Abortion Rights Activism in ‘(Post)-Liberalised’ Contexts: Understanding the domains of reproductive governance and resistance after feminist victories. Reflections from Ireland.

The increasing attacks on abortion access and reproductive autonomy have led to a focus on the limitation of historic abortion rights liberalisation movements and a hyperfocus on how abortion rights activists combat anti-abortion mobilisations. Within this moment it is critical not only to understand the dynamics of reproductive governance where rights are threatened but also where they are perceived and narratively constructed as secured or where there has been a feminist victory. Exploring the latter contexts – still the majority of places globally due to the recent trend towards liberalisation of abortion rights and law – offers rich insights into reproductive governance and abortion rights activism in sites of feminist victory. This paper explores abortion rights activism in the ‘(post)-liberalised’ space through a case study analysis of Ireland (including Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland). Using qualitative research, it outlines the new domains and sites of activism that emerge in liberalised settings. The paper proposes that abortion rights scholarship should remain attentive to these areas of abortion contestation to meaningfully establish reproductive autonomy.