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See also: Abortion

Further information: Abortion debate

Socialist Perspectives on Abortion

Socialist people believe in the legalisation and right to abortion on demand. The socialist presence has effected countries throughout history, with strong presence in particular regions, such as Eastern Europe. However, there are diverging perspectives regarding the importance of the issue, and where each socialist group claims the issue derives from. For example, feminist socialists believe the oppression of women in society has resulted in restrictions surrounding abortion, whereas a Marxism perspective deems abortions a secondary issue, focusing more on what they deem primary issues. Additionally, there is a history of political factors that have surrounded the debate on legalising abortion, with some groups believing that the legalisation of abortion in USSR derived from the desire to acquire more power.

Socialist Abortion Rights Europe

Regardless of the diverging views and policies on abortion throughout history in Europe, there is a difference between how socialist countries and nonsocialist countries approached abortion access. During the 1970's there was a stronger socialist presence in Eastern Europe, and therefore more progressive fertility policy. Historically, in Western Europe, many ideologies have coexisted, and this has created strife for suggested fertility policies due to the lack of universal approval. The Eastern Bloc under the Soviet Union had widespread fertility and reproduction policies at the time, and restricted debate on the matter. The debate involved many individuals from the health industry, such as physicians and psychologists, as well as legal workers and economists. The socialist government and their policies on the matter were built with a strong influence from a strong body of knowledge on these areas.

Socialist involvement in the National Abortion Campaign

Five National Abortion Campaign badges, United Kingdom, 1970

The National Abortion Campaign was developed in the UK following the failure of James White's Amendment Bill in 1975 to amend the 1967 Abortion Act. During this time the 1967 Abortion Act was under scrutiny as some individuals believed it neglected to properly consider women's needs. The National Abortion Campaign, led by feminists, increased the ability for women to come together, lobbying for legal abortion and a woman's right to choose. Many socialist individuals partook in this woman's movement, and campaigned due to it's alliance with socialist beliefs, regarding the emancipation of women. During this time, the women's liberation movement was growing, who fought not only for legal abortion, but the economic, psychological and social freedom of women.

Further information regarding The Abortion Act 1967

The decision to abort a child was made after two doctors examined a woman's medical, psychological and social situation. The Act required a woman to admit she was unfit to become a mother in order to receive approval for an abortion. During this time, doctors were still able to refuse abortions due to their personal preference against the surgery.

Perspectives on the legalisation of abortion under USSR 1955

Some people believe the socialist body used abortion regulations to create a more idealistic population, with the intention of strengthening and empowering the state. Abortion on demand was legalised in the USSR in 1955, with other Eastern European countries also legalising abortion in the years following, such as Bulgaria, Poland and Hungary. Prior to 1955, whilst abortion was illegal, abortions had still occurred and therefore posed a large threat to a woman's health after being treated by unskilled individuals in unfavourable conditions. The major push for abortion in the USSR was majorly driven by medical experts who explained the issue to the public. When observing the documentation during this period of abortion legislation comparative to the documents provided by gynaecologists and psychologists, the same language is present within both, with heavy emphasis on focusing on the collective. It is uncertain whether professionals felt pressured to make recommendations that complied with the USSR ideology, or if legal abortion on demand stemmed from the scientific recommendation. After legalisation, women had to request an abortion and pay a fee to an abortion committee.

Soviet Union Red Star

Potential ulterior motive for abortion access in 1957

A potential ulterior motive for abortion under the socialist state in 1957 was due to their pro-population stance following the war. They had the perspective that a woman's body was a resource that needed to be maintained at a high quality for reproduction. In order to ensure quality population growth and reproduction, they wanted to reduce the number of illegal abortions. Illegal abortions had the high possibility of harming a woman's reproductive organs and therefore posed a threat for future pregnancy and repopulation. They also advised minority women to have abortions, as they wanted women to have a minimum of 2 children in a heterosexual white family.

Regulation changes in 1986

In this bill, the commissions were eliminated from the abortion process and women had free access to abortions. This was after the discovery that earlier abortions were less of a threat to a woman's health.

Czechoslovakia's abortion policy

Abortion in state-socialist Czechoslovakia was legalised early comparative to Western Europe. Abortion was legalised in 1957 under The Czechoslovak Act on Artificial Termination of Pregnancy. This policy allowed particular commissions, established by the government, the jurisdiction to give a woman access to abortion on demand. These commissions regulated the number of abortions, and were able to analyse the women requesting an abortions. Some people believe commissions used this restricted access to information with the purpose of acquiring more power, and approved access to abortion to strengthen the state, rather than ensuring womens health. The commission had the power to grant or deny a woman permission to receive an abortion.

Socialist Feminists

A socialist feminist in the 1970's had the choice to follow a Marxism perspective of society, or separate themselves and join the womens movement. The issue for a woman aligning herself with a Marxist group during this period, was the presence of male-domination within the group. Ultimately, they deemed woman's issues inferior to other political concerns and tended to divide labour by gender.

Socialist Perspective on Abortion in Current Socialist Countries

Armenia is still a socialist governed country where abortion remains legalised upon request up to 12 weeks, after a 3 day reflection period. Additionally, it is illegal to perform sex-selective abortions.