Constructing abortion as a social problem: “Sex selection” and the British abortion debate

Abstract

Between February 2012 and March 2015, the claim that sex selection abortion was taking place in Britain and that action needed to be taken to stop it dominated debate in Britain about abortion. Situating an analysis in sociological and social psychological approaches to the construction of social problems, particularly those considering “feminised” re-framings of anti-abortion arguments, this paper presents an account of this debate. Based on analysis of media coverage, Parliamentary debate and official documents, we focus on claims about grounds (evidence) made to sustain the case that sex selection abortion is a British social problem and highlight how abortion was problematised in new ways. Perhaps most notable, we argue, was the level of largely unchallenged vilification of abortion doctors and providers, on the grounds that they are both law violators and participants in acts of discrimination and violence against women, especially those of Asian heritage. We draw attention to the role of claims made by feminists in the media and in Parliament about “gendercide” as part of this process and argue that those supportive of access to abortion need to critically assess both this aspect of the events and also consider arguments about the problems of “medical power” in the light of what took place.

Internalised abortion stigma: Young women’s strategies of resistance and rejection

“…Abortion, however, remains politically controversial and subject to regular attempts by those opposed to abortion to introduce a more limiting framework or restrict particular types of abortion (Hoggart, 2003; Lee, 2013). Most recently, these have included attempts to introduce mandatory abortion counselling and proposals to change the law to prevent sex-selective abortions (Lee, 2017). These challenges to current abortion provision, alongside the frequently expressed assumption that abortion is inherently undesirable, have contributed to what has been characterised as “abortion negativity” (Lee, Clements, Ingham, & Stone, 2004).…”

(Re)imagining the ‘Backstreet’: Anti-abortion Campaigning against Decriminalisation in the UK

“…Importantly, this was not seen as affirming women's autonomy within medical decision-making, instead, the debates positioned this as acting to the detriment of women. The framing of this argument focused on the risks to women, positioning them as potential victims and aligned doctors with those who were positioned as coercing women (Lee, 2017). Identifiable victims who are at risk of harm are an important component of moral regulation campaigns.…”

“…She suggests that the 'abortion industry' is 'knee-deep (…) in unethical, unsafe and unprofessional practice' (HC 13/03/2017 Vol 623 C30). The use of the word 'industry' and emphasis on 'private abortion providers' (HC 13/03/2017 Vol 623 C30) is clearly meant to signal a profit-driven practice in which care is compromised and is part of the vilification and stigmatisation of healthcare professionals involved in abortion (Lee, 2003(Lee, , 2017McGuinness, 2015). As Lee (2003) showed, the notion of an 'abortion industry' was developed in the US, but has very little relevance in Britain where almost all abortions are state funded, even when carried out in private or charitable abortion clinics.…”

“…This arises from their beliefs in abortion coercion in which cultural pressures on women which causes them to deny their 'natural' inclinations towards motherhood (Lowe and Page, 2018a). In addition, when juxtaposed to the vilification of doctors, this 'women as victims' position implicitly implicates the providers of abortions as providing or supporting the coercion (Lee, 2017). Importantly though, the emphasis on positioning women as 'at risk' and needing protection is difficult to sustain within the current abortion law in which they are potentially criminalised.…”

‘The more we change, the more we remain the same’: female feticide continues unabated in India

“…In Arizona, USA sex-selective and race-selective abortion is prohibited 20. The issue of promulgation of a law on sex-selective abortion is still unresolved in the UK 21. In 2005, sex-selective abortion was made illegal in China 22…”