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CrispyQ

(40,837 posts)
7. Forced Labor, Revisited: The Thirteenth Amendment and Abortion
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 12:35 PM
Apr 2019

I will post this in every abortion thread that I come across. I do not understand why this isn't a major argument with the pro-choice groups.


2010
Forced Labor, Revisited: The Thirteenth Amendment and Abortion
Andrew Koppelman
Northwestern University School of Law, akoppelman@law.northwestern.edu

https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1031&context=facultyworkingpapers


I. The basic argument
The Thirteenth Amendment reads as follows:

1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

2. Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.


My claim is that the amendment is violated by laws that prohibit abortion. When women are compelled to carry and bear children, they are subjected to "involuntary servitude" in violation of the amendment. Abortion prohibitions violate the Amendment's guarantee of personal liberty, because forced pregnancy and childbirth, by compelling the woman to serve the fetus, creates "that control by which the personal service of one man [sic] is disposed of or coerced for another's benefit which is the essence of involuntary servitude."6

Such laws violate the amendment's guarantee of equality, because forcing women to be mothers makes them into a servant caste, a group which, by virtue of a status of birth, is held subject to a special duty to serve others and not themselves.


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Parents can't be compelled to donate their organs to their child, even to save the child's life. Why does a fetus have more claim on a woman's body & life, than her child who has been born?

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

"Small government", huh? Moostache Apr 2019 #1
They do want a government so small mercuryblues Apr 2019 #10
... brer cat Apr 2019 #34
The chances this actually passes into law is extremely slim. bearsfootball516 Apr 2019 #2
Agreed Crabby Appleton Apr 2019 #11
The fact that it has even been presented is scary enough. smirkymonkey Apr 2019 #12
Yes, and Trump could NEVER be elected. . . hatrack Apr 2019 #18
One insane event occurring doesn't increase the possibility of another. bearsfootball516 Apr 2019 #19
When it's part of a general trend of stupidity, magical thinking and rage . . . hatrack Apr 2019 #22
Of course, you're right. mountain grammy Apr 2019 #21
Kickin' with disgust Faux pas Apr 2019 #3
Texas Male lawmakers had best be prepared to EXECUTE their..... ProudMNDemocrat Apr 2019 #4
It's hard to believe that I'm living in America. This is scratch your head insane. Firestorm49 Apr 2019 #5
perhaps also, for those women who choose not to have children, anarch Apr 2019 #6
As long as they are white. Ohiogal Apr 2019 #8
Forced Labor, Revisited: The Thirteenth Amendment and Abortion CrispyQ Apr 2019 #7
Why aren't more young people Ohiogal Apr 2019 #9
That's what baffles me. They have so much more to lose than those of us who don't have smirkymonkey Apr 2019 #16
Well said. Ohiogal Apr 2019 #25
Well, than women will sterilize themselves. Problem solved. BigmanPigman Apr 2019 #13
And run for office and take over all positions of these misogynist men. notdarkyet Apr 2019 #23
we have been headed down that road since Roe. law by law, drip, drip, drip. niyad Apr 2019 #14
I can just imagine Cheeto yelling "Alo! Alo!" as his crowds dispersed due to gunfire. sandensea Apr 2019 #15
Decree 770 exceptions LiberalArkie Apr 2019 #17
You know how he ended up... eleny Apr 2019 #20
If only... smirkymonkey Apr 2019 #33
Repeat ....A proposed law..is NOT LAW...this is definition of word: proposed.. Stuart G Apr 2019 #24
The fact that it is even PROPOSED is incredibly fucked up. smirkymonkey Apr 2019 #32
"Texas" does't want to execute women Wabbajack_ Apr 2019 #26
Thanks! Anyone have a link? nt Duppers Apr 2019 #27
Here u go Wabbajack_ Apr 2019 #30
Thank you! Duppers Apr 2019 #31
And who keeps electing them? hatrack Apr 2019 #35
What's Next? Public Stoning? dlk Apr 2019 #28
Just How many women does the GOP WANT to slaughter? yuiyoshida Apr 2019 #29
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