Gendered Violence, Religion and UK-Based Anti-Abortion Activism
In: Religion and GenderSearch for other papers by Sarah-Jane Page in
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Abstract
The United Nations view access to abortion as a fundamental human right. Yet increasingly in the UK, religiously-motivated activists undertake public displays opposing abortion, often outside abortion clinics, and precipitated through international campaigns like 40 Days for Life (Lowe and Page forthcoming). Activists see their actions as an essential intervention; some explicitly frame this as a form of help. But examining this from the perspective of how bodies are gendered and regulated in the public sphere raises questions regarding whether this is a form of harassment, and therefore gendered violence. This article is based on a UK ethnography. Using Kelly’s (1988) continuum of violence thesis, we examine whether this activism constitutes gendered violence, examining two different activities—prayer and graphic images. Despite these activities being distinct and contrasting, we argue that both should be understood as part of a continuum of violence, causing harm to those seeking abortion services.
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Gendered Violence, Religion and UK-Based Anti-Abortion Activism
In: Religion and GenderSearch for other papers by Sarah-Jane Page in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Pam Lowe in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
The United Nations view access to abortion as a fundamental human right. Yet increasingly in the UK, religiously-motivated activists undertake public displays opposing abortion, often outside abortion clinics, and precipitated through international campaigns like 40 Days for Life (Lowe and Page forthcoming). Activists see their actions as an essential intervention; some explicitly frame this as a form of help. But examining this from the perspective of how bodies are gendered and regulated in the public sphere raises questions regarding whether this is a form of harassment, and therefore gendered violence. This article is based on a UK ethnography. Using Kelly’s (1988) continuum of violence thesis, we examine whether this activism constitutes gendered violence, examining two different activities—prayer and graphic images. Despite these activities being distinct and contrasting, we argue that both should be understood as part of a continuum of violence, causing harm to those seeking abortion services.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 1424 | 558 | 92 |
| Full Text Views | 153 | 33 | 18 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 292 | 70 | 34 |
