Women's Voices as Evidence: Personal Testimony is Pro-Choice Films

Abstract

Analysis of public policy issues has long been the core of argumentation research. Argument critics examine how arguments are constructed and what forms of proof are valid to substantiate claims. Personal testimony is primarily seen as a supplement to, rather than as grounds for argument. Feminist scholars conclude that society must move beyond the traditional view of privileging only objective information to a broader perspective, which provides us with greater insight. To demonstrate the usefulness of first-person accounts as a legitimate form of evidentiary proof, this essay analyzes two pro-choice films, Personal Decisions and Abortion Denied: Shattering Young Women's Lives.