Conclusion

In conclusion, through our analysis of media representation of reproductive rights through American media history, we found that both hegemonic and counter-hegemonic ideologies were presented.  Stereotypes and perspectives that supported a patriarchal society were often presented hand in hand with ideologies that resisted oppressive social forces. Through the analysis of Pre-Radio media we found that there in fact has been a consistent narrative to oppress the fertility rights of women that is similar to what we see today. In 1914, Margaret Sanger wrote The Woman Rebel, a counter hegemonic, self published newspaper that voiced a woman's need to have control over her body and obtain contraceptives. In our exploration of pre-internet media, we explored what stereotypes surrounded the abortion debate and how those stereotypes were formed. We began with an exploration of what the dominant ideologies about abortion were and discovered that the pro-life movement was given a position of power by the conservative turn in the media and over a decade of conservative presidency.  We then delved into the stereotypes on what kind of women terminated pregnancies.  We found that the caricature of irresponsible, often drug addicted women as the main demographic seeking abortions is rooted in the medical conditions that qualified for abortions prior to the landmark Roe v Wade decision.  These stereotypes persisted through the following decades, and appear in the independent film Citizen Ruth.  The main character, Ruth, is a depicted as a promiscuous, irresponsible women who often finds herself on the street, huffing paint.  Citizen Ruth does, however, represent the pro-life movement in a way that is counter hegemonic. The film points to hypocrisy within the movement, and portrays the activists as only caring about sending a message, not about the pregnant women or unborn children. In social media as well as internet media we found that Facebook has become a powerful platform to address and repeal the oppression women through the presentation of counter-hegemonic narratives. In our analysis of current film/TV, we found that they often reinforce the hegemonic narrative of shaming women who choose/support abortion, downplaying the emotional discourse that both partners experience during an unplanned pregnancy, and concealing the aggressive pushback they experience from peers, family members, and members of the community. In current news, we analyzed what it means to be a feminist in a world dominated by men. To completely understand the Women's March on Washington as a non feminist male and/or female, you would need to understand intersectional feminism. The Women's Rights Movement extends beyond the right to own property or to vote in America. It is the fight for women to be  distinguish as an equal and not to be classified by their gender, class, race, or sexuality.  
Overall, we found that the dominant narratives and values surrounding reproductive rights have not changed throughout the last century in a significant way.  They have manifested in different ways as medical science has advanced, but the patriarchal hegemony has consistently worked to oppress reproductive rights, while counter-hegemonic forces increasingly retaliated for sexual liberation and access to birth control. Though the movement for women’s reproductive rights has made significant progress in the last century, it is important for us as people to actively engage with and challenge the narratives that are being presented in media in order to counter the hegemony being attempted and work toward a more equal and harmonious society.