Roe+vs.+Wade

“Jane Roe” was an alias name for Norma McCorvey, a 21 year old woman who in 1973, filed a suit against the State of Texas for denying her the right to an abortion. Abortion was only allowed in the state of Texas under the circumstances that the woman was physically or mentally unhealthy, raped or had committed incest. McCorvey stated that she was unemployable and depressed and simply did not desire to have another child, seeing as she already had two. McCorvey was denied the abortion however, and was advised by peers to seek legal help. McCorvey found help in her two young women lawyers: Linda Coffee and Sarah Weddington. Henry B. Wade was the district attorney of Dallas Country, Texas at the time of the suit. Norma McCorvey stated that the State of Texas had violated her constitutional rights under the 9th and 14th amendment. On January 22, 1973 the Supreme Court voted on a 7-2 for Roe stating that women were allowed to have an abortion up until “viability” or when a baby could live outside the womb. The final definition was stated as “ a woman, with her doctor, could chose an abortion in earlier months of pregnancy without restriction, and with restrictions in later months, based on rights to privacy.” The legalizing of abortion ended an era of “back alley abortions” that were killing or permanently maiming women across America. For decades, women’s body, marriage and personal “private” life was controlled by men in congress and at home. Roe v. Wade now gave women a say in the decision to have or to not have a child. Women had the right to have an abortion just as they could decide to have any other surgery or procedure done on the rest of their body. Unfortunately, the outcome of Roe v. Wade had some drawbacks that took away from the women’s rights movement. Many pro-life supporters argued that the case had not come to a definitive consensus as to when life really began in the womb. This discredited the case by citing that it was only permitting women to murder their unborn living child. Roe vs. Wade today has become a Pro Life vs. Pro Choice battle and has even divided members of the women’s rights community. Abortion has become in politics what is called a “wedge issue”. A wedge issue is one that is used to sway a group of voters who will vote solely on whether the candidate is Pro-Life or Pro-Choice. In turn, Pro-Choice and most notable Pro-Life groups have put all of their efforts into voting strong conservative Republicans or liberal Democrats into office in order to have representation for their view. Pro-Life activists have been heavily attempting to elect a conservative Republican president who will elect a Supreme Court justice when a seat is available who will overturn Roe v. Wade. Amidst all of the political turmoil women’s rights activists have been divided on the decision and it has taken away from its original stand- to protect a woman’s right to her body.
 * The Case: Roe & Wade: **
 * What It Did: **