Abortion in the United States

3510 Words8 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Symbolic interaction view on abortions

Abortion in the United States

Abortion has been a complex social issue in the United States ever since restrictive abortion laws began to appear in the 1820s. By 1965, abortions had been outlawed in the U.S., although they continued illegally; about one million abortions per year were estimated to have occurred in the 1960s. (Krannich 366) Ultimately, in the 1973 Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade, it was ruled that women had the right to privacy and could make an individual choice on whether or not to have an abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy. (Yishai 213)

Since Roe v. Wade, the issue of abortion has sparked a symbolic war based on the religious, personal, and moral beliefs of two opposing groups: anti-abortionists, who see abortion as murder; and pro-abortionists, who view it “as a symbol of women’s rights to control their own lives.” (Calhoun 220) Public opinion on the issue is no less divided: according to a 2003 poll, 49% of respondents described themselves as “more pro-abortion” while 45% were “more anti-abortion.” (Shaw) However, when the question concerns the legality of abortion, the percentages become skewed. In a 2000 survey, 53% believed that abortion should be legal while 35% believed the contrary. (Shaw) When these questions, in turn, become more specific, important differences occur. A poll by The American National Election Studies offered the following results: 42% of the sample felt “a woman should be able to obtain an abortion as a matter of personal choice”; 15% felt it should be legal “only after establishing need”; 29% believe it should be permitted “only in case of rape, incest, or when the woman’s life is in danger”; and a mere 12% felt is should “never be permitted.” (Shaw) An overwhe...

... middle of paper ...

...

Strahan, Thomas W., J.D. “Therapeutic Influence in Abortion Counseling and Procedures: Creating the Illusion of Well-Being.” Association for Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change. March / April 2002. 1 March 2004. <http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/facts/Vol%2017%20No%201%20Mar%202002.pdf>

Staggenborg, Suzanne. “Abortion as a Social Problem.” Sociology: Social Foundations

of Public Issues. McGraw Hill, 2003. pp. 216-220. {scholarly secondary source; print}

“The Rights of Pregnant Women.” NARAL Pro-Choice America. 24 March 2004. <http://www.naral.org/Issues/pregnantwomen/> {unrestricted; internet publication}

Yishai, Yael. “Public Ideas and Public Policy: Abortion Politics in Four Democracies.”

Comparative Politics, Jan 1993. Vol. 25, Iss. 2, pp. 207-228. {primary scholarly; print}

Show More
Related

  • Clara Barton's Role In The Civil War

    1130 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thousands of lives would have not been lost if Clare Barton did not play the role she did in the Civil War. Clara Barton was an influential leader during the Civil War due to her childhood experiences, decisions she made during the war, and the legacy she left behind after the war.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Abortion And The Hyde Amendment

    1464 Words  | 3 Pages

    Abortion, is a safe and legal way to terminate a pregnancy. According to the Guttmatcher Institute (2015), abortions are common, and approximately three in ten American women have an abortion by the time they reach the age of 45. Additionally, a broad array of women in the United States have abortions. Yet, abortion is a controversial issue and has been for decades. It is a topic that many people hold strong feelings for or against. The conversations surrounding the topic of abortion has resulted in protests, dangerous, unfair policies, and violence. The abortion debate heightened in 1973, when the U.S. Supreme court overturned state laws that banned or restricted women’s rights to obtain an abortion during the

    Read More

  • Women of the American Civil War: South and North

    1916 Words  | 4 Pages

    "Women in the Civil War." History.Com. A&E Television Networks, 2011. Web. 13 Nov 2011. .

    Read More

  • Abortion Should be Illegal in the Untied States

    2279 Words  | 5 Pages

    The debate of abortion continues to be a controversial problem in society and has been around for many decades. According to Jone Lewis, “In the United States, abortion laws began to appear in the 1820’s, forbidding abortion after the fourth month of pregnancy” (1). This indicates that the abortion controversy has been debated far back into American history. Beginning in the 1900’s, legalized abortion became a major controversy. In 1965, all fifty states in the United States banned abortion; however, that was only the beginning of the controversy that still rages today (Lewis 1). After abortion was officially banned in the United States, groups such as the National Abortion Rights Action League worked hard on a plan to once again legalize abortion in the United States (Lewis 1). It wasn’t until 1970 when the case of Roe (for abortion) v. Wade (against abortion) was brought...

    Read More

  • Women Who Made an Impact During the Civil War

    808 Words  | 2 Pages

    Clara Barton was known as one of the most honored women in American history. She was among the first women to gain employment in the federal government. She worked as a recording clerk in the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C. when the first united of federal troops came into the city. She devoted her personal assistance to the men in uniform, some who had already been wounded, hungry, or were without bedding and clothing. She also started providing supplies to the young men of the Sixth Massachusetts Infantry who had been ambushed in Baltimore in the uncompleted Capitol building. She helped them write letters, and pray with them.

    Read More

  • The Reproductive Right Debate

    2552 Words  | 6 Pages

    No other element of the Women’s Rights Movement has generated as much controversy as the debate over reproductive rights. As the movement gained momentum so did the demand for birth control, sex education, family planning and the repeal of all abortion laws. On January 22, 1973 the Supreme Court handed down the Roe v. Wade decision which declared abortion "fundamental right.” The ruling recognized the right of the individual “to be free from unwanted governmental intrusion into matters so fundamentally affecting a person as the right of a woman to decide whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.” (US Supreme Court, 1973) This federal-level ruling took effect, legalizing abortion for all women nationwide.

    Read More

  • The Spread of Islam in Arabia

    1782 Words  | 4 Pages

    The spread of Islam would not have occurred without Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islamic religion, who succeeded to win support for his spiritual and political status within Arabia in the early seventh century. After receiving divine revelations from God Allah, Muhammad slowly acquired a small following and eventually some families had converted to Islam; however, not everyone was convinced by his messages. This was especially true of the pagan rulers of his Qurash tribe in Mecca. A series of conflicts between the Qurash and Muslims started in 630, when the Qurash broke an earlier peace treaty that had been established. This led Muhammed to move Mecca with his mens and take the city without any killing or wounding of people. He then destroyed the idols around the Kabah and devoted it to God again. Opposition and consequent persecution by Pagan rulers of Qurash tribe in Mecca caused the early Muslims to move to Yathrib, which appeared to be actually beneficial to them. By the time of Muhammad’s dealth in 632, as Karen Armstrong, a british author of numerous works on comparative religion explains, “almost all the ...

    Read More

  • The Two Sides Of Abortion

    1088 Words  | 3 Pages

    Abortion may be one of the most controversial topics in America today. Abortion is defined as “the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus” (cite dictionary). There are really only two sides on people’s opinion on abortion; pro-life which means abortion should be outlawed and pro-choice which means a woman should be able to decide whether she wants to keep her baby. Thousands of protests and riots have begun due to the fact pro-life activists believe abortion should become illegal. Both sides bring valid points to support their decision that could sway any person’s thoughts. The Roe v. Wade law has allowed abortion to be legal in the U.S since 1973 (Chittom & Newton, 2015). The law “gives women total control over first trimester abortions and grants state legislative control over second and third trimester abortions” (Chittom & Newton, 2015). Ever since the law was put in place, millions of people have tried to overturn it and still

    Read More

  • Muhammad's Revolution Dbq

    1106 Words  | 3 Pages

    Muhammad was a revolutionary he broke many customary ways and beliefs. Muhammad’s revolution affected all aspects of life. His peace ended disputes of families, tribes and nations but most importantly with all human nature. To Muhammad religion was a comprehensive concept. It was also a set of dogmas and doctrines alone with rituals and ceremonies. Religion was a way of life for Muhammad. He came raise mankind to a higher place of peace and progress.

    Read More

  • Women's Role In The Civil War

    518 Words  | 2 Pages

    Some famous nurses that helped in the Civil war were, Clara Barton was often found working behind the lines. After the war she had started the American Red Cross. Louisa May Alcott was a volunteer nurse in the Civil War, more formally known for her book, Little Women. Many of these women had other things to do but found it in their hearts to help the soldiers. And that was just some of many nurses in the Civil War.

    Read More

  • Abortion, Public Policy, & Texas

    1028 Words  | 3 Pages

    Over the course of the last century, abortion in the Western hemisphere has become a largely controversial topic that affects every human being. In the United States, at current rates, one in three women will have had an abortion by the time they reach the age of 45. The questions surrounding the laws are of moral, social, and medical dilemmas that rely upon the most fundamental principles of ethics and philosophy. At the center of the argument is the not so clear cut lines dictating what life is, or is not, and where a fetus finds itself amongst its meaning. In an effort to answer the question, lawmakers are establishing public policies dictating what a woman may or may not do with regard to her reproductive rights.

    Read More

  • The History and Spread of Islam

    1906 Words  | 4 Pages

    While Muhammad was successful at converting people to Islam, they were often people of the lowest class or slaves. After more than a decade of prosecution and harassment from the Meccans, many Muslims emigrated to Medina. This is where Muhammad established political and religious authority over his old and new followers. A Constitution of Medina was devised and it brought all the groups into one massive society. The formulated statement set up security, certain freedoms, Medina’s sacredness, a tax system and a judicial system. In 629, Muh...

    Read More

  • Abortion is Woman’s Right to Choose

    1524 Words  | 4 Pages

    With so many women choosing to have abortions, it would be expected that it would not be so greatly frowned up, yet society is still having problems with its acceptance. Every woman has the fundamental right to decide for herself, free from government interference, whether or not to have an abortion. Today, more than ever, American families do not want the government to trample on their right to privacy by mandating how they must decide on the most intimate, personal matters. That is why, even though Americans may differ on what circumstances for terminating a crisis pregnancy are consistent with their own personal moral views, on the fundamental question of who should make this personal decision, the majority of Americans agree that each woman must have the right to make this private choice for herself. Anti-choice proposals to ban abortions for “sex-selection” or “birth-control” are smokescreens designed to shift the focus of the debate away from this issue and trivialize the seriousness with which millions of women make this highly personal decision. Any government restriction on the reasons for which women may obtain legal abortions violates the core of this right and could force all women to publicly justify their reasons for seeking abortion.

    Read More

  • Hamlet And Laertes Use Of Revenge In Hamlet

    416 Words  | 1 Pages

    Thesis: William Shakespeare uses Fortinbras, Hamlet, and Laertes to show how each character uses revenge to avenge the deaths within each of their own families.

    Read More

  • Position Paper On Abortion

    728 Words  | 2 Pages

    Millions of illegal abortions were done by the 1950s, and over a thousand women died each year as result. Moreover, millions of women who had illegal abortions were rushed to the emergency ward; some died of abdominal infection, and other, found themselves sterile and chronically ill. In 1969, 75% of the women who died from these abortions were either poor or of color. In the landmark case of Roe v. Wade (1973) the Supreme Court ruled that woman had the right of privacy under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment to obtain an abortion, yet, keeping in mind that, protecting the health of the woman and the potential life of the fetus is the main interest. As result of this decision, safe and unpainful abortion services were offered to many women. In addition, some health care centers provided counseling, women’s group offered free referral services, and, non-profit abortion facilities were created. Nevertheless, legalization was not enough to ensure that abortions will be available to all women, women of low income and of color still found themselves without safe and inexpensive abortions. Between the early 1980s, feminist health centers provided low-cost abortions, however, by the early 1990s, only 20% of these centers survived the harassment by the IRS and the competition of other

    Read More

More about Abortion in the United States

Open Document