The Truth is Powerful
Forum discusses impending Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade.
Three Knox College professors shared their insights and advice at a May 20 panel on Roe v. Wade. The speakers were Karen Kampwirth , Robert W. Murphy Professor of Political Science and associate professor of international relations; Duane Oldfield , associate professor and chair of political science and chair of international relations; and Magali Roy-Fequiere , associate professor and chair of Gender and Women’s Studies and chair of Africana Studies. The three faculty members presented information about the national and international history of abortion politics, and the likely outcomes and effects if Roe v. Wade is overturned.
Oldfield spoke on the partisan polarization of abortion, likely individual outcomes in each state, issues framing and the complexity of public opinion, and interstate outcomes and possibilities.
“Abortion was not always a partisan issue,” he said. “However, when outside social movements began to weigh in, the political parties deviated on the issue.”
If Roe v. Wade is overturned, Oldfield said 26 states are likely to outlaw abortion, some of which are poised to extend the reach of their laws beyond state borders. Oklahoma, for example, has a bill which would prohibit all abortions except for […]