Question

in 1970, jane roe (a fictional name used in court documents to protect the plaintiff’s identity), now norma mccorvey filed a lawsuit against henry wade, the district attorney of dallas county, texas, where she resided. she challenged a texas law making abortion illegal except by a doctor’s orders to save a woman’s life. norma mccorvey grew up in impoverished circumstances, previously having given birth twice and given up both children for adoption. (www.landmarkcases.org) 1. why do you think jane roe/norma mccovery was unable to get an abortion? 2. in your own words, describe why jane roe/norma mccovery needed an abortion?

Explanation:

Question 1

The text states that Texas law at the time made abortion illegal except when a doctor ordered it to save a woman’s life. Jane Roe (Norma McCorvey) likely didn’t meet the “save a woman’s life” criterion, so the law prohibited her from getting an abortion otherwise. Also, her personal circumstances (impoverished, previous adoptions) don’t override the legal restriction here; the key barrier was the Texas law’s strict abortion rules.

Norma McCorvey grew up in impoverished circumstances and had already given birth twice and given both children up for adoption. Her financial and life situation (poverty, previous adoptions) suggests she felt unprepared or unable to raise another child, so she needed an abortion to avoid bringing another child into her difficult living situation or to prevent another pregnancy she couldn’t support.

Answer:

Jane Roe/Norma McCorvey was unable to get an abortion because Texas law at the time made abortion illegal except when a doctor ordered it to save a woman’s life, and she likely did not meet that “to save a woman’s life” criterion required by the law.

Question 2