Mother-Love and Abortion

Mother-Love and Abortion: A Legal Interpretation offers a profound exploration of the complex philosophical, legal, and relational dimensions of abortion. The book critically examines the prevailing discourse, which often frames the abortion debate in terms of individual rights and adversarial relationships between mother and fetus. It argues that such a framework is inadequate to capture the profound relational and moral nuances of procreation and maternal choice. By presenting a relational perspective, the author challenges the atomistic assumptions of traditional legal and philosophical approaches, instead emphasizing the unique dyad formed between a woman and her fetus, rooted in the transformative potential of mother-love. Structured in three chapters, the book first surveys the philosophical and legal underpinnings of the abortion debate, contextualizing the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. It highlights how current legal and philosophical frameworks focus on abstract rights, often neglecting the deeply interconnected nature of maternal and fetal existence. The second chapter advocates for a relational framework that prioritizes attachment and the development of personhood through mutual connection. Finally, drawing from psychoanalytic theories, particularly the object-relations school, the book illustrates how maternal choice is central to fostering an infant's eventual autonomy. This perspective supports the legal regime of procreative choice as not only a protection of privacy but also a recognition of the profound ethical and emotional commitments involved in motherhood. Through its nuanced approach, the book invites readers to rethink the moral and legal contours of the abortion debate in light of relational and societal values. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1988.