Women’s Reproductive Health Care in the United States: A Political History
The United States has seen radical changes regarding laws and policies since its origin. Some of the most radical changes are those concerning women’s reproductive rights. In the last 200 years, our country has evolved to be a liberating experience for women and their bodies; however, this experience is relatively new. This is a brief history of women’s reproductive rights in the United States.
In 1873, the Federal Anti- Obscenity Act, better known as the Comstock Law, was passed by Congress banning the selling or distribution of obscene books, articles, literature, and items that could be used for contraceptives or abortion. This act, named after Anthony Comstock of …show more content…
As a nurse, she witnessed the death of a woman at fault of a botched abortion, driving her incentive. In 1913, she began publishing “The Woman’s Rebel,” a periodical directed at women’s rights, but emphasizing the right to access birth control. This led to her arrest for violation of the Comstock laws in August of 1914. However, she continued to act against these laws. In 1916, Sanger opened the country’s first birth control clinic. The clinic was shut down 9 days after opening, and Sanger was once again arrested. She took up writing again in the “Birth Control Review” in 1917 and founded the American Birth Control League in 1921. (Witherbee, 2017). As the fight for control over women’s bodies progressed, the laws progressed as well. In 1935, the case of United States v. One Package exempted doctors from the contraceptive aspects of the law allowing them to ship contraceptives. (Caron, …show more content…
Wade, “considered the most controversial decision of the modern court era,” (Forsythe, 2013, p. 3) allowed for the legalization of abortion in all 50 states. Much less known, though just as important, was Doe v. Bolten which further heightened abortion rights in the United States. Roe set the limits on abortion at viability, or when the fetus could survive outside of the womb. At first trimester of pregnancy, regulation is barred. The second allows regulation for the health of the mother, and the third for the health of the fetus. Doe made abortion accessible after viability if the health of the mother is at risk. Health in this case is defined as “the emotional wellbeing without limits” (Forsythe, 2013, p.
The United States has seen radical changes regarding laws and policies since its origin. Some of the most radical changes are those concerning women’s reproductive rights. In the last 200 years, our country has evolved to be a liberating experience for women and their bodies; however, this experience is relatively new. This is a brief history of women’s reproductive rights in the United States.
In 1873, the Federal Anti- Obscenity Act, better known as the Comstock Law, was passed by Congress banning the selling or distribution of obscene books, articles, literature, and items that could be used for contraceptives or abortion. This act, named after Anthony Comstock of …show more content…
As a nurse, she witnessed the death of a woman at fault of a botched abortion, driving her incentive. In 1913, she began publishing “The Woman’s Rebel,” a periodical directed at women’s rights, but emphasizing the right to access birth control. This led to her arrest for violation of the Comstock laws in August of 1914. However, she continued to act against these laws. In 1916, Sanger opened the country’s first birth control clinic. The clinic was shut down 9 days after opening, and Sanger was once again arrested. She took up writing again in the “Birth Control Review” in 1917 and founded the American Birth Control League in 1921. (Witherbee, 2017). As the fight for control over women’s bodies progressed, the laws progressed as well. In 1935, the case of United States v. One Package exempted doctors from the contraceptive aspects of the law allowing them to ship contraceptives. (Caron, …show more content…
Wade, “considered the most controversial decision of the modern court era,” (Forsythe, 2013, p. 3) allowed for the legalization of abortion in all 50 states. Much less known, though just as important, was Doe v. Bolten which further heightened abortion rights in the United States. Roe set the limits on abortion at viability, or when the fetus could survive outside of the womb. At first trimester of pregnancy, regulation is barred. The second allows regulation for the health of the mother, and the third for the health of the fetus. Doe made abortion accessible after viability if the health of the mother is at risk. Health in this case is defined as “the emotional wellbeing without limits” (Forsythe, 2013, p.