaths

Case of Nicaragua Deaths attributed to 3 main categories No abortions to save the women’s life Other obstetric emergency care stopped or reduced Fear of prosecution preventing women from seeking treatment Nicaraguan government has now introduced more guidance on obstetric emergences, but little evidence of operation in practice

Summary The divide between contraception and abortion is socially constructed Abortion debates are constructed about particular frames of reference Globally, unsafe abortion is a major cause of women’s deaths