Women’s bodily autonomy has always been an issue of enduring relevance that transcends time and place. After reading the ancient Greek tragedy “Antigone” by Sophocles in my English class, I became aware of several social problems that affected us in antiquity and continue to affect us as a society today. One of these problems is the lack of gender equality, focusing on the autonomy of women’s bodies.
The question that has guided my research has been the following, “How does the lack of women’s bodily autonomy in Sophocles’ Antigone resonate with contemporary debates and restrictions on abortion in the United States?” The first reason for choosing this question was the recent event in which the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. This decision has had a profound impact on the reproductive rights of women in the United States. The division of society into two groups sparked a divisive national conversation. The second reason for choosing this question was to draw a connection between the lack of women’s rights in the past and the lack of women’s rights today, especially in the United States.
In this research, I hope to find parallels and contrasts between how the play Antigone depicts women’s lack of autonomy at the time and contemporary struggles in the United States, connecting the past to the present. I hope to contribute to a deeper understanding of the current struggle for women’s bodily autonomy and shed light on the enduring relevance of issues related to feminism and women’s rights.
Research question: How does the lack of women’s bodily autonomy in Sophocles’ Antigone resonate with contemporary debates and restrictions on abortion in the United States?
Source 1
Today, Grace Hauck Christine Fernando, Chris Kenning and Trevor Hughes, USA. “‘New Era’ or ‘dark Day’? Americans Divided as They React to Supreme Court Overturning Roe.” USA TODAY, 24 June 2022, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/06/24/roe-wade-overturn-america-reacts/7609839001.
In 2022 the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion for over 50 years. The Supreme Court’s decision provoked a range of responses from two different groups of people. The antiabortion activists and the abortion rights activists. The pro-lifers celebrated the decision, expressing their belief that it was a positive step toward affirming the sanctity of life. They see it as the beginning of a new phase in the pro-life movement. Meanwhile, pro-choice activists were devastated by the Supreme Court’s decision. They called for nationwide protests. They expressed concern about the impact the decision would have on minorities. They fear that the reversal will lead to a return to “back-alley abortions” and argue that without safe and legal access to abortion, women’s lives will be at risk.
I find that this news article provides a valuable contemporary context for understanding the current debate over abortion rights and the autonomy of women’s bodies in the United States. It provides insight into how both pro-choice and pro-life advocates have responded to the recent Supreme Court decision. This information is relevant to the broader discussion of women’s reproductive rights, providing insight into the diversity of opinions on the issue, as well as information on the legal and social implications of the decision. The article also highlights the emotional and practical consequences of the ruling, such as a possible increase in people traveling long distances to access abortion services or clandestine abortions.
I believe this article is from a reliable source because it is based on direct quotes from individuals and organizations involved in the issue and is therefore a reliable reflection of their immediate reactions. It is important to note that this article is a good source for what is happening today, but not for a comprehensive historical or legal analysis of the issue.
Source 2
“In Florida, protesters march for women’s rights in post-Roe abortion battleground.” Weekend All Things Considered, 22 Jan. 2023, p. NA. Gale in Context: Global Issues, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A734263606/GIC?u=cuny_nytc&sid=bookmark-GIC&xid=2ade7170. Accessed 26 Oct. 2023.
This audio is about the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion in the United States, and the recent decision by the Supreme Court to overturn that decision. The host interviewed diverse people who protested the Supreme Court decision in Florida. These protests not only happened in Florida but took place across the country in response to the new restrictions on abortion. It includes part of the speech of Vice President Kamala Harris on that day, who expresses her concern about the threat to women’s right to make decisions about their bodies. Several women in the protest expressed their discontent with the Supreme Court’s decision. They felt that even though it was a SCOTUS decision they did not have to accept it and had the right to be mad and protest it.
I find the information in the audio very helpful in my research. It comes from a reputable news organization. The information provided in the audio helped me make a connection between Antigone’s reaction and rebellious attitude toward the king’s order not to bury her brother and the women in Florida who rose in unison to protest the Supreme Court’s decision. The audio offers a glimpse into the feelings and actions of pro-choice activists in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, featuring the voices of individuals and politicians committed to reproductive rights and those concerned about the future of women’s bodily autonomy in the face of restrictive legislation.
Source 3
Clark. “Feminism in Antigone and Its Impact on Modern Literature.” Ancient Literature, 14 Apr. 2022, ancient-literature.com/feminism-in-antigone.
The author explains the role of feminism in Sophocles’ play “Antigone” and its significance in women’s rights issues in our time. It highlights Antigone’s importance as one of the earliest works addressing feminist issues. The author defines feminism and highlights how Sophocles challenges societal norms by portraying a strong female character who defies authority figures, particularly King Creon, for the sake of justice. Additionally, the author draws parallels to contemporary debates about how political and legal authorities can perpetuate gender bias in issues related to women’s reproductive rights by highlighting the presence of misogyny in the play, as exemplified by King Creon. It also points out that “Antigone” challenges gender roles by portraying Haemon, Antigone’s lover, as a submissive character willing to leave everything for the woman he loves. The blog concludes with an emphasis on the continuing relevance of Antigone’s themes today.
I find this resource extremely helpful in my research. It has helped me to better understand Antigone and to see and analyze it through the eyes of feminism. This source helped me to better understand feminism and women’s rights in ancient Greece, while at the same time making connections to contemporary feminism, women’s bodily autonomy, and abortion restrictions that we have not been able to resolve even in our advanced society. The author focuses on analyzing the character of Antigone and her defiance of social expectations. The author explores the representation of women’s rights and gender roles in ancient Greece and provides a detailed analysis of the play, offering insights into its portrayal of strong female characters as opposed to traditional gender roles and their relevance to our modern society.
In summary, I find these three sources to help answer my research question, “How does the lack of women’s bodily autonomy in Sophocles’ Antigone resonate with contemporary debates and restrictions on abortion in the United States?”, as they combine contemporary news sources and literary analysis to provide a multifaceted view of how women’s bodily disempowerment in “Antigone” relates to current debates and restrictions on abortion in the United States. I hope that this new knowledge and my research will provide a foundation for future research and analysis on this topic. It will also provide a valuable starting point for understanding the enduring relevance of women’s bodily autonomy as a social issue that transcends time and place to live together in a more just and equitable society.
©2023 Ruth
