Whether or not abortion should be legalized is a hotly contested issue not only in America but also in the entire world. Sometimes also referred to as termination, abortion can be defined as a medical procedure which involves the removal of pregnancy with the consent of the mother which is usually carried out mostly before the second trimester to avoid giving birth to a baby (Githens, and Dorothy 84). There are two ways in which a pregnancy is usually terminated; by either using the termination pill or through a surgical procedure. In the United States of America, abortion is legal although, for women who are under 18 years, one is required to seek the permission of one or both parents. In the recent past, abortion has become very common, and statistically, about 1.2 million women in America have an abortion every year, and 1 out of 3 women are likely to have an abortion before they reach their menopause (Kulczycki 205).
Studies have proven that many women end pregnancies due to various reasons including; rape, failure of contraception, to prevent congenital disabilities, and poor financial status among others. Even though the pro-life proponents argue that terminating a pregnancy is immoral because it kills and causes suffering to an unborn child who is innocent, abortion is okay mainly because it allows women to have control over their bodies. Besides, banning abortion does not stop women from aborting as it creates space for illegal abortionists. Abortion is also essential in cases where the life of the mother is in danger. This paper will educate audience from a pro-choice point of view which deems abortion as okay.
Women should be given the right to do what they want with their bodies, which is an essential moral right. Having the power to make reproductive choices without being restricted or given limitation is one way to empower women. Women can participate equally in building the economic and social life in the nation when they have the right to govern their bodies (Hendricks 329). Restricting abortion forces women who do not want to have children against their will, which is a violation of individual rights that hinder them from achieving their goals. What is more, abortion is okay, and it does not necessarily kill the life of the foetus. Pro-life supporters claim that abortion is a violation of the human right to life because it involves ending the life of a foetus when all beings ought to be protected. Nevertheless, human life is considered viable when it is outside the womb (Rose 12). A foetus or rather, an unborn child cannot survive on its own, and this justifies that it is a part of mother’s body, which she has control. Therefore, abortion should not be seen as an act of immorality that ends another persons’ life but as a right to have control over one’s body (Hendricks329). Even if for instance, the foetus was to be considered viable, the “right to life” does not necessarily mean that another person should suffer the problems associated to pregnancy if they do not want to, or even threatening their lives. What is more, People who decide to donate organs do so because they have the right to their bodies and abortion should not be treated differently.
A pregnancy can endanger the life of a woman, and in that case, abortion should not be restricted. Some complications occur during pregnancy, which threatens the mother’s life. One of the most common conditions even though it is rare in the developed as well as the developing countries is known as ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy occurs in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus, and it causes severe pain to the woman. What is more, such a pregnancy has no hope for survival, and it causes the death of the mother when it is not removed. Other studies find that teenagers are more likely to develop complications during birth, which might end up costing their lives and as such, some pro-choice activists advocate for aborting for as young as 12 years (208).
On the other hand, religion has played a significant role in influencing the way the society perceives abortion. Most religions condemn abortion and deem it as immoral since it goes against the doctrines. Some beliefs are stringent when it comes to reproduction, to the extent that they consider the use of contraception as a sin (Clements 132). Nevertheless, most pro-choice argue that one does not need to believe in God to believe in human rights. With that said, more than three-quarters of the people in the world are religious, and as such, they often consider their religious laws when it comes to terminating an abortion. Christians, for instance, are guided by one of the commandments in the Bible, which forbids them to kill and therefore, most Christians who abort believe that they have sinned against their God and that they risk the wrath of God coming upon them. Also, the book of Psalms in the Bible recognizes the creation of a baby in the mother’s womb by God and therefore, Christians view abortion as wronging God. Other religions also condemn abortion, including Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism, among others.
Even though the religion condemns abortion and although the government is strict on the accessibility of legal abortion, a large number of women still terminate their pregnancies. Legal abortion is one of the safest medical procedures in the contemporary medicine, and it is associated with low maternal deaths, unlike the unsafe abortions. Strict laws on abortions have increased the number of illegal abortionists who conduct unsafe abortions. Their services are often cheaper and easily accessible, but they come at a cost. Many women risk dying or injuring their reproductive system, which can also lead to infertility when undergoing an illegal abortion. Research shows that approximately 600, 000 women around the world die every year when undergoing unsafe abortion procedures, and millions more are injured. As such, abortion should not be banned (Githens, and Dorothy 84).
In summary, abortion is okay because it allows women to have control over their bodies. Women can participate equally in building the economic and social life in the nation when they have the right to govern their bodies. Besides, terminating a pregnancy is okay, and it should not be considered as immoral since the foetus are not viable, and they are part of the women’s bodies, which they have control over. Most importantly, abortion is a way to save a mother’s life whenever there are fatal pregnancy complications, such as ectopic pregnancy. What is more, abortion is okay since in cases when it is illegalized, women undergo unsafe procedures carried out by illegal abortionists.
Works Cited
Clements, Ben. "Religion and Abortion." Religion and Public Opinion in Britain. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2015. 127-163.
Githens, Marianne, and Dorothy McBride Stetson. Abortion politics: Public policy in cross-cultural perspective. Routledge, (2013): 74-98.
Hendricks, Jennifer S. "Body and Soul: Equality, Pregnancy, and the Unitary Right to Abortion." Harv. CR-CLL Rev. 45 (2010): 329.
Kulczycki, Andrzej. "Abortion in Latin America: changes in practice, growing conflict, and recent policy developments." Studies in family planning 42.3 (2011): 199-220.
Rose, Melody. "Pro-life, pro-woman? Frame extension in the American antiabortion movement." Journal of Women, Politics " Policy 32.1 (2011): 1-27.
