The 1970s were a decade of changing access to abortion around the country. Changes to abortion laws and legal statutes on the federal level changed access to these services in Michigan. Prior to the Suprme Court Roe v. Wade ruling in 1973, abortion was not legal in Michigan.
The Michigan Daily February 01, 1970 (vol. 80, iss. 102) - Image 4
Newpaper article from The Michigan Daily, The University of Michigan campus newpaperin 1970. This is an opnion article advocating for access to abortion and a story about a women who obtain illegal abortions and the risks that they take.
With the growing Women's Movement, several bills were considered in Michigan to make the abortion laws some of the most liberal in the nation (Johnson-Levy, 2022). One such bill was brought forward by Ann Arbor Republican State Senator Gilbert Bursley to, "completely liberalize" abortion access in Michigan. (Johnson-Levy, 2022). Many women in Michigan were forced to travel to other states to obtain abortions.
Celebration for Proposal B (Abortion Reform) Vote Yes! / HS10726
Poster created to advertise for a rally in support of Proposal B to, "Allow Abortion Under Certain Condidtions" in Michigan.
Freedom to Choose?
Poster in support of the 1972 Proposition to legalize abortion in Michigan. The proposition was defeated in the 1972 election. The poster depicts Lady Liberty shedding a tear as her boildy autonomy is being taken away.
In 1972, the Michigan Abortion Referendum Committee led the support of Proposal B (New York Times, 1972). The issue of legalized abortion had been stalled in the State Legislature and the committee decided to take the issue directly to voters. The proposal would allow "a licensed medical or osteopathic physician to perform an abortion at the request of the patient, if (1) the period of gestation has not exceeded 20 weeks, and (2) the procedure is performed in a licensed hospital or other facility approved by the Department of Public Health" (New York Times, 1972). The proposal was defeated with 60% of the vote on November 7, 1972 (New, 2022). President Richard Nixon was elected to a second term in this same election (Johnson-Levy, 2022).
Nixon Cartoon
Political cartoon of President Richard Nixon published ahead of the 1972 Proposal B referendumn in the 1972 election. The cartoon depicts a pregnant President Nixon and asks "What if he were pregnant?" In the 1972 election, Proposal B was defeated, and President Nixon was re-elected.
Michigan Daily January 23, 1973 (vol. 83, iss. 93) - Image 1
Newpaper article detailing the news of the Supreme Court's decision on Roe v. Wade in January 1973. This decision meant that states could not prevent people from having an abortion in the first three months of pregnancy.
The Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruiling changed abortion access in Michigan and around the country. Overnight the national laws changed so that the state could not prevent someone from having an abortion within the first three months of pregnancy. During this period any decisions regarding the termination of a pregancy were between a pregnant person and a healthcare professional. The new laws meant new requirements would be put in place and providers would be able to start providing abortion care. (Johnsson-Levy, 2022)
After the Roe v. Wade ruiling activists were not done. Abortion providers began offering services, but the saftey and leginimacy of these clinics was still in question for many seeking these procedures. The University Taskforce remained active in vetting abortion clinics, " safety for student, faculty, and staff referrals." Pro-abortion groups in Michigan and around the country continuted to advocate for safe and accessible abortion procedures for all. As a new landscape emerged women's groups faced situations that they had not encountered before. Reports on country wide activism were distributed throught the country to hightlight the work that was being done to further the pro-choice cause. (Johnson-Levy, 2022)
Feminist Women's Health Center Report: Women on the Offensive
Report from the Feminist Women's Health Center in 1977 detailing activism regarding abortion access around the country. After the Roe v. Wade rulling pro-choice groups remained active across the country ensuring that eveyone had access to the new rights guaranteed by the Roe v. Wade standards. By clicking on the image of the report you can view all nine pages.