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The Historical Influence of Politics and Society on Women's Experiences University of Wisconsin Milwaukee UWM Digital Commons Theses and Dissertations May 2013 The iH storical Influence of Politics and Society on Women's Experiences of Abortion Sandra Ruth Schumacher University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.uwm.edu/etd Part of the Nursing Commons, United States History Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons Recommended Citation Schumacher, Sandra Ruth, "The iH storical Influence of Politics and Society on Women's Experiences of Abortion" (2013). Theses and Dissertations. 158. https://dc.uwm.edu/etd/158 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by UWM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UWM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE HISTORICAL INFLUENCE OF POLITICS AND SOCIETY ON WOMEN’S EXPERIENCES OF ABORTION by Sandra R. Schumacher A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy In Nursing at The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee May 2013 ABSTRACT THE HISTORICAL INFLUENCE OF POLITICS AND SOCIETY ON WOMEN’S EXPERIENCES OF ABORTION by Sandra R. Schumacher The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2013 Under the Supervision of Professor Patricia E. Stevens One out of every three women in the United States will experience abortion (Guttmacher Institute, 2008). The purposes of this feminist qualitative research were to: 1) examine historically the context of legal abortion in the United States, 2) describe and explore women’s experiences of abortion and 3) better understand the historical impact of the sociopolitical climate on women’s perceptions of their abortion experiences. An historical review of political, legislative, and social contexts surrounding legal abortion revealed an increasingly hostile environment toward women seeking abortion since 1973. By challenging existing abortion laws in state and federal courts, anti-abortion legislators have removed federal and state funding for abortions, including insurance coverage. States have imposed mandatory waiting periods, biased counseling and consent procedures, parental involvement and/or notification for minors, and bans on funding and insurance coverage. All of these intrusions on women’s right to choose abortion have resulted in the need for more than one clinic visit and delays in obtaining abortion services. Through violence, intimidation, and harassment, pro-life activists and extremists have successfully driven medical personnel out of the practice of abortion and intimidated women seeking abortion by exposing them to fetal images, calling them “baby killers”, and forcing them to believe that life begins at conception. Within this historical context, a purposive sampling of ten women, ii recruited via snowballing techniques, participated in repeated in-depth interviews. A multi- stage narrative strategy was used to analyze textual data. Participants’ narrative summaries emphasized dismay at being pregnant, telling others, and making the decision for abortion. Women thoughtfully made the decision for abortion based on the circumstances of their lives at the time of the unintended pregnancy. Seventy percent of participants experienced abortion in the 1980s and recalled the ways in which religion, politics, and society have imposed shame, guilt, and judgement on them, constraining them from talking about their abortion experiences. Silenced, women only revealed their abortion when forced to do so by circumstances or to gain acceptance and understanding from others. Participation in the study allowed women an opportunity to talk about their abortion experiences, initiating conversations with friends, and raising consciousness. __________________________________________________________________________ iii © Copyright by Sandra R. Schumacher, 2013 All Rights Reserved iv DEDICATION My deepest appreciation goes to the women who participated in this study. With slight trepidation and some hesitancy, they eloquently voiced their abortion experiences, allowing me, others, and themselves to gain insight and understanding. Women voiced a desire to tell their stories, for others to hear and listen, and to be understood and accepted. Their willingness to assist me demonstrated their generosity of spirit and their longing to connect with other women who have experienced abortion. I hope I have faithfully and respectfully presented the stories they shared with me. I am eternally grateful to my family for their unwavering love, their faith in me, and their financial, physical, and emotional support: Fern Rueppel, Orville and Darlene Vitzthum, Sharon and Todd Marks, Jay and Joann Arthur, Christine Phillips, Fran Weisensel, and Bob Marks. Your kindness, caring, and generosity helped me to complete this journey. Additionally I am thankful for Rose Marks and Beverly Weisensel who taught me about compassion and resilience in facing untimely death; they are with me in thought and spirit. I am grateful to Pat Stevens, my major professor and committee chair, for mentoring me through the dissertation research, and especially for her knowledge and leadership in multi-staged narrative analysis strategies. I am thankful to Merry Wiesner-Hanks and Teresa Johnson, my committee members, for reading, reviewing, and providing me with feedback and support. I am also thankful to Barbara Daley and Heather Royer for reading my final dissertation and providing me with insight, support, and accolades. A huge thank you to my dear friends who supported me along this journey, listening and encouraging me when I doubted my own abilities: Amy Morton-Miller, Leanne Carson- Stoker, Susan Schumacher, Judy Dallman, Bonnie Anderson, Bonnie Connolly, and Joan v Burr. I cannot imagine the completion of this project without your love and assistance; you made me laugh, gave me reality checks, listened when I needed to talk, helped me find balance in the chaos, and preserved my sanity. Thank you. A special thank you to Carol Wrabl, Chief Nursing Officer (retired), who encouraged me to begin this educational endeavor and mentored me as a nursing leader. And last, but not least, a heartfelt thanks to my four-legged companions, Remington, Tag, Jake, and Duke, who so graciously stayed by my side, took me on walks, hogged the bed, helped reduce my stress, gave me peace, forgave my inattentiveness, and reminded me to take time to play and be joyful. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract . .ii Copyright . iv Dedication . .v Table of Contents . vii List of Figures . xii List of Tables . xiii Chapter 1: Introduction Statement of the Problem. .1 Significance of the Problem . 3 Purpose of the Study . .4 Research Questions . .5 Theoretical Framework. 5 Feminist perspective . .5 Feminist standpoint theory . 6 Theoretical assumptions . 9 Feminist standpoint theory summary. .12 Operational Assumptions. .13 Definition of Terms . .13 Overview of Subsequent Chapters . 14 Chapter 2: Background Legalization of Abortion . .17 Recriminalization of Abortion . .19 Human life amendment. 19 Informed consent . 20 Restrictions on funding. 20 Political party interests. .23 More challenges to Roe . .25 Continued restrictions on funding . 25 Restrictions on the practice of abortion . 26 Anti-abortion movement . .32 Anti-abortion violence and politics . .32 Anti-abortion violence, denunciation, and pro-abortion responses . .34 Judicial, legislative and political responses to anti-abortion violence . 36 Change in Strategies . .38 Availability of Abortion in the United States in 2012 . 43 Abortion providers . 43 Provider training . .44 vii Limitations on who can perform abortions . 47 Advanced practice clinicians . 48 State mandated counseling and waiting periods. 50 Bans on abortion funding and insurance coverage . .52 Parental involvement and consent for minors. 54 The results of legislative, judicial, and political anti-abortion strategies. 56 Medical abortion . .58 Conclusion . 64 Chapter 3: Review of Literature Methodology . .66 Overview of identified sources . .67 Organization of this chapter . 68 Studies about Women’s Experiences of Surgical Abortion . 69 Summary critique of studies about women’s experiences of surgical abortion . .82 Implications for my study . .85 Studies about Women’s Experiences of Medical Abortion. .87 Summary critique of studies about women’s experiences of medical abortion . .96 Implications for my study . .100 Studies about Women’s Perceptions of the Long-term Significance of Abortion. .103 Summary critique of studies about women’s perceptions of the long-term significance of abortion . ..
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