Michael Foucault and Abortion Law

Paper Summary:

The paper looks at how Michel Foucault's theories on power/knowledge might be used to scrutinize nations' abortion laws. The paper illustrates in detail how abortion law exemplifies power/knowledge/language relationships.

From the Paper:

"French 20th century philosopher-cultural theorist Michel Foucault's theories focus on relationships of human power to knowledge and discourses, and on manifestations of these in real life based on various (and varied) power dynamics - between and/or among individuals; institutions; and other entities. In fact, Foucault considers "the question at the center of everything" to be "what is power?" ("Strategies of Power: Michel Foucault" 41). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Abortion Law." Wikipedia. 15 Jun 2007. 23 Jun 2007, http://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_law.html>.
• Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish. Trans. Alan Sheridan. Paris: Gallimard, 1977.
• ---. Surveilleur et punir. Paris: Gallimard, 1975.Gallagher, Michael. "Foucault, Power, and Participation." School of Social and Political Studies, University of Edinburgh [nd]. 23 Jun 2007 <http://www.childhoodstudies.ed.ac.uk/research/MGallagher.doc.html>.
• The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. "Abortion Laws Around the World." Nov 2006. 23 Jun 2007 < http://pewforum.org/publications/reports/ abortion-laws.pdf>.
• Author. "Strategies of Power: Michel Foucault." Book Title. City: Publisher, date. 40-45.

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