Abortion: Saving lives or limiting women?

By Anonymous

 


Yadhira Ramirez

Professor Villegas


According to Mary Douglas, society constructs the idea of what is pure and what is dangerous. When individuals are exposed to an idea that seems ordinary it is considered to be pure while the unordinary can be seen as a threat towards society. Furthermore, the differences between ideologies also affect the social relationships between genders.

In “Purity and Danger'', Douglas states “ Pollution ideas work in the life of society at two levels, one largely instrumental, one expressive. At the first level, the more obvious one, we find people trying to influence one another’s behaviour. Beliefs reinforce social pressures: all the powers of the universe are called in to guarantee an old man’s dying wish, a mother’s dignity, and the rights of the weak and innocent” (Douglas 3). The pollution might not have negative aspects, yet we think of it as something bad due to societal pressures and trying to assimilate with other people. Similarly, abortion is a controversial topic because of its connection with religion and women’s rights. In a religious stance, initiating in an abortion is killing an innocent child and is considered a sin. Meanwhile, other people such as feminists advocate for women to have the right to decide what they do with their body. Abortion is a great example of the purity and danger. For those who support abortion they perceive it as something normal and harmless. While people like Catholics and Christians, might see this procedure as harmful towards their religion and the mentality of others. Overall, Douglas demonstrates that the biggest issue in society is the inability for people to accept different perspectives. For this reason, it is important to have the “dirt” in society so that abnormality can be controlled and create boundaries. 



Work Cited

Douglas, M. (2015). Purity and danger: An analysis of concepts of pollution and taboo with a new preface by the author. Routledge. 1-7

Loeb, Saul. “Anti Abortion and abortion rights activists demonstrate outside the U.S Supreme Court in Washington, DC.” VOX, 18 January 2019, https://www.vox.com/2019/3/11/18246702/trump-abortion-ralph-northam-virginia-green-bay

Bex, Ulysse. “Experts spotlight disparities in contraception, family planning as Supreme Court weighs key abortion case.” Cronkite News, 16 February 2022, https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2022/02/16/roe-v-wade-abortion-experts-spotlight-arizona-disparities/








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