Why is abortion such a controversial issue the United States?

Abstract

We are for every woman having exactly as many children as she wants, when she wants, i f she wants. It's time the Bill of Rights applied to women.-from the official statement of Jane, legendary underground feminist abortion service (Kaplan, 1995)We're in a war . . . until recently the casualties have only been on one side.-Don Treshman, national director of Rescue America, commenting on murders of abortion providers

Current Reproductive Technologies: Increased Access and Choice?

“…The politics of reproductive technology often guide social policy, especially in the United States where bitter and sometimes violent struggles have characterized the abortion debate (Beckman & Harvey, 1998; Russo & Denious, this issue; Sherman, this issue). The political controversies, although not as vitriolic in other areas of reproductive technology, extend far beyond abortion and are rooted in differences in religious, moral, and personal values (Russo & Denious, 1998; Russo & Denious, this issue). Characterizing the use of various reproductive technologies as moral issues by conservative religious groups has lead to the promotion of policies that attempt to limit women's access to these technologies.…”

Controlling Birth: Science, Politics, and Public Policy

“…Technologies designed to control birth, i.e., contraception and abortion, have been especially controversial (Russo & Denious, 1998), resulting in policies and politics becoming more closely intertwined. Indeed, birth control technologies have received public policy debate the longest of the modern reproductive technologies (Gordon, 1990).…”

“…But even if Roe v. Wade (1973) stands, postabortion syndrome is designed to be used as a rationale for suing physicians for psychological damage alleged to result from having an abortion. A goal is to deter physicians from providing abortions, and the strategy involves attempts to enact legislation making physicians criminally liable for such "damages" (hence, not covered by malpractice insurance; Lee, 2003;Reardon, n.d.;and Russo & Denious, 1998…”

Induced Abortion: An Ethical Conundrum for Counselors

“…Seventh, counselor educators and supervisors may wish to discuss abortion with their students and trainees within the context both of counselors' worldviews and of their theoretical orientations. Although there are divergent worldviews about abortion (Dugger, 1999;Russo & Denious, 1999), they need not splinter theoretical orientations. For example, even feminists differ in their attitudes toward abortion.…”