Why are reproductive rights so contentious in the US and Argentina?

Democracy in Question?

There is considerable political mobilization and legal contention around Reproductive rights in many democracies around the world. In the US, a rollback of these rights has been underway over the past decades. The Supreme Court is likely to (re)consider its landmark 1973 Roe v Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. In contrast, activists have made progress on reproductive rights elsewhere in the world. Only a few months ago, Argentina legalised abortions up to the 14th week of pregnancy. In this episode, we’re joined by Katha Pollitt (feminist writer and activist) and Tamara Tenenbaum (University of Buenos Aires and also an activist) to compare and contrast the experience in their societies. They discuss what the current struggles, setbacks and victories mean for the future of reproductive rights around the world.

Disclaimer: this episode contains explicit language

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• The Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna: IWM

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Excellence Chair and Soft Authoritarianism Research Group in Bremen: WOC

• The Podcast Company: Earshot Strategies

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• Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna: @IWM_Vienna

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• Our guest Katha Pollitt: @KathaPollitt

• Our guest Tamara Tenenbaum: @tamtenenbaum

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Katha Pollitt. (2014). Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights.

• Katha Pollitt. (1997). Whose Culture?

• Tamara Tenenbaum. (2019). The Untranslatable Journey of Argentina’s Fourth Feminist Wave.

• Tamara Tenenbaum. (2019). El fin del amor: Querer y coger.

• Tamara Tenenbaum. (2021). Todas nuestras maldiciones se cumplieron.

GLOSSARY

What is Roe v. Wade?

(00:02:00 or p. 2 in the transcript)

Roe v. Wade (1973) was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States protects a pregnant woman's liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction. It struck down many U.S. federal and state abortion laws and prompted an ongoing national. Roe v. Wade reshaped U.S. politics, dividing much of the country into abortion rights and anti-abortion movements, while activating grassroots movements on both sides. Click here to learn more.

What is Planned Parenthood and NARAL?

(00:18:00 or p. 11 in the transcript)

Planned Parenthood Federation of America is a nonprofit organization that provides sexual health care, including family planning services, abortions, and STD testing in the United States and globally.

NARAL stands for National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws. It is a pro-choice advocacy organization.

What is the fourth and second feminist wave?

(00:24:00 or p. 15 in the transcript)

Second wave feminism was a period of feminist activity and thought that began in the early 1960s and lasted roughly two decades. It began in the U.S. and quickly spread across the Western world. This wave unfolded in the context of the anti-war and civil rights movements. Learn more.

Many claim that a fourth wave of feminism began about 2012, with a focus on sexual harassment, body shaming, and rape culture, among other issues. A key component was the use of social media to highlight and address these concerns. Learn more.

What is the sex (in relation to gender)?

(00:25:30 or p. 15 in the transcript)

The distinction between sex and gender was introduced in feminist discourses to argue against biological determinism (the idea that biology determines social behavior). While sex is used to describe biological differences, gender describes the social, cultural, and performative aspects of gender. The distinction between sex and gender enables us to view gender differences as resulting from cultural practices and social expectations, not as biological facts. Click here to learn more about the history of the sex/gender distinction.