Desire moves us: Psychoanalysis and reproductive rights in Argentina

Abstract

This piece explains the influence of psychoanalysis on Argentina’s marea verde (green tide), in particular, its crucial role in the passing of a 2020 federal law enhancing access to abortion. Furthermore, the article claims that psychoanalytic notions of desire have extended beyond the legislative realm and reverberate throughout feminist narratives more broadly, both in Argentina and across the globe. Despite its several limitations, the Argentine case suggests that psychoanalysis can be key in building an empowering perception of women’s bodies, reproductive rights, and self-determination.