Transforming Abortion Discourse

Abstract

Reproductive freedom, including legal access to abortion, feminists insist, is a fundamental health issue for women. However, it is also the issue that has provoked the most opposition to the feminist struggle. The polarized debate epitomized in the abortion conflict, the author contends, is at least partly embedded in the nature and form of the discourse about abortion, which inadequately conceptualizes both pregnancy and women's decisions regarding unwanted pregnancy. Gilligan's paradigm of moral voices is used to explore the possibility of transforming this discourse.

From Abortion Rights to Reproductive Justice: A Call to Action

“…This strong feminist commitment to policies guaranteeing reproductive freedom is based on the fundamental belief that women must be able to manage their bodies. (Collins, 1987, p. 7)We build on Collins (1987) appeal and amplify Liddell's (2019), Gómez et al (2020), Younes et al (2021), and other feminist scholars’ claims that social workers are called to support RJ. RJ's core framework aligns with social work's ethical foundations and moves us away from the narrow focus on individual “choice” about contraception or abortion and “rights” as the end game in reproductive health.…”

“…This strong feminist commitment to policies guaranteeing reproductive freedom is based on the fundamental belief that women must be able to manage their bodies. (Collins, 1987, p. 7)…”