How Abortion Debate in Latin America Compares to the U.S.
Ask Students: What are some characteristics of the Green Wave Movement? Where has the Green Wave Movement been most successful?
Summary
As Americans contemplate living in a country where Roe v. Wade is overturned, a very different story is playing out in many parts of Latin America. In recent years, countries throughout the region have relaxed abortion restrictions following demonstrations led by the Green Wave Movement.
In Latin America, advocates have targeted access to abortion, not just legal entitlement, said Alicia Yamin, senior fellow for the Global Health and Rights Project at Harvard Law School. “They’ve really worked long and hard to reach out to health providers, to again socially decriminalize abortion, so that it’s not such a stigmatized and private issue.”
For the transcript of this piece, click here.
Discussion Questions: What is the Green Wave Movement?
- What are some characteristics of the Green Wave Movement?
- Where has the Green Wave Movement been most successful in their efforts to gain abortion rights?
- How does the abortion debate in the United States compare to that of Latin America?
- Why is the issue of abortion political (divides along party lines) in some places and in other places not?
- When did Argentina legalize abortion, and what was the country’s abortion policy prior to doing so?
Focus Questions
- Why do you think the Latin American feminist movement has banded together with movements representing other disadvantaged members of society?
- Media literacy: In order to gain a better understanding of this story, who else do you think should have been interviewed?
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