The Spread of Abortion The Spread of Abortion Politics to other policy Politics to other policy

areasareas

Sociology of Abortion, Sociology of Abortion,

March 19, 2008March 19, 2008

Two Frames for Today’s DiscussionTwo Frames for Today’s Discussion

““Moral Panic” (over sexuality and Moral Panic” (over sexuality and reproduction)reproduction)• ““a condition [that]…emerges to become a condition [that]…emerges to become

defined as a threat to societal values and defined as a threat to societal values and interests…At times…it has…serious and long-interests…At times…it has…serious and long-lasting repercussions and might produce such lasting repercussions and might produce such changes as those in legal or social policy or changes as those in legal or social policy or even in the way society conceives itself.” even in the way society conceives itself.” Stanley Cohen, 1972Stanley Cohen, 1972

Frames (continued)Frames (continued)

Social movements and how they Social movements and how they behavebehave• Continually try to expand and create Continually try to expand and create

new coalitions, attempt to “own” new new coalitions, attempt to “own” new issues—and in so doing, typically issues—and in so doing, typically “overreach”, thus alienating the general “overreach”, thus alienating the general publicpublic

To Which Areas has Abortion To Which Areas has Abortion Politics Spread?Politics Spread?

““Right to die” issuesRight to die” issues ““Embryo politics”Embryo politics” ContraceptionContraception Teen sex: sex education, HPV Teen sex: sex education, HPV

vaccinevaccine

Right to Die IssuesRight to Die Issues

Euthanasia, Physician assisted suicide as Euthanasia, Physician assisted suicide as longstanding issues of interest for “Pro-longstanding issues of interest for “Pro-life” movementlife” movement

Similarities between this issue and Similarities between this issue and abortion—e.g. semi-secret activities of abortion—e.g. semi-secret activities of doctors, “grey areas” of legalitydoctors, “grey areas” of legality

Schiavo case in 2005, violent wing of anti-Schiavo case in 2005, violent wing of anti-ab movement is involved. Turning point? ab movement is involved. Turning point?

““Embryo Politics”Embryo Politics”

Unused embryos in IVF clinics—c.400,000Unused embryos in IVF clinics—c.400,000

88% reserved for future use by couples; 88% reserved for future use by couples; 3% donated for med research; c.2% 3% donated for med research; c.2% donated to other couples. Sean Tipton, donated to other couples. Sean Tipton, American Society for Reproductive American Society for Reproductive medicinemedicine

““Snowflake” children—President BushSnowflake” children—President Bush

Embryo Politics (continued)Embryo Politics (continued)

““Microscopic Americans.” … “That’s what Microscopic Americans.” … “That’s what a writer for the National Review called a writer for the National Review called zygotes and embryos in the first days after zygotes and embryos in the first days after fertilization. Growing numbers of right-fertilization. Growing numbers of right-wing crusaders are pushing to enshrine wing crusaders are pushing to enshrine into law the religious belief that these into law the religious belief that these microscopic clumps of undifferentiated microscopic clumps of undifferentiated cells have the same inalienable rights as cells have the same inalienable rights as “post-born Americans.” Phila Daily News, “post-born Americans.” Phila Daily News, April 12, 2005April 12, 2005

Embryo Politics (continued)Embryo Politics (continued) Embryo politics as threat to: Embryo politics as threat to:

• stem cell research, stem cell research, • abortion, abortion, • contraception, contraception, • IVF, IVF, • genetic testing.genetic testing.

Exists in tandem with legal efforts to Exists in tandem with legal efforts to establish “personhood” of fetus, cf. establish “personhood” of fetus, cf. Gonzales v Carhart (Unborn Victims of Gonzales v Carhart (Unborn Victims of Violence Act, S-CHIP coverage of fetuses, Violence Act, S-CHIP coverage of fetuses, not the pregnant woman)not the pregnant woman)

Tactics of “Embryo Politics” Tactics of “Embryo Politics” MovementMovement

Appropriation of language of civil Appropriation of language of civil rights movement and anti-rights movement and anti-discrimination movements, e.g. discrimination movements, e.g.

““National Association for the National Association for the Advancement of Preborn Children” Advancement of Preborn Children” (NAAPC)—group that sued to prevent (NAAPC)—group that sued to prevent California’s stem cell research California’s stem cell research programprogram

Attacks on ContraceptionAttacks on Contraception

Older attacks on contraceptionOlder attacks on contraception• ““supportive of abortion mentality”supportive of abortion mentality”• ““sex should only be for procreation”sex should only be for procreation”• Opposition to Planned Parenthood where Opposition to Planned Parenthood where

contra services are deliveredcontra services are delivered

New attack—New attack—• contraception contraception isis abortion, new definition abortion, new definition

of when pregnancy beginsof when pregnancy begins

Key Contraceptive Struggles in Key Contraceptive Struggles in G.W. Bush PresidencyG.W. Bush Presidency

EC sagaEC saga

Cutbacks in funding for Title X and other Cutbacks in funding for Title X and other support for family planning—”Two support for family planning—”Two Americas” re: access to repro health and Americas” re: access to repro health and unintended pregnanciesunintended pregnancies

““health worker refusals” to fill contra RXhealth worker refusals” to fill contra RX

Teens and Sexuality Teens and Sexuality

Abstinence education—”$1.5 billion Abstinence education—”$1.5 billion wasted”, Cong Henry Waxmanwasted”, Cong Henry Waxman

Roots in Reagan era—”chastity Roots in Reagan era—”chastity centers”centers”

Struggles between “teen preg and Struggles between “teen preg and STD” prevention and “teen sex” STD” prevention and “teen sex” preventionprevention

Mandated Content of Abstinence-Mandated Content of Abstinence-Only ProgramsOnly Programs

Every program funded by govt must:Every program funded by govt must:• Teach that abstinence from sexual Teach that abstinence from sexual

activity is the expected standard for all activity is the expected standard for all school-aged childrenschool-aged children

• Teach that a mutually faithful Teach that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of of marriage is the expected standard of human activityhuman activity

Mandated Content (continued)Mandated Content (continued) Teach that sexual activity outside the Teach that sexual activity outside the

context of marriage is likely to have context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effectsharmful psychological and physical effects

Teach that bearing children illegitimately Teach that bearing children illegitimately is likely to have harmful consequences for is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child’s parents, and societythe child, the child’s parents, and society

Teach the importance of attaining self-Teach the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity (activity (note extension of abs-only efforts note extension of abs-only efforts to 18-29 yrs old)to 18-29 yrs old)

Content of Abs-Only ProgramsContent of Abs-Only Programs

As the Washington Post reported in 2004, As the Washington Post reported in 2004, "Many American youngsters"Many American youngstersparticipating in federally funded participating in federally funded abstinence-only programs have been abstinence-only programs have been taughttaught[falsely] over the past three years that [falsely] over the past three years that abortion can lead to sterility andabortion can lead to sterility andsuicide, that half the gay male teenagers suicide, that half the gay male teenagers in the United States have testedin the United States have testedpositive for the AIDS virus, and that positive for the AIDS virus, and that touching a person's genitals 'cantouching a person's genitals 'canresult in pregnancy.'"result in pregnancy.'"

Teen Sexuality—How Respond to Teen Sexuality—How Respond to the Religious Right?the Religious Right?

““I’m a feminist…I believe that many of our I’m a feminist…I believe that many of our feminist friends have let women down…A girl feminist friends have let women down…A girl would come in, she’d be back in a month….The would come in, she’d be back in a month….The girl spoke the language of the sexual girl spoke the language of the sexual revolution…..’Do what you want, go out and have revolution…..’Do what you want, go out and have all the sex you want, be sexually gratified.’ But all the sex you want, be sexually gratified.’ But they weren’t being gratified, sexually or they weren’t being gratified, sexually or emotionally. They were hurting…their hearts emotionally. They were hurting…their hearts were broken, or they had a sexually transmitted were broken, or they had a sexually transmitted disease. I used to look at them and say, ‘Why are disease. I used to look at them and say, ‘Why are you settling for this? Isn’t there something better you settling for this? Isn’t there something better than this?” Leslie Unruh, Abstinence Clearing than this?” Leslie Unruh, Abstinence Clearing House (quoted in M. Goldberg, p. 142)House (quoted in M. Goldberg, p. 142)

The Future of the Religious Right?The Future of the Religious Right?

Overreaching? With respect to contraception, yes. Overreaching? With respect to contraception, yes. “98% of American women…” CDC. “98% of American women…” CDC.

New directions for some Relig Right leaders—New directions for some Relig Right leaders—poverty, the environment.poverty, the environment.

Marginality thus far in 2008 election?Marginality thus far in 2008 election?

Abortion and teen sexuality will remain divisive Abortion and teen sexuality will remain divisive issues. (some data suggest improvement re: issues. (some data suggest improvement re: gays)gays)