Since the 1970s, abortion has been the subject of numerous debates. Although abortion is often considered sensitive, it has been embraced by many. Abortions are a common practice since the 18th-century. “The termination a pregnancy that is accompanied or closely followed in the death the embryo or foetus is called an abortion” (Merriam Webster 2020). Although it can be done after a miscarriage or to end a pregnancy, most of the time it occurs. There is much debate about whether or not it is legal to “kill” the fetus.
A Brief History Of Abortion
Because of the risk involved in all surgical procedures at that time, abortions were legalized in the 1800s. In the late 1800s, laws were passed in many states making illegal abortions. In the late 1800s, states began making illegal abortions legal for women from “back-alley” providers. This led to medical problems, infections and even death. Despite abortion being illegal, women continued to get them (McCurdy para 18). Over time, medical procedures improved and abortions became legal. Some states had their abortion laws repealed between 1967 and 1973. However, not all did. 1973 saw the Supreme Court take up a case concerning a young girl. Roevs. Wade was the result of this case. It concluded that women have the right to privacy regarding their personal and reproductive decisions. Roevs. Wade was a significant turning point for all U.S. females. Harriet Pilpel states, “I will first talk about the laws relating t abortion in the United States prior January 22, 1973. After that, the Supreme Court decisions giving women the right to decide if they want to have an abortion as part of their constitutionally guaranteed privacy right.” (Pilpel, 1975, pg. 113) After 1973, there was much debate about which groups were “pro-life”, and which were “prochoice”. In many U.S. states, anti-abortion violent became a major issue. These arguments became part of our politics. It has been a long time since there was a debate about a medical procedure that goes back thousands of centuries in our world’s history. The argument is still very prominent in today’s society. It continues to be debated in our society today. You can see it on the news, as well as in political campaigns.
The right of women to be treated equally.
It is well-known that women have had difficulty gaining rights such as voting rights and other rights. As a woman you see the history of women being marginalized throughout time. This is still an important issue in today’s society. Everybody should be able to maintain their bodily integrity. Yes, we all know that mothers are the best choice. Women may not wish to become mothers. Some women might not be able to or feel ready to mother children due to their health, age, or personal circumstances. Many other issues can play into the equation. A woman could be raped at home or by strangers and get pregnant. The choice is up to the woman to make. These choices are up to the woman and her bodies. Hardin states that “The woman who is pregnant is the starting point for moral decisions.” Is it important to society that she is not able to have a child against her will? She is threatening society by having an unborn child and society will be very sorry. (Hardin, pg. 249). Hardin’s statement is true for our society. It is morally wrong to make women suffer when they are forced to have children. No. It is the woman who decides what happens to it. The rights of the foetus do not exist. The woman carrying the fetus is entitled to all rights, but not those of the fetus. McCurdy explains that Thomson believed the fetus had the right to life, but that women should have control over their bodies during gestation. This argument asserts that maternal autonomy is not subject to any living thing, including the father, the mother, or the family. Society cannot also constrain it. (McCurdy, para. 11). In this instance, women should be given priority. The woman is superior to the fetus because she came first. Women should have the freedom to decide what happens to their bodies. It should not be the decision of anyone else. They should not feel shameful or discriminated against for choosing what they do. Everyone has the right and freedom to make their own decisions about how they live their lives. It wouldn’t fair.
Safety for Women
Abortions can be considered extremely invasive medical procedures, but they are not controlled to ensure women’s safety. Unsafe abortions can lead to infection, complications and even death. Unsafe abortions account for approximately 25 million annually. Women have the option of getting unsafe abortions, but they are not allowed to do so because it is illegal and considered a crime. Unsafe abortions would be less likely if there were regulations regarding clinics and abortions. McCurdy notes that some people will undoubtedly seek “back-alley,” abortions, and face severe consequences, including the death. Although it is not clear how many of these deaths may occur, they would be relatively small compared to the over one million fetal deaths that are caused by legalized abortion in the US each year. In 1972, the last year prior to Roe v. Wade’s decision, the Centers for Disease Control [CDC] reported 39 maternal deaths as a result of illegal abortion. (McCurdy, para. 18) While the number of deaths is not substantial, they continue to occur. The deaths that weren’t reported are another example. These deaths are inevitable, because abortions have not been standardized in a way that is suitable. These precautions have not been taken seriously. All medical procedures must follow regulations and precautions. But abortions don’t meet these requirements and aren’t being considered seriously. Maxwell asserts that, even when an abortion is successful it may have serious consequences for health. These unnecessary risks are often faced by women who don’t want to have a test for pregnancy. (Maxwell at page 247) It’s precisely because abortions require regulations and rules that protect women. This is the most difficult time of women’s lives. They may face lifelong medical conditions, complications or even death. All of this can be prevented if you have the right information and follow the guidelines. Women shouldn’t have to be worried about their health after any type of surgery. Unsafe abortions shouldn’t cause death in women. At the very least, abortions must be safer.
Are Abortions Legal?
A lot of Americans consider abortions murder, infanticide, and plain vindictive. It is a heated debate between “prolifer” and “prochoicer” groups. But, can the rationale behind abortion by a woman be sufficient? An abortion can be justified for many reasons, according to women. There are many reasons to choose abortion, no matter how late in pregnancy. Harriet Pilpel stated that neither the United States nor any other State should deny any human being from conception the right to life. (Pilpel 115). She states that a foetus is entitled to the same rights as humans and that no law can deny it those rights. Accordingly, the woman is not allowed to terminate the pregnancy. Abortion is not permitted for medical or rape reasons. There are some medical conditions that keep women from being able to have a full term pregnancy. Even though it doesn’t happen very often, sometimes women get raped. “Pro-choice” groups are all in agreement that abortions are valid for these purposes only. However, pro-life organizations disagree with this view. They argue that infanticide is the murder of a child in less than one year. No matter what stage of pregnancy it is, a fetus can live without restriction. An author offers insight into this thought process. He says that because we act to preserve our own life, reciprocity means it is wrong not to take the lives or innocent people’s lives. We should not abort human life because we value living. (McCurdy, para. 7) Many believe that a foetus should have equal rights to all other human beings. Although a fetus has not done any wrong and is innocent, a woman may want to kill it. An abortion is not an “right”.
Most people don’t see it as something to do, but for some, it is all that they have.
In Summary
The topic of abortion is highly emotional and debated. Over the years, both pro-choice or pro-life viewpoints have developed. Abortions are a topic that has been around for a long time. The benefits and costs of abortions can be seen in the past. Although attitudes have changed throughout history, the two distinct sides of the argument have not. This debate has filtered into our political system throughout history. There has been a lot of division around the issue of abortion rights. It is almost as if there is no solution to the abortion debate. While pro-choice groups advocate for women’s right, the “prolife” groups support the rights of the fetus. This is a serious issue in today’s society. It began as a small topic decades ago and has grown to become a major issue. In 2020, abortion was a top topic and will continue to be so in the future. The debate may be over in a few years, but the lasting effects will endure for many decades.
