Gloria Steinem framed the motherhood question for us, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Renowned feminist icon Gloria Steinem passed away on September 2, 2026, at the age of 92.
• Steinem's feminist consciousness was significantly shaped by her personal experience with abortion and early caregiving responsibilities for her mentally ill mother.
• The article highlights the global challenge of reproductive rights and maternal mental health, framing motherhood as a choice rather than destiny.
• In the U.S., the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion and leading to severe restrictions in many states.
• India's Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, which allows termination up to 24 weeks for specific categories and includes mental health as a ground, still faces implementation challenges.
• Global estimates indicate that approximately one in five women experiences a mental health condition during pregnancy or in the year after birth.

Detailed Insights:

• Gloria Steinem became a prominent leader of second-wave feminism, advocating for women's liberation and reproductive freedom.
• Her personal history, including an abortion at 22 and caring for her mother from age 10, informed her view that the personal is political.
• The overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 ended nearly 50 years of federal protection for abortion rights, shifting the decision-making to individual states.
• This legal reversal has led to total bans or severe restrictions on abortion in 20 U.S. states, impacting women's autonomy over their bodies.
• The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, in India, expanded gestational limits for abortion to 24 weeks for special categories of women, including survivors of sexual assault and minors.
• Despite the legal provision, a 2023 case in India's Supreme Court demonstrated the practical difficulties women face, particularly concerning mental health grounds for termination.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 10-20% of pregnant or postpartum women globally suffer from mental disorders, emphasizing the widespread neglect of maternal mental health.
• The article advocates for routine perinatal mental-health screening and better training for healthcare workers to address maternal mental health issues effectively.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Roe v. Wade: A landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that established a woman's constitutional right to an abortion, overturned in 2022.
• Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021: An Indian law that liberalized abortion access, increasing gestational limits and including mental health as a ground for termination.
• Postpartum Depression: A serious mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth, characterized by persistent sadness, anxiety, and fatigue.
• Postpartum Psychosis: A rare but severe mental illness that can occur shortly after childbirth, involving hallucinations, delusions, and confusion.
• Lactational Amenorrhea: The temporary absence of menstruation during exclusive breastfeeding, which can delay the return of fertility.