Recently, Colombia has decriminalized abortion for the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. This is a huge win for feminism across the globe, but it wasn’t without struggle. Gender inequality has been a persisting challenge facing women throughout much of global society. At the same time, many feminists have actively resisted gender inequality and the oppression they faced. Since the 18th century, organizations and social feminist movements have challenged the complex social hierarchies and remained active today. Feminists like Abigail Adams have confronted gender inequities throughout history. 

Abigail Adams (1744-1818) was the second first lady of the United States. When her husband, John Adams, was running for Philadelphia’s delegate position and was seldom home, Abigail took on what would have been traditionally considered the man’s role. She was both John’s wife and advisor, two positions that the public thought were incompatible. Furthermore, through the epistolary exchanges between John and Abigail, one can clearly imagine their relationship as an equal one rather than that normally seen in a patriarchal household.

In their letter writing, they used “dearest friend” as a frequent salutation to each other rather than master. Through giving up the harsh title of master to the endearing one of friends, she is insisting that females are in an equal relationship to men. Abigail was not oppressed by race nor class, but by her gender; and when she advocated on behalf of her sex, “John dismissed her as a rebel” and “viewed her as impertinently out of line,” as stated by Lori Jo Marso in Fifty-One Key Feminist Thinkers. When women stand up for the rights they deserve, they are viewed as “rebellious” rather than “revolutionary” since it iss a society where men hold the authority.

Abigail replied to John by declaring that “Men of Sense in all Ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your Sex.” She is pointing out the reality of women’s lives with the patriarchal society defining women in terms of her relation to men as man’s sex object, wife, mother, caregiver and never as simply an equal human being. Abigail wanted women to be positioned to live their lives more fully in which she contests various laws, barriers, and customs that diminish women’s ability to succeed. She commanded that society must treat women more generously and favorably than their ancestors. This is because without women’s contributions, society would not function properly. Beyond her letters, she affirmed that the unity of women is essential for enacting change and through the collective effort for women’s greater freedom, we are a step closer to Abigail’s vision of liberty.

Her vision has become closer to a reality as the Colombia court decriminalizes abortion into their regional momentum. According to the Washington Post, referencing back to 2006, Colombia has only allowed abortion without any time contraint in incidents of rape, fatal fetal deformity and injury to health of the woman. Now looking at 2022, women in Colombia could legally get abortion until the 24th week in their pregnancy without the need to provide justification.

This is a step closer into gaining gender equality as women have the right to control their own body. Many Latin American countries still place strict laws to prevent women to obtain abortion as their right. Even looking at the United States, although all 50 states have approved abortion laws, several restrictions have prevented women from accessing the care they need. For instance, 43 states placed gestational limits which prohibit abortions after a specific period in pregnancy, with some exceptions. This is important because the decision made by the Colombian court signals a win for women’s rights, but it is not the end of the fight.