Today is the 34th anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision overturning state laws against abortion.
Roe v Wade is one of the great turning points in the efforts of women to achieve full equality in human civilization. The right to legal abortion meant that women became like men in having full possession over their own bodies, their own lives, and their own being. Laws against abortion meant that state governments had legal possession over women's bodies to the extent that they could dictate how women dispossed of their bodies in relation to sex, pregnancy, and parenthood. As long as state governments mandated that the threat of pregnancy hang over every act of heterosexual sexual intercourse, women could not live as free beings and could not live their bodies in any kind of mature way.
The impact of Roe on women is incalculable. Because women have a right to abortions, they have much more freedom in their sexual lives and their bodies more generally. Because women have much more freedom, they are able to complete educations, get physical training, carry on careers, and plan their children.
Given the pervasive violence and discrimination they face, women are far from being completely free. Likewise, the religious right's campaigns against abortion rights, contraception, and sex outside marriage continually threaten the freedoms made possible by Roe v Wade.
Still, Roe v Wade was a huge step forward.
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2 comments:
Happy Birthday to Freedom!
It's a good start. at least. Thanks for posting on the subject.
And I like your new look.
off topic: may I take a moment to promote my latest project?
Thanks. I'm a big believer in abortion rights and have argued that high abortion numbers are a good gauge of the extent of freedom in a society.
Glad you like the new look. It took me two evenings to nail down.
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