Biopolitics, the female body and the abortion of the disabled fetus from a sociological perspective: A qualitative study

This research examines the decision-making processes of pregnant women who have had a pregnancy with a disabled fetus, whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy. The aim of the research is to describe and understand the decision-making processes of women who have a pregnancy with a disabled fetus to continue or terminate the pregnancy, and to evaluate with a critical approach the abortion of a disabled fetus within the framework of the concepts of biopolitics, biopower, and medicalization. Qualitative research method and case study design were used in the research. The participants of the research were determined by the maximum variation sampling method. In the research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-three people, including nine women who had abortions for disabled fetuses, women who gave birth to ten disabled fetuses, and four obstetricians. In this research, the effects of medical knowledge, religion and social gender roles on women's decision to have abortion with a disabled fetus were determined. It has been observed that the most important power in this matter is the medical authority, which has the power of knowledge. Keywords: Biopolitics, Abortion, Medicalization, Disability, Abortion of Disabled Fetus