> surely the shortage of abortionists due to the effects of > anti-abortion activism can be discussed from an economic point of view > >almost every state has fewer abortion providers than 10-15 yrs ago which > >means women must travel further, wait longer, and pay more... > Yoshie above points to contemporary political economy of abortion... 19th century proscriptions against abortion had political-economic origins as well...such laws were instigated by doctors wanting to eliminate competition from 'untrained' medical care practitioners... prior to mid-19th century when newly formed AMA began campaign to professionalize medical practice, of which lobbying efforts to ban abortion were prominent, abortion was widely practiced, was considered a safe medical procedure, and was generally unopposed... prescriptions for home abortion remedies were widely used and advertised doctors found support among various moral/social crusaders (religious opponents, 'progressive' reformers, some women's right advocates)... apparently abortion had become more widespread, more visible, and more increasingly sought by white, middle and upper strata, married, Protestant women in strictly economic terms criminalization raised the cost of abortion making its affordability most difficult for working class women Michael Hoover
