[en] Abortion has been practiced in very various societies since ancient times. Abortion stigma is a social construct and is not universal. The criminalization of abortion is rooted in abortion stigma, and it reenforces this stigma. Stigmatization and (calls for) legal restrictions can be framed in different ways, for instance: abortion as a sin; abortion as a demographic issue; abortion as an irresponsible, unhealthy behavior. Claims about the harmfulness of abortion are often biased and are instrumentalized by anti-abortion activists. Prohibition does not eliminate abortions; instead, it creates inequalities between those who can afford safe illegal abortions and those who risk their health, or even their lives. Nevertheless, in many countries, the wide availability of medication abortion drugs has made illegal abortions in part safer than in the past. Medication abortion and / or vacuum-aspiration tend to be the default first trimester legal abortion methods. The choice of abortion method is not always guaranteed.
Disciplines :
Sociology & social sciences
Author, co-author :
Claro, Mona ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences sociales > Du genre et de la théorie sociologique
Bretin, Hélène
Language :
English
Title :
Abortion
Alternative titles :
[fr] Avortement
Publication date :
In press
Main work title :
Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health, Illness, Behavior, and Society, 2nd Edition
