Abolitionsbeslutets påverkan på svensk aborträtt - Aborträtten ur ett rättsutvecklingsperspektiv med fokus på abolitionsbeslutet 1965
(2021) LAGF03 20211Department of Law
Faculty of Law
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Syftet med uppsatsen är att med rättshistorisk metod utreda abortlagstiftningens utveckling åren 1938–1975. Utredningen belyser sättet på vilket abolitionsbeslutet 1965 tillkom som en konsekvens av ett skifte i allmänhetens syn på abort och på kvinnans rätt till sin egen kropp samt hur detta manifesterade sig i efterföljande lagstiftning.
Innan utredningen tar vid redogör uppsatsen för hur lagstiftning och samhällssyn gällande fosterfördrivning såg ut innan 1938. Abort utgjorde en kriminell handling och ansågs både omoralisk och förkastlig av samhället varför det bestraffades hårt. Abortlagen som kom 1938 var den första lagen som legaliserade abort vid undantagssituationer.
Uppsatsen tar sin utgångspunkt i att beskriva hur kvinnor... (More) - Syftet med uppsatsen är att med rättshistorisk metod utreda abortlagstiftningens utveckling åren 1938–1975. Utredningen belyser sättet på vilket abolitionsbeslutet 1965 tillkom som en konsekvens av ett skifte i allmänhetens syn på abort och på kvinnans rätt till sin egen kropp samt hur detta manifesterade sig i efterföljande lagstiftning.
Innan utredningen tar vid redogör uppsatsen för hur lagstiftning och samhällssyn gällande fosterfördrivning såg ut innan 1938. Abort utgjorde en kriminell handling och ansågs både omoralisk och förkastlig av samhället varför det bestraffades hårt. Abortlagen som kom 1938 var den första lagen som legaliserade abort vid undantagssituationer.
Uppsatsen tar sin utgångspunkt i att beskriva hur kvinnor åkte till Polen 1964 för att genomgå abort. Resorna och mannen som distribuerade läkarkontakter till de resande kvinnorna blev uppmärksammade i media och tidningar.
Lagstiftningen innan abolitionsbeslutet beviljade endast abort ifall vissa specifika indikationer förelåg. Huvudregeln var fortsatt att abort som handling var brottslig och lagen utgjorde endast ett undantag. Samhällssynen var präglad av tidens straffhot och kvinnan förutsattes underordna sig fortplantning. I början av 1960-talet började kvinnans roll i samhället ifrågasättas och ett ökat krav på jämlikhet uppstod. Samhällssynens progression påverkade regeringen att meddela abolition till de kvinnor som rest till Polen samt till mannen som hjälpt dem. Direkt efter abolitionsbeslutet tillsattes en utredning i syfte att reformera och liberalisera abortlagstiftningen, vilket skulle överensstämma med allmänhetens syn på abort. Detta genererade dagens abortlag med fri abort där kvinnan själv bestämmer över när – och om- hon vill ha barn.
Slutsatsen av denna uppsats visar att det skett en grundläggande förändring inom abortlagstiftning och samhällssyn under utredd period. Skyddsobjekt har skiftat från beskydd för foster till kvinnans rätt att bestämma över sin egen kropp. Det föreligger en stark korrelation mellan samhällssyn och lagstiftning, varför kvinnans bestämmanderätt vilar på att allmänheten validerar samt accepterar rådande abortlagstiftning. (Less) - Abstract
- The aim of this thesis was to, by using a legal historical method, investigate the development of the Swedish abortion act between 1938 and 1975. The thesis examined in what way the decision of leniency in 1965 was a consequence of a change in the societal attitudes towards abortion and the woman’s right to her own body. Moreover, it examined how this has manifested itself in subsequent legislation.
Prior to the investigation, the thesis illustrates the legislation and societal view regarding abortion before 1938. Abortion was a criminal act and regarded both immoral and unjustifiable by the society, which is why it was severely punished. The abortion act, which came into force in 1938, was the first law to legalize abortion in... (More) - The aim of this thesis was to, by using a legal historical method, investigate the development of the Swedish abortion act between 1938 and 1975. The thesis examined in what way the decision of leniency in 1965 was a consequence of a change in the societal attitudes towards abortion and the woman’s right to her own body. Moreover, it examined how this has manifested itself in subsequent legislation.
Prior to the investigation, the thesis illustrates the legislation and societal view regarding abortion before 1938. Abortion was a criminal act and regarded both immoral and unjustifiable by the society, which is why it was severely punished. The abortion act, which came into force in 1938, was the first law to legalize abortion in exceptional situations.
The thesis begins by explaining how women traveled to Poland in 1964 to undergo abortion. The expeditions and the man who distributed medical contacts to the women travelling were acknowledged by media and newspapers.
The legislation prior to the decision of leniency only allowed abortion if certain specific indications were present. The principal rule did however state that abortion as an act was still criminal and the law was an exception only applicable to few. The societal view was marked by the threat of punishment at the time and the woman was presumed to submit to reproduction. In the early 1960s, the societal view on women began to be questioned and an increased demand for equality arose. The progressive social view influenced the government to announce leniency towards the women who traveled to Poland and the man who had helped them. Immediately after the decision of leniency, an inquiry was appointed with the purpose of reforming and liberalizing the abortion act to be in line with the public’s view of abortion. This generated the abortion act of today, with free abortions where the woman herself decides when – and if – she wants children.
The conclusion of this thesis proves that there has been a fundamental change within the legislation of abortion and societal view during the period under investigation. There has been a shift in what the law protects, from the fetus to the woman’s right to decide over her own body. There is a strong correlation between societal views and legislations, which is why women’s right to decide rests on the public continuingly validating and accepting current abortion act. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9045496
- author
- Hagman, Matilda LU
- supervisor
-
- Per Nilsén LU
- organization
- course
- LAGF03 20211
- year
- 2021
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- Aborträtt, abolitionsbeslut, rättshistoria, legal history, abort, abortion.
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9045496
- date added to LUP
- 2021-06-29 16:45:45
- date last changed
- 2021-06-29 16:45:45
@misc{9045496,
abstract = {{The aim of this thesis was to, by using a legal historical method, investigate the development of the Swedish abortion act between 1938 and 1975. The thesis examined in what way the decision of leniency in 1965 was a consequence of a change in the societal attitudes towards abortion and the woman’s right to her own body. Moreover, it examined how this has manifested itself in subsequent legislation.
Prior to the investigation, the thesis illustrates the legislation and societal view regarding abortion before 1938. Abortion was a criminal act and regarded both immoral and unjustifiable by the society, which is why it was severely punished. The abortion act, which came into force in 1938, was the first law to legalize abortion in exceptional situations.
The thesis begins by explaining how women traveled to Poland in 1964 to undergo abortion. The expeditions and the man who distributed medical contacts to the women travelling were acknowledged by media and newspapers.
The legislation prior to the decision of leniency only allowed abortion if certain specific indications were present. The principal rule did however state that abortion as an act was still criminal and the law was an exception only applicable to few. The societal view was marked by the threat of punishment at the time and the woman was presumed to submit to reproduction. In the early 1960s, the societal view on women began to be questioned and an increased demand for equality arose. The progressive social view influenced the government to announce leniency towards the women who traveled to Poland and the man who had helped them. Immediately after the decision of leniency, an inquiry was appointed with the purpose of reforming and liberalizing the abortion act to be in line with the public’s view of abortion. This generated the abortion act of today, with free abortions where the woman herself decides when – and if – she wants children.
The conclusion of this thesis proves that there has been a fundamental change within the legislation of abortion and societal view during the period under investigation. There has been a shift in what the law protects, from the fetus to the woman’s right to decide over her own body. There is a strong correlation between societal views and legislations, which is why women’s right to decide rests on the public continuingly validating and accepting current abortion act.}},
author = {{Hagman, Matilda}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Abolitionsbeslutets påverkan på svensk aborträtt - Aborträtten ur ett rättsutvecklingsperspektiv med fokus på abolitionsbeslutet 1965}},
year = {{2021}},
}