A new book from Island Studies Press will examine and compare the stories of abortion access in P.E.I. and Ireland.
“Crossing Troubled Waters: Abortion in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Prince Edward Island’’ was co-edited by UPEI’s Colleen MacQuarrie and launches at 4 p.m. today in Schurman Market Square of UPEI’s Don and Marion McDougall Hall.
MacQuarrie is a professor of psychology at UPEI and a co-founding member of the Abortion Rights Network, Abortion Access Now P.E.I. and the Reproductive Activism and Abortion Rights Network.
The book shines a light on two islands — Ireland (north and south) and P.E.I. — and considers for each island; the nature of the discourse of abortion, the impact restrictions have had, ongoing efforts to improve access and recent activist successes.
Accessing abortion services is challenging in many countries around the world. Barriers can result from poor access to health care, geographic location, legal restrictions, abortion stigma and moral conservatism.
The book states those living on Islands face particular challenges presented by their geographic isolation, including travel to other jurisdictions, which can be financially and emotionally burdensome.
