Reverberations of the United States Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade are being felt across America as individual states enact their own laws governing access to abortion, in some cases banning it outright. Many Canadians wonder if laws in their own country could withstand a similar challenge.

During the next Women in Leadership (WIL) session on Tuesday, Aug. 16 from noon to 1 p.m., Brock University Associate Professor of History Tami Friedman will discuss the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision within the larger history of reproductive rights in the U.S. and explore potential implications of the court’s 2022 reversal on the issue of abortion rights in the Canadian context.

“With the end of Roe, American women and girls face severe restrictions on their right to privacy and the ability to make their own reproductive choices,” says Friedman. “Historically, the struggle by women to control their fertility has gone hand in hand with the struggle to participate fully in society as independent citizens — so it’s important to consider not only the immediate dangers facing women without access to reproductive health care but also the larger implications for women’s roles in public life.”

Dean of Social Sciences Ingrid Makus, who has studied and written about the abortion debate from the perspective of the history of ideas and political theory, will facilitate the session.

“We are very pleased to have Professor Friedman share her expertise and lead the discussion on this significant decision,” says Makus.

All who are interested are invited to attend virtually. Details on this and other upcoming Women in Leadership sessions, including dates, descriptions and login details are available on the WIL website. 

Women in Leadership is committed to supporting and advancing persons who identify as women to achieve and succeed in leadership. All are welcome. Individuals are welcome to join the WIL channel on Microsoft Teams or to contact Jeannie Mackintosh to be added to the WIL email distribution list.