TY - JOUR
T1 - Dropping the ball or holding the line? Challenges to abortion laws in the Nordic countries
AU - Askola, Heli
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - This article examines recent developments regarding the legal regulation of abortion in Sweden, Finland and Norway. Ever since abortion laws in the Nordic countries were overhauled in the 1970s, largely in a response to the feminist movement, abortion has been considered to be largely non-politicised. However, recently all three countries have seen abortion re-emerge repeatedly in the political and legal arena. This article examines the various proposals to amend abortion legislation, asking whether they can be explained with reference to recent international developments in anti-abortion politics. The article argues that although the recent Nordic developments have limited immediate consequences for the availability of abortion as a public service, they suggest, perhaps more importantly, that a long-term struggle is emerging over public opinion supporting universal abortion access.
AB - This article examines recent developments regarding the legal regulation of abortion in Sweden, Finland and Norway. Ever since abortion laws in the Nordic countries were overhauled in the 1970s, largely in a response to the feminist movement, abortion has been considered to be largely non-politicised. However, recently all three countries have seen abortion re-emerge repeatedly in the political and legal arena. This article examines the various proposals to amend abortion legislation, asking whether they can be explained with reference to recent international developments in anti-abortion politics. The article argues that although the recent Nordic developments have limited immediate consequences for the availability of abortion as a public service, they suggest, perhaps more importantly, that a long-term struggle is emerging over public opinion supporting universal abortion access.
KW - Abortion
KW - Conscientious objection
KW - Gestational limits
KW - Law
KW - Nordic countries
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85035067819&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.wsif.2017.11.010
DO - 10.1016/j.wsif.2017.11.010
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85035067819
SN - 0277-5395
VL - 66
SP - 25
EP - 32
JO - Women's Studies International Forum
JF - Women's Studies International Forum
ER -