After Roe, proabortion forces changed from promoting abortion as a “right” to using the word “choice”

Pro-choice author Rickie Solinger  talks about how feminist groups stop talking about abortion as a “right” and instead framed it as an issue of “choice” in order to appeal to the public:

“… Until Roe, most activists claimed that “the right to control whether you’re pregnant or not [was] indivisible from the right to self-determination.”

The rights language, however, did not last very long… In a country weary of rights claims, choice became the way liberal and mainstream feminists could talk about abortion without mentioning the “A Word.” Many people believed that “choice” – a term that evoked women shoppers selecting among options in the marketplace – would be an easier sell; it offered “rights lite,” a package less threatening or disturbing and unadulterated rights.”

Rickie Solinger Beggars and Choosers (New York: Hill and Wang, 2001) 5

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Author: Sarah

Sarah Terzo is a pro-life writer and blogger. She is on the board of The Consistent Life Network and PLAGAL +

2 thoughts on “After Roe, proabortion forces changed from promoting abortion as a “right” to using the word “choice””

  1. Additionally, there is doubt as to how humans can literally be choosing from among the available options without being pushed into them by threats or financial circumstances. This is why I say all abortions are forced on the women as well as the babies. They are co-victims.

  2. They were right that the word “choice” was an easy sell. People seem to be attracted to the idea of choosing. So much that they don’t even care WHAT it is that they are choosing.
    I know that is is really a synonym for killing and this is why “anti-choice” is quite an accurate term for me.

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