Recent Rulings Regarding Abortion: America v. India
In 2022, American and Indian Supreme Court made significant rulings regarding women's rights to abortion.
On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, which protects an American’s right to an abortion, after 49 years (see “The ‘Double Whammy’ of 2022 Roe v. Wade Decision” under the Women’s Rights page). This decision gave states the right ban abortions for people seeking one, essentially forcing rape survivors, teens, and people who simply do not want to have a child to go through pregnancy and give birth.
On September 22, 2022, the Indian Supreme Court granted equal access to abortions for all people who have a uterus. This was an extremely progressive decision, especially for a country of nearly 73 million single women (BBC). Despite the fact that abortions have been legal in India since 1971, there were restrictions on who could get them and when. In some cases, the pregnant person would have to go to court in order to get permission to have an abortion. The country’s new ruling, allows anyone, for any reason to have an abortion up until 24 weeks into the pregnancy. According to Indian Supreme Court Justices, pregnancy decisions are “‘firmly rooted’ in a woman's rights to her bodily autonomy and to choose the course of her own life and that an unwanted pregnancy could adversely affect her entire life ‘by interrupting her education, her career, or affecting her mental well-being’” (BBC). Although these factors are significant to all female lives globally, views regarding abortion may severely differ.
The recent Supreme Court rulings of America and India are practically opposites. This is not the only way that America and India are very different. America is a highly developed, first-world country, while India is an underdeveloped, third-world country. India has higher rates of unfavorable issues, such as poverty, malnutrition, overpopulation, etc. And yet, despite these drastically different conditions, the Indian Supreme Court is able to recognize the need for safe and legal abortion access for its country’s citizens, while America – a nation that is supposedly one of the most “forward-thinking” in the world – cannot.
On September 22, 2022, the Indian Supreme Court granted equal access to abortions for all people who have a uterus. This was an extremely progressive decision, especially for a country of nearly 73 million single women (BBC). Despite the fact that abortions have been legal in India since 1971, there were restrictions on who could get them and when. In some cases, the pregnant person would have to go to court in order to get permission to have an abortion. The country’s new ruling, allows anyone, for any reason to have an abortion up until 24 weeks into the pregnancy. According to Indian Supreme Court Justices, pregnancy decisions are “‘firmly rooted’ in a woman's rights to her bodily autonomy and to choose the course of her own life and that an unwanted pregnancy could adversely affect her entire life ‘by interrupting her education, her career, or affecting her mental well-being’” (BBC). Although these factors are significant to all female lives globally, views regarding abortion may severely differ.
The recent Supreme Court rulings of America and India are practically opposites. This is not the only way that America and India are very different. America is a highly developed, first-world country, while India is an underdeveloped, third-world country. India has higher rates of unfavorable issues, such as poverty, malnutrition, overpopulation, etc. And yet, despite these drastically different conditions, the Indian Supreme Court is able to recognize the need for safe and legal abortion access for its country’s citizens, while America – a nation that is supposedly one of the most “forward-thinking” in the world – cannot.
Works Cited
Housman, Patty. “Roe v Wade Overturned: What It Means, What's Next.” American University, 29 June 2022, https://www.american.edu/cas/news/roe-v-wade-overturned-what-it-means-whats-next.cfm.
Pandey, Geeta. “India Abortion: Why Supreme Court Ruling Is a Huge Step Forward.” BBC News, BBC, 30 Sept. 2022, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-63086321.
Poverty Rate by Country 2022, https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/poverty-rate-by-country.
Housman, Patty. “Roe v Wade Overturned: What It Means, What's Next.” American University, 29 June 2022, https://www.american.edu/cas/news/roe-v-wade-overturned-what-it-means-whats-next.cfm.
Pandey, Geeta. “India Abortion: Why Supreme Court Ruling Is a Huge Step Forward.” BBC News, BBC, 30 Sept. 2022, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-63086321.
Poverty Rate by Country 2022, https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/poverty-rate-by-country.