Abortion and the Social System

Abstract

Since the law refused to recognize most demands for abortion highly complex illegal means of accommodating abortion-seekers have been developed often by ruthless inept persons. [(3)] Abortion has always been dangerous when not carried out under proper conditions. While the advent of antibiotics has reduced the primary abortion death rate appreciably (even for illegal abortions) the criminal abortionist cannot possibly take all the precautions necessary for a safe operation. Hence abortion still leads to considerable mortality and morbidity (possible complications short of death include sterility endocrine disorders menstrual disturbances and psychic maladjustments). Clearly abortion is a social problem of major importance. On a more theoretical level abortion relates significantly to many questions of policy pattern and process which should be of interest to the sociologist. These include womans role in our social system family organization and disorganization national demographic policy and the role of informal and formal sanctions. It seems surprising that a topic which so clearly invites sociological analysis has received relatively little attention in sociological journals. A brief survey of abortion as a medico-legal socio-psychological phenomenon may well be in order. (excerpt)