Abortion in Ireland - by Simon Statham & Helen Ringrow (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Providing an in-depth analysis of the diverse discourse types present in the fight for women's bodily autonomy in Ireland over four decades, this book explores discourse from the imposition of the Eighth Amendment in 1983 to its repeal in 2018 and beyond, adopting a mixed-methods critical linguistic approach.

By applying models of analysis from across the spectrum of critical linguistics, the book maximises the potential of the analytical models prominent in critical linguistics and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), in turn maximising the number of discourse arenas available for investigation.

Interdisciplinary both in terms of methodology and data, the chapters analyse a diverse range of societal texts including traditional political campaign discourse and cross-generational pro-choice leaflets. The book also assesses the utilisation of pro-choice voices in the contemporary discourse arenas of social media and broadcast entertainment, and examines politico-legal arenas such as submissions to the Citizens' Assembly and parliamentary speeches. It also scrutinises the abortion rights campaign in the north of Ireland through interviews with a range of campaigners.

In addressing the specific complex issue of abortion rights and exposing relevant data to diverse linguistic scrutiny, the book showcases the methodological rigour of critical linguistics in original research. Against the backdrop of ongoing reproductive rights debates in the USA, Europe and internationally, this book is a comprehensive analysis of the linguistic strategies of a major social event which continues to resonate across the world.

Review Quotes

"Understanding the effects of language on people and society is crucial to successful collective action. In an age where populism is on the rise once more, and rights being curtailed, this important book is an exemplar of the vital role that linguistics has to play in achieving social justice." --Dan McIntyre, Professor of English Language, Uppsala University, Sweden

"This book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding abortion in Ireland and the debates surrounding it. Built on a wealth of high-quality critical linguistic research, it offers a comprehensive overview of abortion discourse, capturing recent debates across the island of Ireland and couching them in their historical context." --Louis Strange, Lecturer in Sociolinguistics, University of Glasgow, UK

"A groundbreaking exploration of the fight for reproductive rights in Ireland, this book combines rigorous discursive scholarship with profound human insight. Tracing the moral, legal, and social dimensions of reproductive rights in Ireland compassionately and systematically, it makes an essential contribution to understanding how these dimensions intersect in driving reform." --Dr Beth Malory, Lecturer in English Linguistics, University College London, UK

About the Author

Simon Statham is Senior Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics at Queen's University Belfast, UK.

Helen Ringrow is Associate Professor in Contemporary Discourse at the University of Portsmouth, UK.