rationalskepticism.org

Bodily autonomy is historically interesting as a notion, as it fits in with previous critiques of patriarchy, and its attempts to constrain female bodies, for example, by the fetishization of virginity, double standards in relation to sexual morality, the identification of women as wives and mothers, the shaming of women over their bodies ('too fat'), and so on. Pregnancy is certainly pertinent here, as the wife was meant to produce heirs, (sons), and also plenty of offspring, in many societies. So the contents of the womb were seen as property of the husband, and also the state.

So forcible childbirth seems to fit in here, and in a country such as Ireland, formerly heavily Catholic, there is particular force to the repeal of the 8th. I would be dumb-founded if 'no' wins. The death of Savita Halappanavar was surely the last nail in the coffin of forced birth.