Oh my God, she's had an abortion. : A study of Irish pro-choice organizations' work in respect of free choice

• Main Authors: Lövgren, Caroline, Sandén, Sofie
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Högskolan i Gävle, Avdelningen för socialt arbete och psykologi 2015
• Subjects: Abortion; Ireland; Women; Pro-Choice; Stigma; Feminism; Abortion Law; Social Work
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-20046

The purpose of the study was to investigate how Irish pro-choice organizations work in respect of free choice in relation to abortion, since abortion is illegal except when there is a substantial risk to the mother’s life. This purpose was constructed with the significance of social work as a practical profession restricted by regulations, at the same time as it is a profession to support and help deprived people. This was a qualitative study with semi-structured interviews with seven different people from five different pro-choice organizations. The interviews indicated that in Ireland abortion was a stigmatized matter, as well as taboo to talk about. The results showed that the pro- choice organizations work to provide support and information and they viewed the right to abortion as a fundamental right and that women going through crisis pregnancy should be able to access a free choice. Still, it is the stigmatizing environment as well as the existing laws that become an obstacle for accessing free choice.