Gauging Longevity: Canada’s Post-Decriminalization Abortion Rights Movement, 1988-2018
Feminism is one of the longest-standing social movements in modern history, sustained by its inclusivity and adaptability. Understanding generational dynamics within feminist movements is crucial, given how often contemporary women’s activism is dismissed as in being decline or obsolete. This dissertation contributes to case research on the longevity of women’s movements by examining how Canadian feminists have mobilized in support of abortion since R v. Morgentaler (1988) – a constitutional ruling that decriminalized the procedure nationwide and makes Canada distinct in terms of how abortion is legislated globally. While second wave feminists led early reform efforts in the late 1960s that secured this victory, the struggle continues. Over the past thirty years, a new generation of feminist activists has joined their predecessors to expand legal access and challenge cultural stigma. Their vibrant exchanges have sustained the movement, making it generationally diverse and a compelling subject for further empirical study.To analyze how Canada’s abortion rights movement has evolved in the post-decriminalization era, this dissertation draws on qualitative fieldwork conducted over five years (2013-18) through deep immersion in the field. The dataset includes: 40 semi-structured interviews with pro-choice adherents across three provincial capitals, participant observation of public actions and private grassroots meetings, and an extensive review of archival materials documenting pro-choice campaigns since 1988. Findings from this ethnographic research are presented in three case studies, each addressing a distinct aspect of contemporary abortion rights activism in Canada. The first examines the enduring legacy of Dr. Henry Morgentaler, whose charismatic male allyship shaped the movement for five decades. The second explores the professional activism of everyday abortion providers who continue his life’s work on the frontline of reproductive healthcare today. The third investigates how feminist activists publicly share first-person abortion stories through diverse anthologies to combat pervasive stigma. By exploring both continuity and change within Canada’s abortion rights movement in the 30 years following decriminalization, this dissertation contributes to broader sociological discussions on women’s movement longevity, intergenerational feminists exchanges, and evolving strategies in reproductive politics. It challenges reductive narratives of feminism’s decline, instead highlighting the ongoing evolution and relevance of abortion rights organizing in Canada today.
abortion, Canada, feminism, pro-choice activism, social movements
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