The flaws of the expressivist objection: an inadequate argument against prenatal testing and/or disability-selective abortion

Kavanagh, Aifric (2022) The flaws of the expressivist objection: an inadequate argument against prenatal testing and/or disability-selective abortion. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The expressivist objection claims that the use of prenatal testing and/or disability-selective abortion results in the expression of negative and/or discriminatory messages to people with disabilities. From this argument, one can deduce a claim that it is morally wrong to use these technologies. These technologies are inextricably linked to both the rights of people with disabilities and the rights of women to reproductive autonomy. This tension is explored, and four flaws of the expressivist objection are examined: 1) its claim that the aforementioned messages expressed are discriminatory; 2) its presumption that prospective parents’ motivations for using these technologies concern only the future child’s life, and its consequent oversight of prospective parents’ concerns regarding their own lives as caregivers of a child with a disability; 3) its reliance upon the ‘loss of support’ argument; and 4) the fact that the consequences of acting in accordance with the expressivist objection would be absurd and unreasonable. This thesis concludes that the expressivist objection is an inadequate argument against the use of prenatal testing and/or disability-selective abortion, and recommends excellent, comprehensive genetic counselling as a possible compromise that respects both the rights of people with disabilities and women’s rights.

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