I found Linder's article, Victory and Beyond: A Historical Comparative Analysis of the Outcomes of the Abortion Movements in Sweden and the United States, to be very interesting in that it points out the differences that can occur in the results of the same type of social movements that happen in different countries. This article examined the outcomes of social movements in the US and in Sweden that legalized abortion, and how the aftermath has taken on a seperate story in each country. As we learned in class, the social movement in Sweden had its change come about from the top-down. A committee was formed that studied abortion and was able to convience the federal courts that abortion should be legalized. The news then spread to the people of Sweden, and counter movements had less time to fight back before the decision was made. In the United States, pro-choice movements had to force their change from the bottom-up. People had to work their way through lower courts until eventually Roe vs. Wade made its way to the federale courts. Because the process that the U.S. pro-choice-ers had to go through took slow, steady work to make its way up, counter movents had time to anticipate this change and fight back. Once the government legalized abortion, many states still made it extremely difficult for women to actually get abortions; largely due to the work of pro-life movements.
By looking at the process that legalized abortion has gone through in the U.S., I think it is a very strong example of how "bottom-up" change can be a lot more challenging and time consuming for the supporting movement. When the famous Roe vs. Wade case made its way through the courts many years ago, pro-choice supporters saw an immense victory before their eyes. But was it a complete victory? To many pro-choice people, they would answer with a definite "yes." Still, the legalization process had just begun, and the battles were still about to be fought. Looking at strict abortion laws across our nation today, we can see that the war is not over yet. Due to the slow process of bringing abortion rights to the federal court, pro-lifers have been working just as hard. If those from the pro-choice social movements in Sweden were to come to America and observe the differences in our government's attitiude towards abortion compared to theirs, they would most likely be astonished. Yet the source of where their change came from can not be ignored. Their top-down strategy made all the difference in their fight.
Today, Ms. Norma McCorvey, also once known as Jane Roe, is fighting to undo the changes she helped bring about 1973. Her life took a drastic turn in 1995 when she gave her life to the Lord and had a revival in her soul. Her view on abortion changed, and she committed her life to spreading the word of the pain that abortion brings about. Many people might say that the fight to make abortion in the U.S. illegal looks impossible. Yet that is what many people once said when pro-choice groups marched in protest to legalize abortion. Nothing is impossible, we should have well learned. Time, however, will be the key variable in the fight to take back the case of 1973. Just as Jane Roe had to work from the bottom-up to legalize abortion, she must work from the bottom-up to slowly change the minds and hearts of those who hold the power to undo what she once did.
By looking at the process that legalized abortion has gone through in the U.S., I think it is a very strong example of how "bottom-up" change can be a lot more challenging and time consuming for the supporting movement. When the famous Roe vs. Wade case made its way through the courts many years ago, pro-choice supporters saw an immense victory before their eyes. But was it a complete victory? To many pro-choice people, they would answer with a definite "yes." Still, the legalization process had just begun, and the battles were still about to be fought. Looking at strict abortion laws across our nation today, we can see that the war is not over yet. Due to the slow process of bringing abortion rights to the federal court, pro-lifers have been working just as hard. If those from the pro-choice social movements in Sweden were to come to America and observe the differences in our government's attitiude towards abortion compared to theirs, they would most likely be astonished. Yet the source of where their change came from can not be ignored. Their top-down strategy made all the difference in their fight.
Today, Ms. Norma McCorvey, also once known as Jane Roe, is fighting to undo the changes she helped bring about 1973. Her life took a drastic turn in 1995 when she gave her life to the Lord and had a revival in her soul. Her view on abortion changed, and she committed her life to spreading the word of the pain that abortion brings about. Many people might say that the fight to make abortion in the U.S. illegal looks impossible. Yet that is what many people once said when pro-choice groups marched in protest to legalize abortion. Nothing is impossible, we should have well learned. Time, however, will be the key variable in the fight to take back the case of 1973. Just as Jane Roe had to work from the bottom-up to legalize abortion, she must work from the bottom-up to slowly change the minds and hearts of those who hold the power to undo what she once did.
No comments:
Post a Comment