Abortion Quote by Dr. Willie Parker
““In every case except abortion, society bestows upon individuals this trust, even if those individuals have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted to make good decisions. The presumption undergirding abortion decision making is that women who have had sex and are accidentally or unintentionally pregnant can't be trusted to comprehend the consequential weight of their actions. The law requires them, like bad little girls, to "prove" to authorities that they have thought carefully about what they are about to do.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public address on abortion policy, 2018
Argues that society trusts individuals except in abortion decisions, implying women cannot be trusted to understand consequences, and must prove their judgment.
In simple terms: Society doubts women's judgment on abortion.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge biased assumptions.
Themes
justice
gender
trust
Mood
critical
advocacy
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- policy debate
- legal reform
- healthcare counseling
- women's rights advocacy
Key Concepts
Patriarchal bias
ethical autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can policies respect women's autonomy?
- What evidence counters the distrust narrative?
A Different Perspective
It overlooks women's capacity for informed decision‑making.
