Unveiling the Political Agenda Behind Republican Stance on Abortion: A Marxist Narrative

Keith Lockwood, Ph.D.
3 min readApr 30, 2024

In the tapestry of American politics, the debate over abortion rights is a thread woven with the complexities of ideology, power dynamics, and historical context. At the forefront of this debate stands the Republican Party, advocating for the decentralization of abortion policy to individual states. While this stance is ostensibly rooted in principles of states’ rights and autonomy, a closer examination reveals a more sinister agenda lurking beneath the surface.

The Shadows of History

To understand the Republican stance on abortion, one must journey back to the conservative landscape of the 1950s in America. It was an era characterized by rigid social norms, where traditional gender roles held sway, and women’s autonomy over their bodies was severely curtailed. Abortion was illegal in most states, driving women into the shadows of back-alley procedures, often with tragic consequences. This historical backdrop serves as the foundation for the Republican vision — a return to the perceived moral certainties of the past.

Threads of Exploitation

Embedded within the fabric of Republican policy lies a thread of exploitation, woven intricately into the tapestry of labor dynamics. At the heart of Marxist analysis is the recognition of power imbalances and the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeois. In the context of abortion, the exploitation is twofold: the labor of women and the surplus labor of the proletariat.

By restricting access to abortion and curtailing reproductive rights, Republicans exert control over the labor force. Women, particularly those from marginalized communities, bear the brunt of this exploitation, forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term and perpetuate cycles of poverty and economic dependence. This exploitation of women’s bodies serves the interests of the capitalist class, allowing for the continued accumulation of wealth at the expense of the working class.

Patriarchal Webs

Entwined within the Republican agenda is a web of patriarchal control, spun to ensnare women within the confines of traditional gender roles. By relegating the decision on abortion to individual states, Republicans seek to strip women of their agency and subject them to the whims of predominantly male legislators. This control extends beyond reproductive rights, permeating every aspect of women’s lives and reinforcing systems of oppression rooted in patriarchy.

The Illusion of States’ Rights

The rallying cry for states’ rights in the abortion debate serves as a veil, obscuring the true intentions of the Republican agenda. While purportedly championing autonomy and local governance, Republicans seek to erect barriers to reproductive rights on a national scale. Through a patchwork of state laws, they undermine federal protections and push society back to an era reminiscent of the 1950s, where women’s voices were silenced and their bodies regulated by male-dominated institutions.

Resisting the Tapestry of Oppression

In the face of this assault on reproductive rights, resistance becomes not only a moral imperative but a strategic necessity. Women, alongside their allies, must stand in solidarity against the regressive policies propagated by the Republican Party. Grassroots movements advocating for reproductive justice and gender equality serve as beacons of hope in the struggle against oppression. It is through collective action and solidarity that the threads of exploitation and patriarchal control can be unraveled, paving the way for a more just and equitable society.

Conclusion: Unraveling the Tapestry

In unraveling the complexities of the Republican stance on abortion through a Marxist lens, we unveil the hidden agendas and power dynamics at play. The call for states’ rights serves as a smokescreen, obscuring a deeper commitment to social regression and patriarchal domination. Yet, within the shadows of oppression, there remains a glimmer of hope — a hope borne from resistance, solidarity, and the unwavering belief in the power of collective action to dismantle the structures of exploitation and forge a path towards liberation.

--

--

Keith Lockwood, Ph.D.

ASL teacher, Teacher of the Deaf, Keith is also a New Jersey based genealogist specializing in British, Irish and Italian genealogy and citizenship reclamation.