Re-thinking Abortion - Psychology, Gender and the Law

Women have been able to have abortions legally for over 30 years. Yet few books have considered it as anything other than a health issue. Mary Boyle breaks this mould by considering the constructions of abortion in Western society. Drawing on ideas from sociology, politics, anthropology and law as well as psychology, she shows how abortion is linked to sexual behaviour and motherhood in the complex web of gender and power relations.
This book will be of interest to all those engaged with feminist thinking, whether as student, academic, or professional in practice.

List of contents

Acknowledgements. Introduction: Psychology and Abortion. Abortion Legislation. The Abortion Debates: Mothrhood, Morality and the Sanctity of Life. The Abortion Debates: The Medical Profession and Abortion. Contraception and Abortion. The Experience of Abortion. Psychology, Abortion and Social Policy.

About the author

Mary Boyle is Head of the Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of East London. She has worked as a clinical psychologist and published widely on social influences on psychological and psychiatric theory.

Summary

Drawing on ideas from sociology, politics, anthropology and law as well as psychology, this book shows how abortion is linked to sexual behaviour and motherhood in the complex web of gender and power relations.

Product details

• Authors: Mary Boyle, Boyle Mary
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 06.11.1997
• EAN: 9780415163651
• ISBN: 978-0-415-16365-1
• No. of pages: 172
• Weight: 320 g
• Series: Women and Psychology
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Psychology > Theoretical psychology; Non-fiction book > Psychology, esoterics, spirituality, anthroposophy > Psychology: general, reference works; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Women's Studies, PSYCHOLOGY / General, Psychology, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Abortion & Birth Control, Ethical issues: abortion & birth control, Gender studies: women, Gender studies: women and girls, Ethical issues: abortion and birth control