Vývoj diskuze o potratech v USA v letech 1941-1973
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Date
2025-06-11
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Abstract
Tato bakalářská práce se zabývá vývojem diskuse v USA v letech 1941-1973 o
morálnosti potratů a oprávněnosti jejich legalizace. Cílem práce je analyzovat vývoj
dobového mínění vůči této otázce. Práce se zaměřuje na vybraná hnutí, konkrétně
na aktivisty za legalizaci potratů a tradiční oponenty potratů - protestanty a katolíky.
Zvláštní důraz je kladen na hlubší analýzu motivací, které mohly vybrané skupiny
vést k zastávání svých postojů. Metodologicky práce vychází z dobových pramenů,
včetně knih a novinových článků, a jejich komparace s historiografickými pracemi.
Výsledky ukazují, že křesťanský konsensus o nemorálnosti potratu přetrvával až do
první poloviny 60. let a veřejná diskuse neprobíhala. V 60. letech se prosadila
sexuální revoluce, jež zásadním způsobem proměnila pohled společnosti na účel
vztahů a sexuality. V rámci těchto změn se utvořil prostor pro rychlý nástup a úspěch hnutí za legalizaci potratů. Motivace pro prosazování potratů vycházela z velké části z kombinace eugenických, malthusiánských a sexuálně revolučních přesvědčení.
Feministické hnutí začalo podporovat legalizaci potratů až na popud hnutí za
legalizaci potratů. Římskokatolická církev ve zkoumaném období konzistentně
zaujímala odmítavý postoj vůči potratům. Motivací pro ni bylo přesvědčení o
posvátnosti lidského života a o nerozlučitelnosti sexuality a rozmnožování.
Konzervativní protestanté zastávali nejasné a protichůdné postoje, což jim zabránilo
se ve veřejné diskusi sjednoceně angažovat. Práce poskytuje hlubší vhled do
historických kořenů současné debaty o potratech ve Spojených státech.
This bachelor's thesis examines the development of the debate in the United States between 1941 and 1973 concerning the morality of abortion and the legitimacy of its legalization. The aim of the thesis is to analyze how contemporary opinions on this issue evolved. The study focuses on selected movements, specifically activists advocating for the legalization of abortion and traditional opponents of abortion namely, Protestants and Catholics. Special emphasis is placed on a deeper analysis of the motivations that may have led these groups to defend their respective positions. Methodologically, the work is based on contemporary sources, including books and newspaper articles, and compares these with historiographical works. The findings suggest that a Christian consensus on the immorality of abortion persisted until the early 1960s, during which public debate on the issue was virtually absent. In the 1960s, the sexual revolution took hold and fundamentally reshaped societal views on relationships and sexuality. These changes created space for the rapid emergence and success of the abortion legalization movement. Support for legal abortion was largely driven by a combination of eugenic, Malthusian, and sexual-revolutionary beliefs. The feminist movement began to support abortion legalization following encouragement from pro-abortion activists. The Roman Catholic Church consistently opposed abortion throughout the period studied, motivated by its belief in the sanctity of human life and the inseparability of sexuality and reproduction. Conservative Protestants, on the other hand, held ambiguous and sometimes contradictory positions, which hindered the formation of a unified stance in the public debate. This thesis provides a deeper insight into the historical roots of the contemporary abortion debate in the United States.
This bachelor's thesis examines the development of the debate in the United States between 1941 and 1973 concerning the morality of abortion and the legitimacy of its legalization. The aim of the thesis is to analyze how contemporary opinions on this issue evolved. The study focuses on selected movements, specifically activists advocating for the legalization of abortion and traditional opponents of abortion namely, Protestants and Catholics. Special emphasis is placed on a deeper analysis of the motivations that may have led these groups to defend their respective positions. Methodologically, the work is based on contemporary sources, including books and newspaper articles, and compares these with historiographical works. The findings suggest that a Christian consensus on the immorality of abortion persisted until the early 1960s, during which public debate on the issue was virtually absent. In the 1960s, the sexual revolution took hold and fundamentally reshaped societal views on relationships and sexuality. These changes created space for the rapid emergence and success of the abortion legalization movement. Support for legal abortion was largely driven by a combination of eugenic, Malthusian, and sexual-revolutionary beliefs. The feminist movement began to support abortion legalization following encouragement from pro-abortion activists. The Roman Catholic Church consistently opposed abortion throughout the period studied, motivated by its belief in the sanctity of human life and the inseparability of sexuality and reproduction. Conservative Protestants, on the other hand, held ambiguous and sometimes contradictory positions, which hindered the formation of a unified stance in the public debate. This thesis provides a deeper insight into the historical roots of the contemporary abortion debate in the United States.
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potrat, USA, sexuální revoluce, eugenika, malthusiánství, protestantismus, Římskokatolická církev