Abstract
This article takes a close look at the history and development of the Irish right to choose and anti-amendment abortion campaigns from 1979-1983. In 1980 the Women’s Right to Choose Group (WRCG) was formed and was the first Irish feminist group to openly campaign for women’s right to choose. This article will consider why campaigns for choice happened so late, and why the response by the anti-choice lobby to any right to choose activism was so fierce and dogmatic. By situating the abortion campaigns in their historical context, we can further understand the barriers that the pro-choice feminist activists faced. The activism and ideas of the WRCG, as well as those of the Women’s Right to Choose Campaign (WRCC), trade union activists, political parties etc., along with tactics of the Anti-Amendment Campaign (AAC) will be considered. The arguments used by all groups will be analysed, as will the discussion points put forward by the board-based umbrella group, the AAC. The tensions and splits in the anti-amendment side will be analysed to further understand the enduring legacies of the 1983 anti-amendment campaign for the Irish women’s movement once the 8th amendment was inserted into the Irish Constitution.
Highlights
The first substantive investigation undertaken by the State broadcaster into the issue, Abortion, was broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1
Presenter Marian Finucane accompanied an anonymous young Irish woman as she left Dublin to travel to London
Its 1982 pamphlet established its position on the referendum, its five main points were that the amendment would, 1) do nothing to solve the problem of unwanted pregnancies in Ireland. It would not change the social problem of inadequate education and contraception facilities (...) 2) it would allow no exceptions even in the cases where pregnancy severely threatens a women’s health or was the result of rape or incest 3) (...) it seeks to enshrine in the Constitution the teaching of one religious denomination (...) 4) (...) it will impede further public discussion and possible legislation on abortion (...) 5) At a time of severe unemployment (...) the proposed amendment is an irresponsible waste of public funds (AAC, 1982)
Summary
On 4 April 1979, RTÉ, the Irish National Radio and TV station, recognising travel for termination was something experienced by many Irish women, featured a radio documentary about one woman travelling to England to access a termination of pregnancy. These achievements eased the experience of the non-marital pregnant woman and the unmarried mother in Irish society somewhat, but, by the end of the 1970s and a decade into second wave feminist campaigning, access to full reproductive rights remained, legally, morally and economically, far out of reach for most.
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