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In November 1972, an episode of the famous American sitcom Maude shook America with its episode « Maude’s Dilemma ». In that episode, 47-year-old Maude must face her pregnancy and chooses to get an abortion. The day after the episode aired, producers received death threats, CBS received 17000 letters of protest and the United States Catholic Conference organized a campaign against them. America didn’t seem ready for this debate, but a couple of months later, the Supreme Court issued its ruling in Roe v. Wade, legalizing abortion. Although it has been 50 years America still does not seem ready for the debate. In this essay, we will go through abortion's tragic history, its legalization in each state and its impact on today's society, and the two « sides » that seem to define the debate. This subject splits America into two sides. Pro-life and Pro-choice. Politically: Republicans and Democrats, generally.
Abortions have been performed for centuries. In the 1800s, they were advertised to be performed with pills containing tansy oil, pennyroyal, rue, ergot, and sometimes opium that could cause miscarriages but before it was with a needle or even a hanger. Women were ready to risk their lives in order to get an abortion. In the 1800s, a lot of women received abortions for unwanted children or pre-marital children, and the decision was badly perceived in society. It was also still illegal in America and abortion was a dangerous thing for women. Many of them died as a result of the procedure. A century later, discussions around the subject began. In 1959, the American Law Institute proposed model penal code state abortion laws: legalizing abortion for the mother’s mental or physical health, pregnancy due to rape or incest, and fatal deformity. 8 years later the first abortion laws are passed in four different states: Colorado, California, Oregon, and North Carolina. Of course, pro-life organizations followed in disagreement with abortion morality. The first groups to emerge were the Virginia Society for Human and Life and the National Right to Life. In 1969, the NARAL Pro-Choice America is established in support of abortion and women’s right to choose. Other states followed, each with different stipulations. Some allowed it on demand, others only for rape and incest, or only for the mother’s physical health. In 1972, 31 states allowed it only to save the mother’s life.
It all took a turn on January 22nd, 1973 when the Supreme Court studied the law and precedent in the Roe v. Wade case and decided that, under the Constitution, women are afforded the right of bodily autonomy and that means the right to choose. The Constitution also dictates that women have a right to privacy. The Supreme Court determined that women had the right to choose during the first two trimesters. Only during the last trimester, when the fetus can survive outside the womb, would states be permitted to regulate abortion in a healthy pregnancy. It was followed by the first March for Life in Washington DC, with an estimated 20,000 supporters in attendance. It was meant to be a one-time event, but we will later see wasn’t.
The Supreme Court passing the bill was applauded by every women’s rights coalition worldwide. It was a huge step in a long battle.
To this day, abortion laws still have opponents. In 2018, many states tried or did vote near-total ban. Alabama voted the most restrictive abortion legislation in the United States by allowing termination of a pregnancy only « to avoid a serious health risk to the unborn child's mother,' if the 'unborn child has a lethal anomaly' and if the woman has an ectopic pregnancy. Alabama isn’t the only state trying to pass anti-abortion bills. Louisiana, Mississippi, and Ohio passed the « heartbeat » bill which makes abortion illegal as soon as a heartbeat can be detected either on the embryo or the fetus. Some of these states count rape and incest as part of this bill. This means raped women could not terminate their pregnancy if a heartbeat is detected.
In 2016 the abortion rate was 11.6 abortions per 1,000 women aged between 15-44 years old. That small sample doesn't stop pro-life protesters from demonstrating outside women's health clinics, such as Planned Parenthood. Women coming into Planned Parenthood, which gives other services than abortion, often have to be escorted by security guards to avoid harassment from pro-life protesters outside their clinics. It shows that even when we think that America is taking a step forward in women’s rights, differing ideologies continue to hold it back.
I surveyed 18 Americans from different states, different ages, gender, and background in order to see the people’s views on pregnancy termination. The 15 to 34-year-olds were all pro-choice. The arguments that came in the majority were that it’s a woman’s choice to do whatever she wants with her body. I also asked the 13 women and 5 men, if in the position, what would be the reason they would terminate a pregnancy. The main reasons were financial stability, an unwanted child or just not being ready. I wanted to see those arguments from a different perspective, which is why I read Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments by Randy Alcorn. The majority of Alcorn’s arguments have something to do with religion or that the embryo is a living being. I believe that every woman should be able to have control over their body and it’s not to another person to choose for them. I don’t think one can actually be « against abortion ». They can be against the act of terminating their pregnancy. But one should not choose another woman.
So I’m asking myself if America truly is ready to have this debate. Republicans and pro-life people will never change their minds about abortion, which can be seen with Donald Trump being the first ever president of the United States to take part in a pro-life protest. I don’t think the fight will ever end. Republicans will always try to ban abortion in its totality and Democrats and pro-choice people will keep on fighting for women’s rights. The conservatives will unlikely ever change their minds due to religious beliefs. But it is hoped that one day women will be able to make choices of their own in relation to their bodies without anyone putting obstacles in their way.
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