Bristol University Press
6 Into the 21st Century
Abstract
This chapter explores UK abortion debates in the 21st century. It describes new anti-abortion strategies which emerged in the 2000s and went beyond the familiar attacks on abortion providers. It demonstrates how issues such as foetal viability and calls for changes in pre-abortion counselling provision evolved as a consequence both of past anti-abortion activity and how pro-choice feminist actors have made their arguments. The chapter argues that counselling amendments are proposed because they undermine the association between a ‘right to choose’ and feminist politics and call into question the medical authority on which the Abortion Act 1967 was based.
Abstract
This chapter explores UK abortion debates in the 21st century. It describes new anti-abortion strategies which emerged in the 2000s and went beyond the familiar attacks on abortion providers. It demonstrates how issues such as foetal viability and calls for changes in pre-abortion counselling provision evolved as a consequence both of past anti-abortion activity and how pro-choice feminist actors have made their arguments. The chapter argues that counselling amendments are proposed because they undermine the association between a ‘right to choose’ and feminist politics and call into question the medical authority on which the Abortion Act 1967 was based.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of Tables iv
- List of Abbreviations v
- Acknowledgements vi
- Introduction 1
- Regulating the Female Body 13
- Passing the Abortion Act 1967 39
- Feminism Enters the Debate 67
- Backlash and Appropriation 95
- Into the 21st Century 123
- Towards Decriminalization? New Battlegrounds in Abortion Politics 145
- Conclusion 177
- Notes 193
- References 197
- Index 221
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of Tables iv
- List of Abbreviations v
- Acknowledgements vi
- Introduction 1
- Regulating the Female Body 13
- Passing the Abortion Act 1967 39
- Feminism Enters the Debate 67
- Backlash and Appropriation 95
- Into the 21st Century 123
- Towards Decriminalization? New Battlegrounds in Abortion Politics 145
- Conclusion 177
- Notes 193
- References 197
- Index 221
