Alice Liu

Professor Harris

English 11000

9.28.20

The Struggle for Abortion

Though abortion has been legalized through Roe v. Wade, abortion is still a highly controversial topic in the US. People are divided between the pro-choice, who believes women should have a choice in giving birth, and the pro-life, those who believe that life is sacred and should not be murdered before it has a chance to be born. Recurring arguments include that the fetus is a living being, that morals and religion should preserve life, and that a woman’s choice is superior to her unborn fetus are popular themes for debate when abortion is involved. 

“Abortion before and after Roe v. Wade: an historical perspective” by David J. Garrow discusses the history of abortion in America and how abortion was only accessible to women with wealth and connections to a doctor. Abortion was frowned upon—both in society and religiously, therefore, abortion operations were done discreetly. From Roe v. Wade, abortion was legalized and became more accessible. The purpose of this article is to inform the audience about what America was like before Roe v. Wade and how this court case not only made abortion legal but it also allowed several abortion clinics to open up and in NYC, abortion clinics opened and charged women for a fair price and doctors “no longer had to worry about or concern themselves with being in any way responsible for providing abortion services to women whom they knew or women who were referred to them.” Following the rule, abortion was more accessible and it did not limit women to their socio-economic class. Garrow’s stance is pro-choice because he also urges people not to solely focus on laws, but to also protect women and doctors from social and legal repercussions to have legal protection. As Garrow describes, “the tragic murder of Dr. Slepian again reminds us how the physical reality of abortion services…staff members so vulnerable to the very tiny terrorist underground of abortion opponents”. The genre of this article is a historical essay because the focuses on the history and effects of Roe v. Wade, therefore, the audience are those who are interested in the history of abortion in America. 

“What it Takes to Get an Abortion During the Corona Pandemic” by Anna North discusses the impact of Covid-19 on abortion and how abortion should be considered essential healthcare. The article spreads awareness about how the pandemic has impacted abortion access and rights since abortion is considered nonessential healthcare, “at least 5 states have essentially banned abortion during the coronavirus pandemic”. Not only limiting the public’s access to abortion, but the pandemic also impacted the economy, and people lost, “their jobs virtually overnight” therefore “paying out of pocket for an abortion can be next to impossible.” To make matters worse, postponing abortions can result in significant health complications for women, especially those of lower socioeconomic demographics, who has neither the time nor the money to deal with pregnancy issues. North focuses on the difficulties of access to abortion, indicating she believes women should have the right and the option to choose if they want to give birth.   Throughout the article, she shares other perspectives of those favoring pro-choice, such as Kelsey Ryland, the Director of Federal Strategies at the abortion-rights groups. As Ryland states, “I can’t emphasize enough how shameful it is to take advantage of this pandemic to just further shame women seeking abortion care.” North includes like-minded perspectives in her article to spread awareness on how abortion should be an essential healthcare service and how the pandemic should not deny women’s access to this life-significant service. By collecting information in Texas and highlighting opinions of pro-choice from advocates to Planned Parenthood, North composes an expository writing to showcase the pandemic’s impact on abortion.

“Abortion is Legal, Make It Accessible” by Anisha Aggarwal, discusses the progress of abortion in India when India passed the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP), which made abortion legal in the country after several deaths caused by unsafe abortions. Although abortion is legal, there are still restrictions. The purpose of this article is to advocate the need to progress abortion rights in India and to make it accessible to every woman because, “no access to safe, sensitive and non-judgmental abortion services” and a requirement of  a doctor’s opinion to certify the reason for an abortion would severely limit a woman’s choice even if the MTP “requires only the consent of a woman for termination of her pregnancy.” The right to abort is not the hands of the woman herself, and these restrictions result in women, “to resort to unsafe and illegal options.” Turning to unsafe abortions may result in deaths that the MTP was made to prevent. Aggarwal’s persuasive essay provides information supporting her stance of pro-choice, as it is evident when she states, “…it would not be wise to miss the progress we have made so far. However, we need to realize that despite the gains, gaps remain in all realms and today is a good day to renew our pledge of making safe abortion accessible for every woman who wants it.” Aggarwal praises the progress made in India when they passed the MTP, however, she argues that the progress needs to continue so that everyone could have access to abortion. As an “Indian Senior Director of Strategy and Development at Ipas Development Foundation, an Indian NGO that is dedicated to preventing and managing unwanted pregnancies”, Aggarwal references her audience—the pro-choice people of India as “we” that they should make abortion accessible to woman in India.

“Abortion was back-burned in the presidential race. Not anymore” by Lisa Lerer and Elizabeth Dias discusses the American pro-choice people’s concerns about the legalization of abortion in America after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a supreme court member. After her death, President Trump’s decision on who would sit on the Supreme Court could impact abortion in America. The purpose of this article is to inform the audience that abortion would impact the outcome of the elections. For example, “during the 2018 midterms when suburban women voters in key swing districts helped give Democrats control of the House.” Providing this example not only gives strength to their analysis but also explains the fear of people who are pro-choice. The audience is the American voters who are interested and care about abortion’s position in America because the election’s result would impact the accessibility of abortion. Throughout the article, Lerer and Dias talk about American politics and how depending on the two main political groups—republican and democrats’ votes were “very important” in the November election, with “about two-thirds of registered voters” observing the Supreme Court’s vacant seat. Whoever wins the election can appoint Supreme Court members, which can impact abortion in America. The genre of this article is an informative essay because the authors did not inject their stance or opinions or try to persuade their readers. They only analyzed how abortion would impact the results of the elections.

The struggles and controversies regarding abortion are prevalent in every country, even in those who have legalized abortion, and it will always be because of the dilemma between pro-choice v. pro-life. In most sources, the authors were pro-choice and they highlighted the need for more progress. Progress is hindered, however, as the recent events with the pandemic and the death of Justice Ginsburg have demonstrated. These events reveal the position of abortion in America; there are only a few accesses to abortion clinics and abortion is always in the danger of becoming illegal. 

Works Cited

Garrow, David J. “Abortion before and after Roe v. Wade: an historical perspective.” Albany Law Review, vol. 62, no. 3, Spring 1999, p. 833. Gale Academic OneFile, Accessed 25 Sept. 2020.

North, Anna. “What It Takes to Get an Abortion during the Coronavirus Pandemic.” Vox, Vox, 1 Apr. 2020,www.vox.com/2020/4/1/21200247/coronavirus-texas-abortion-ban-pandemic-Covid-19.

“Abortion Is Legal, Make It Accessible.” Business World, 10 Aug. 2020, p. NA. Gale OneFile: News,https://link-gale-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/apps/doc/A632184071/ STND?u=cuny_ccny&sid=STND&xid=a0e0c60d. Accessed 25 Sept. 2020.

Lerer, Lisa, and Elizabeth Dias. “Abortion Was Back-Burnered in the Presidential Race. Not Anymore.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 20 Sept. 2020,www.nytimes.com/2020/09/20/us/abortion-supreme-court-trump-biden.html?searchResultPosition=1.