A SEXUALIDADE SUBMETIDA À POLÍTICA
O CASO DO ABORTO NOS ESTADOS UNIDOS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.9771/rds.v6i1.66531Keywords:
right to abortionAbstract
The present study analyzes the evolution of the right to abortion in the USA, from the seminal 1973 Roe v. Wade decision to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling in 2022.The Roe decision established the constitutional right to abortion until fetal viability, while the Dobbs decision returned the power to legislate on the issue to the individual states. This shift has resulted in a fragmented scenario, with some states enacting near-total bans on abortion and others enshrining it in their constitutions. The paper emphasizes the role of the US Constitution, due to its ambiguity and normative gaps, in contributing to the volatility and legal uncertainty in abortion jurisprudence. The absence of fundamental rights, such as equality between men and women, has been identified as a contributing factor to the oscillating judicial interpretations, influenced by political and ideological factors. The Dobbs decision, which reflected conservative judicial activism, was influenced by the majority of the Supreme Court appointed by Republican governments. The paper discusses the impact of legislative decentralization, which has led to a fragmented legal landscape regarding abortion in the US, ranging from total bans to broad protections. Finally, it points out that state regulation of abortion directly affects women's autonomy, creating economic and social barriers for those who need to travel to other states to access reproductive services. The legal uncertainty surrounding abortion underscores systemic flaws in the nation's constitutionalism, effectively politicizing reproductive rights.
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