Abortion and its Controversy
Abortion is the means of ending a pregnancy intentionally. This process allows women to terminate their pregnancies but also involves “murdering” the underdeveloped fetus. Due to this reason, abortion has grown to become one of the most controversial topics in the world. Some people support abortion rights, and there are others who argue that abortion should be banned. Those supporting abortion rights believe that fetus or embryo is not a person, therefore terminating it is not a “murder.” The ones supporting abortion ban argue that the process is not morally upright. However, what is more worrying is that abortion rates are on the rise among the young generation. So what could be the deal here? Well, in this essay we will examine abortion in young generation to determine why it is on the rise.
The Rise of Abortion Among Young Women
It is true that abortion has always been a part of women’s lives. In fact, it is estimated that approximately 600,000 women in the US seek abortion care annually and the majority of these women are under the age of thirty (Overall, 130). According to a recent abortion survey, young women, especially in their early twenties, have the highest abortion rates, and they account for about 45% of abortions. These young women have an abortion rate of 80 abortions per 1000 young women. In 2014, there were over 140,000 abortions to women under the age of 30 which accounts for 80% of the total abortion made in that year (Overall, 135).
Factors Influencing Young People's Decision about Abortion
Why do young people opt for an abortion?
Many young women choose abortion for medical reasons or events where unwanted pregnancy occurs. It is essential to know that young people’s attitude towards abortion, especially for those under the age of 25, are pragmatic and tolerant. Even those who have principled, moral, or religious objections tend to agree that women should be allowed to have abortions whenever they want to have them. However, it is imperative to understand that the issue of abortion among young people is influenced by religious belief, personal experiences, and wider societal attitudes.
Attitudes and Social Influences
Factors affecting young people’s decision about abortion
Young women seeking abortion usually go through three stages that is the consultation stage, the referral stage, and the procedure itself. However, there are several components which affect the young people’s decision about abortion. These factors include attitudes toward motherhood and abortion, social deprivation, and the influence of the friends, partners, and family (Young, 376). Young women who believe that their future would primarily include activities such as a career and higher education are not particularly interested in “early motherhood,” and they would readily embrace abortion in events where an unplanned pregnancy occurs. In some places, young women especially teenagers who get pregnant tend to experience social stigma. Therefore, they will choose abortion to avoid this stigma. It is also crucial to know that family and friends play a major role in influencing the decision of young women about abortion. Some parents are supportive of early pregnancies, and other parents do not tolerate early pregnancies. Moreover, the opinion of the peers and friends hugely affects the decision of young women about pregnancy. A lot of young people especially young women do not want to be slut-shamed or to be called names such as “that is the girl that got pregnant.” Therefore, abortion gives them the chance to redeem themselves from early motherhood and provides a cushion against the social stigma associated with pregnancy.
Youth Perspectives on Abortion
What do young people think about abortion?
Young people have divergent views regarding abortion. However, when it comes to thinking about women’s access to abortion, their views are clear. Many of them argue that women should be allowed to have abortions whenever they want them and the government should not interfere with their decisions. A lot of countries around the world have legalized abortion. However, there are some parental involvement policies which require young women to notify their parents or guardians before receiving abortion care. The problem is that some young women do not consult their parents before receiving abortion care.
Educating Young People about Abortion
Young people need to learn more about abortion
It is evident that a lot of young women engage in abortion but do not have complete information about the procedure. Therefore, young people should be educated about pregnancy and abortion so that they can make informed decisions before choosing abortion. This is because many psychologists argue abortion in young people especially in teenagers tend to have a negative impact on their mental well-being. However, the legitimacy of this argument is not defined. The important issue is that young people, particularly women, should have full factual information about abortion and they should always be subjected to safe abortion. Thousands of women around the globe die annually as a result of unsafe abortion. In general, it is important for the government and other relevant entities to implement appropriate health care policies which will ensure that abortion care is available and cheap.
Works Cited
Young, Alma T. “Abortion Today and The Abortion Controversy.” Social Work, vol. 19, no. 3, 1974, pp. 376–377., doi:10.1093/sw/19.3.376-a.
Overall, Christine. “Rethinking Abortion, Ectogenesis, and Fetal Death.” Journal of Social Philosophy, vol. 46, no. 1, 2015, pp. 126–140., doi:10.1111/josp.12090.
