Historical significance of the Roe vs. Wade case
The Supreme Court in the Roe vs. Wade case (1973), made a ruling challenging a Texas statute that prohibited abortion unless the life a woman was in danger. Jane Roe, an unmarried woman, filed the case so that the law could be adjusted to let her have a safe and legal abortion. Wade, a judge at the Supreme Court, sided with Roe and termed the Texas statute unconstitutional. For the first time in history, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the constitutional right to privacy is far-reaching to entail the decision of a woman whether to keep or terminate the pregnancy. The case remains controversial and popular since it known for legalizing abortion. Before the case was presented in the court of law, abortion was forbidden in all states unless it was intended to save the life of a woman. Roe argued that legal abortion would make the process safer, accessible, and affordable to the entire population. The ruling set a legal precedent that influenced the outcome of more than 30 succeeding cases regarding abortion.
The impact of Roe v Wade case in American society is prominent. During that time, abortion was an immoral act in the society. Women who went through it did it in secret to avoid the wrath of the public and social exclusion. After the ruling, women groups and other social activists pressed all states to legalize abortion. Women groups asserted that illegalizing abortion causes more harm than good in the society. After the ruling, members of the American society started to recognize advantages of legalizing the act. In the past, most women suffered from the stringent laws. Women of color experienced difficulties since they could not afford to travel to overseas countries to perform the act. The decision of the Roe vs. Wade case reduced the rising number of unlicensed practitioners who performed black market abortions. The number of deaths linked to abortion also dwindled because the practice was allowed within the society and this made it safer than ever before.
Role the American public had in the case, and the impact on America today
The Roe vs. Wade case is a justification one of the most important judgments upheld by the Supreme Court and is really matched the public attention in the 20th century. Roe’s judgment seems to be provocative for a long time in the future. On the same Joe vs. Wade case, the Supreme Court was instrumental in solving topics such as parental and spousal content. The significance of the public opinion on Roe vs. Wade case is that the number of individuals supporting abortion rights has increased. The majority of the supporters of abortion rights are supporting restrictions such as prenatal and waiting period’s laws.
Science topics elucidate that a fetus present in the womb implies a life. The public find it appropriate to end the life inside the womb. On the contrary, the Americans do not comprehend the Roe’s decision. Pro-active activists have strived to illustrate a direct association between the altering Roe and a termination of the legalized abortion. In the event that the abortion was changed, the social issue would be prevalent in states. Additionally, the American public finds it appropriate to take action against Roe and the return of these principles to the American public
Presently, the acceptance of the application of the judgment of Roe v. Wade case has made the social issue spread fast. The women can now abort the fetus even when they are not under unique circumstances such as saving the woman’s health or rape. Roe viewed that the abortion laws were illegal, and this made abortion cases to be seen as normal in the contemporary America. The abortion services are now accessible to any women who view it as appropriate to them. Hence, the Roe vs. Wade has destroyed the social values and normal among the American society.
There are wide-religious, partisan variances over the Roe vs. Wade decision. According to the PewResearchCenter, the main religious group that opposed the case and want it overturned is the White evangelical Protestants (54%). The ruling was supported by majority of the population and they proposed the decision should not be overturned. They include mainline Protestants (76%), Black Protestants (65%), and white Catholics (63%). Moreover, 82% of persons that are not religious affiliated supports the ruling of the Supreme Court to legalize abortion.
Reflect on how Roe vs. Wade case impacted society
Certainly, the Roe vs. Wade case introduced the public eye to the issue of women been granted the rights to keep or terminate the pregnancy. The case is a good example of the society as it sets a platform for advocating for their rights. The Roe vs Wade case influenced the members of the society towards the right to privacy and personal freedoms. In the process, women gained a place in American politics because of the strong feminist movement during this era. If the ruling was not made, the public could have protested arguing that the Supreme Court was interfering with their right to privacy, and also the right to pursue life, happiness, and liberty.
The Roe vs. Wade case had impacted the American society to greater levels. For example, the Affordable Care Act signed in 2010 by the president has a comprehensive cover of women health matters. Women are assured of affordable healthcare that does not involve cost sharing, and this improves the health status of women within no time. As a result of the case, the American society through the health care act has managed to implement birth control measures which include hormonal methods, birth control rings, emergency contraception, implanted devices like intrauterine devices, and sterilization procedures amongst others. These methods help to control birth planning and do not involves the usage of drugs during an abortion.
Bibliography
Berlant, Lauren. "1 The subject of true feeling." Transformations: Thinking through feminism (2000): 33.
Dellinger, Walter, and Gene B. Sperling. "Abortion and the Supreme Court: The Retreat from Roe v. Wade." University of Pennsylvania Law Review 138, no. 1 (1989): 83-118.
Ely, John Hart. "The wages of crying wolf: A comment on Roe v. Wade." The Yale Law Journal 82, no. 5 (1973): 920-949.
Garrow, David J. "Abortion Before and After Roe v. Wade: An Historical Perspective." Alb. L. Rev. 62 (1998): 833.
Norrander, Barbara, and Clyde Wilcox. "Public opinion and policymaking in the states: The case of post‐Roe abortion policy." Policy Studies Journal 27, no. 4 (1999): 707-722.
PewResearchCenter. "Roe V. Wade at 40: Most Oppose Overturning Abortion Decision | Pew Research Center." Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. N.p., 16 Jan. 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
