Det "irländska problemet": en studie kring Irlands abortlagstiftning

This essay deals with the problems that women face in Ireland, problems that arise because of the strict abortion laws. Women who deals with unwanted pregnancies must either travel to England to procure an abortion, or proceed with the pregnancy because of their lack of funding. This situation causes a lot of emotional stress for women, aside from the physical and economical problems that can be related to the pregnancy. The essay argues that the reason why women must face this harsh environment is because of a national identity process, where women must meet up to certain notions of what a good woman, mother and catholic is, since they are a symbol of the national identity. Abortion law in Ireland is also strongly connected to the nations post-colonial history, which has had a great impact on the conception of women, national identity, reproduction and abortion. What this essay explores is that women's right to choose is restricted because of a perceived national interest, and that their rights as human beings therefore have no reason to be neglected