Advancing our understanding of legal consciousness: unpacking the lived experiences of abortion seekers

Lavelanet, Antonella Francheska ORCID: 0000-0003-2159-2570 (2024). Advancing our understanding of legal consciousness: unpacking the lived experiences of abortion seekers. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This thesis focuses on the legal consciousness of abortion seekers, analysing how they perceive and define law and the resulting impact on their lived experiences. The research specifically examines the alignment between the existing understanding of what influences legal consciousness and the experiences of abortion seekers, exploring potential implications for enhancing abortion-related legal frameworks. As expected from existing literature, hegemony, identity, and mobilisation emerge as interconnected factors shaping the legal consciousness of abortion seekers. However, analysis of an original collection of social media narratives demonstrates that this existing understanding of legal consciousness does not fully capture the complexity of abortion seekers’ interactions with or lived experience of the law. The research highlights that the legal consciousness development for abortion seekers is shaped by social, cultural, religious, and gender norms, showcasing its pluralistic nature; however, the geopolitical context of abortion, other intersecting laws, and stigma further impact legal consciousness.

Moreover, social media proves to be a dynamic platform for rapid information exchange, support, and mobilisation facilitating the evolution of legal consciousness. Abortion seekers experience the law as a continuous flow, engaging in mutual learning. This transcends geographical confines, allowing adaptation to an ever-changing legal landscape. Social media further enables the development of a collective legal consciousness with broader implications for health and well-being and is a powerful tool for societal transformation. As a result, the thesis suggests a more responsive and personalised legal approach to abortion regulation.

Individuals articulate a preference and need for an ideal law that acknowledges individual circumstances and better aligns with personal values and notions of right or wrong. They call for the legal recognition of reproductive rights and access to quality healthcare, with the acknowledgement of abortion as an essential service. The expressed need for human-centred legal design that demonstrates a more holistic understanding of social context to improve abortion-related legal frameworks and seekers' well-being challenges the assumption that mere legal knowledge is sufficient to assert one's rights. These findings collectively contribute to a nuanced understanding of the legal consciousness of abortion seekers, providing valuable insights for policy development and societal transformation.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):