Women Movements

Question One
Women had craved for a safe and effective oral contraception. The invention of the birth
control pill meant that women’s dreams of having an effective and safe method of family
planning had been realized. It brought an end to decades of torture through sterilization practices.
In addition, it freed women from the burden of having to bear many children and the burden of
sterilization abuse.
Question Two
Dorothy Roberts examines the degradation of African American mothers. Various
policies were put in place with a view of degrading African American women. Black mothers
were seen to be the causes of various problems. Dorothy Roberts argues that racial oppression is
the foundation of reproductive liberty since it raised the issue of control of reproduction.
Through the oppression of African Americans, women were able to recognize the need to be
liberated and to advocate for policies that affect all groups.
Question Three
The authors assert the notion that arguments on fetal rights seem to enjoin the life of the
mother and that of the unborn child. In so doing, the rights of the unborn child seem to be
heightened over the rights of the mother. The authors argue that women’s rights are ignored, and
this creates a serious problem. A woman’s choice on her unborn child is ignored in the
formulation of state laws that prohibit abortion
Question Four

WOMEN MOVEMENTS 3
Katha Pollitt argues that pregnant women have been oppressed by the criminal justice
system, and this constitutes the oppression of women. The rights of pregnant women are ignored,
and this has a tendency to cause the oppression of women in general, with reproductive rights
being the excuse.