24. The Abortion Issue (women's civil rights in USA - social)
- Created by: Alasdair
- Created on: 05-06-17 18:10
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- The Abortion Issue (women's civil rights in USA - social)
- Norma McCorvey won case in 1970 under name Jane Roe against Texas in person of Attorney General Wade
- Won due to claim states were acting unconstitutionally by interfering with a woman's body, a 'zone of privacy', protected by 9th Amendment
- Historic ruling by Supreme Court in 1973 meaning first 3 months of pregnancy, states could not prohibit abortions
- In second and third trimesters, an abortion could take place where woman's health was concerned
- After six months states could protect unborn foetus but not if abortion was considered necessary to protect health of mother
- Therefore, Supreme Court put rights of mother above rights of foetus
- Roe v. Wade decision supported rights of women over their own bodies and over attitudes that denied them freedom
- Showed American official opinion had moved towards greater recognition of women's personal freedom
- Decision challenged some traditional views about women
- e.g. some had felt woman's first duty was as mothers and carers of others
- This challenged that, put woman's right to choose before other social responsibilities
- e.g. some had felt woman's first duty was as mothers and carers of others
- Massive backlash of opposition which showed how strongly counter-view was held
- Women's position in society was still highly contentious issue
- Norma McCorvey won case in 1970 under name Jane Roe against Texas in person of Attorney General Wade
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