Main content

Roe v Wade: How abortion became central to US politics

Fifty years ago, Jane Roe become the centre of a ruling that would fuel US politics for decades to come. The Roe v Wade court case gave women the constitutional right to abortion, until 2022 when it was overturned by the US Supreme Court.

For The Explanation on the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service, Claire Graham speaks with Katty Kay about the 1973 legal case, the legacy of that ruling, and how abortion became such a central issue in contemporary American politics.

Listen now on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Sounds.

Image: Pro-life demonstrators (R) confront pro-choice counterparts (L) 23 January 2006 in Washington (Credit: Getty Images)

Release date:

Duration:

2 minutes