Abortion: Autonomy, Anxiety and Exile
Debates about human rights and the sanctity of life are played out all over the world, across all socio-economic contexts. One issue that is particularly contentious is abortion. Globally, almost half of all abortions are attempted unsafely without competent health support, and this is a significant contributor towards maternal mortality. Barriers against equitable, safe and timely access to abortion significantly contribute to preventable maternal mortality and morbidity, and further entrench marginalisation and poverty among vulnerable populations. Moving beyond the false dichotomy often presented by ‘pro-life’ and ‘pro-choice’ arguments, this collection of papers – from diverse contexts – aims to offer a progressive approach to understanding these global debates. The ten papers selected offer theoretical and empirical insights into community attitudes, activism and healthcare. Together, using the devices of time and space, the papers traverse dominant narratives of secrecy, shame and exile in search of individual and collective agency that offers pathways towards future hope and well-being.
Edited by
Professor Peter Aggleton(Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia)
Dr Purnima Mane(Redwood City, California, USA)
Dr Sujith Kumar Prankumar(Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Australia)
Professor Deborah Bateson(Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia)