Throughout human history, violence against women has been one of the greatest moral and social problems faced by societies around the world. This continues to be true today. In North America, where most women enjoy strong social empowerment and legal protection, male perpetrated abuse of females continues to be an enormous problem. In much of the majority world, violence against women is even more prevalent. God designed human gender to reflect his own image, particularly his relationality. Our gender was furthermore designed to reflect equality and to produce intimacy, joy, and life. But in our current fallen world, conceptions and experiences of gender are confused and broken and have led to various types of destructive sin, including abuse. Such distorted views of gender, particularly ones that militate against gender equality, are leading factors in the widespread global abuse of women.
Abortion, the Marginalized, and the Vulnerable: A Social Justice Perspective for Reducing Abortion
This presentation will offer a pro-life response to the issue of abortion by utilizing a social justice template. Pro-life and pro-choice adherents have very different understandings of how social justice should be applied to abortion, particularly whose rights take precedence. Yet in spite of our weighty, passionate differences on the legality and morality of abortion, both sides are driven by a concern for social justice. And both sides want to see abortions reduced. And therein lies fertile ground for united efforts to reduce abortions in America. Thus, I suggest three broad social justice activities to reduce abortion rates: material (physical) assistance, social support, and addressing abuse.