In light of the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Journal of Social Issues made their Virtual Series Issue open access, providing an overview of three decades of research surrounding abortion. The author, Kevin Carriere of Washington and Jefferson College, approached the issue from a reproductive justice framework, highlighting the deeply rooted systemic problems that seek to limit reproductive freedom and interrogating key concepts cited in the majority opinion, including reliance interests and safe haven laws.
The right to abortion was described in Planned Parenthood v Casey, 1992 as âthe personal freedom to make intimate and personal choices that are central to personal dignity and autonomy.â However, in Dobbs v. Jackson, 2022, the majority opinion ruled this right was not âabsolute. On that historic day, Roe v. Wade was overturned after 50 years. The author argues that framing reproduction as an individual choice itself serves to distract from broader systemic issues, writing:
âThe freedom to make choices itself is not a deeply rooted freedomâŚand such a belief is part of a neoliberal culture that must reckon with structural deficits in order to make true social change.â
Some structural deficits include the access, quality, and affordability of reproductive decision-making that is often only granted to a privileged few.
In the majority opinion, Supreme Court Justice Alito stated, âa right to abortion is not deeply rooted in the Nationâs history and traditions,â but failed to mention this is a history built on slavery, indigenous genocide, forced internment, and the oppression of women. This rationale opens the door for the court to target not only abortion rights but contraception, gay marriage, desegregation, and interracial marriage.
The majority opinion noted that in order to determine the legality of abortion, it needs to be shown that women have had what is referred to as reliance interest, which entails âreliance on the availability of abortion in the event that contraception should fail and the ability of women to participate equally in the economic and social life of the Nation has been facilitated by their ability to control their reproductive livesâ (Dobbs v. Jackson, 2022, p. 60). The majority then opined that such reliance is âhard for anyone, including the courtâ to assess the effect of the abortion right on society and in particular the lives of women. This statement does not consider the glaring evidence about how abortion rights affect women and people with a uterus.
Next, the majority opinion cited âsafe haven laws,â which generally âallow women to drop off babies anonymously, and that a woman who puts her newborn up for adoption today has little reason to fear that the baby will not find a suitable homeâ (Dobbs v. Jackson, 2022, p.34). Again, this statement ignores ample evidence on the US adoption system and how it harms children and birth parents, including evidence of long-term psychiatric difficulties for adoptees. Further, research shows that orphanages have staffing shortages, low wages, little training for caregivers, and a lack of psychological investment in children. As a result, children in these settings often lag in physiological, psychological, cognitive, and biological development.
Lastly, the author highlights the problems with focusing on adoption as it assumes a pregnancy is devoid of problems and ignores the physical, psychological, and emotional trials that exist and permeate through pregnancy, as well as the social and economic burdens that arise from pregnancy through birth. For example, the focus on adoption discounts families that want to have a child but must face the difficult medical decision to abort due to complications for the mother or fetus.
In closing, the author directs attention to psychologist Debra Mollenâs review of the research on the myths of abortions, the myths of the benefits of parenting, and the downstream consequences for societies that push too heavily on a âpronatalist viewpoint.â Finally, the author encourages psychologists and medical professionals to rely on these recommendations ânow more than everâ as an increasing number of individuals seeking aid, counseling, and assistance regarding reproductive decisions is predicted to rise as they navigate a climate that has turned its back on progress.
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Carrier, K.R. (2022). Deeply rooted in the patriarchy: The consequences and burden of overruling Roe. Virtual Series Issue. Journal of Social Issues. https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1111/(ISSN)1540-4560.deeply-rooted-in-patriarchy (Link)
Not sure what this has to do with psychiatric diagnosis and treatment? Certainly, restricted abortion rights will have an effect on women’s mental health. In my opinion, though, abortion itself can have an effect on women’s mental health. It’s a very complicated issue.
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“Not sure what this has to do with psychiatric diagnosis and treatment?…It’s a very complicated issue.”
No, it’s really not all that complicated. Especially when you consider that HALF of the U.S. population just had a fundamental human right (the control of reproductive rights and one’s own body) taken away by the mere stroke of a pen.
Taken away by so-called “justices” who once again are trying to impose their “theology” on people’s “biology.” This is an example of patriarchy in one of its worst forms; not fundamentally all that different than what we criticize in those countries ruled by extreme forms of Muslim theology.
I applaud Madison and MIA for publishing this important summary of author Kevin Carriere’s journal article on a reproductive justice framework.
And this issue (just like racial oppression) has EVERYTHING to do with psychiatric diagnoses and the medical model. Both minorities and women in this society are more likely to become victims of all forms of psychiatric abuse than other segments of our society.
AND this recent SCOTUS ruling will only ADD additional social and economic stressors to both women and minorities, especially those without the economic means to pursue appropriate medical care.
One CANNOT really call themselves a feminist OR believe in equal rights for ALL human beings, unless they firmly uphold the fundamental right of a woman to have an abortion – ON DEMAND AND WITHOUT APOLOGY!
Richard
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Okay, you’ve convinced me. Thank you once again, Richard.
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Yes, Richard, moments before “birth” human babies just POP into existence….
Human life begins at CONCEPTION, not birth….
But apparently, the pre-born have NO right to life….
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“Human life begins at CONCEPTION, not birthâŚ.”
Says who? Scrapping cells off of the uterine wall is NOT ending a “human life.”
Contraception that interferes with an embryo’s ability to attach to the uterine wall is NOT ending a “human life.”
These so called morality debates CANNOT be separated from a women’s right to control her own body and reproductive rights.
If you support the human rights of all people to absolutely determine what drugs or other psychiatric procedures are performed on their bodies, than you must also support that same right for women when it comes to contraception and abortion.
Richard
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COMMENTING AS MODERATOR – I appreciate the exchange here, but let’s not get too far off of the focus on mental/emotional wellbeing. We all know this is a hotly contested topic and that there is little chance that a lengthy discussion will lead to anything but a lot of conflict and disagreement. Everyone’s entitled to his/her opinions and views, but I don’t want to get into the kind of back-and-forth where one person’s opinion has to dominate and the other person has to be ‘wrong.’
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From a mental health standpoint the real concerns are the unintended consequences. Personally it’s none of my business what another person decides to do with their body. My concern is that legislating morality is itself is often an immoral act. Psychiatry has a checkered history largely because of its attempt to pathologize morality and much of it is rooted in the same religious movement responsible for the current abortion debate. Many of the solutions we need are not possible without legislative action and the mental health community must quit accepting condescending lip service and start demanding evidence based solutions.
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