The Maternal Body Bears Violence: A Feminist Contractarian Reply to Giubilini and Minerva

Edited by Adam Bruni

Abstract

The Giubilini and Minerva article “After-birth Abortion: Why Should the Baby Live?” invites a feminist contractarian ethical position to defend their premises. Factoring in sociopolitical conditions that impact reproductive health, “After-birth Abortion” morally reflects on the lived experiences of women. Infanticide is then proposed as a response to structural inequalities that disproportionately burden childbearing individuals and the greater family unit. Objections outside of the feminist ethical lens attempt to disband these premises through reductio ad absurdum. Yet the maternal body absorbs absurd violence, therefore, absurd violent solutions must be considered when renegotiating the social contract for those harmed by reproductive inequality.