Abortion Debate: Pro Life Versus Pro Choice

Introduction

Over the years, abortion has become a major controversy in the United States. Pro-life individuals strongly believe that abortion should be made illegal because every life should be given a chance. This topic has risen to the presidential debate as well, and it has become apparent that men often have a say in what women should do regarding pregnancies. There are circumstances when a woman may not choose to keep the baby.

Abortion Debate: Pro-Life Versus Pro-Choice

When it comes to abortion, it is a very polarizing issue that has been the cause of division among people. The definition of abortion is the decision made by a woman to end her pregnancy. Abortion is a sensitive topic that has sparked many debates. Conservatives take the more moral and religious side of the argument, stating that abortion is wrong as it is against the religious concept of fate, and interception in the path of fate is against God's plan. They also argue that abortion is equivalent to taking a life, which they view as clearly wrong. Liberals, on the other hand, argue that women should have the right to choose whether to keep a child or not.

In 1973, a decision by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade banned a state law that denied women the right to abortion, declaring it unconstitutional (Roe v. Wade, 1973). I believe that the Roe v. Wade decision should not be overturned. This decision was a step in the right direction for women's rights, as it gave them the right to choose. Abortion should remain legal for women who choose to proceed with it. It is her body, and she has the right to make her own choices. Politicians and other men have nothing to do with her body and should not decide what is best for her. They do not know the circumstances she is dealing with at home or with her body.

Ethical Considerations

A pro-choice individual may believe that abortion in the first trimester is justifiable because it is still a fetus and not yet a human, but during the second and third trimesters, it is already human. In the Opposing Viewpoints series: Abortion by Nol Merino, she describes a woman’s choice to abort, stating, "Her life and what is right for her circumstances and her health should automatically trump the rights of the non-autonomous entity inside of her. Always" (Merino, 2013, p. 28). This stands true for the sake of her life and, in some cases, the baby's life as well. She may not be financially stable to keep the baby. If the baby lives, will he or she be in a loving family, or will they have a rough childhood because they weren’t loved?

Health and Safety Concerns

One may ask how abortion can save lives, and the answer is that the mother may be at risk of getting sick or making the child very ill, endangering the life of the child. In this situation, the mother should have the option to abort because abnormalities with the baby can occur. If this law gets overturned by the Supreme Court, then the U.S. may face many more consequences, including increased mortality. Before Roe v. Wade, abortions were illegal, and many women had to turn to unprofessional doctors located in back alleys. If this decision gets overturned, there will be many women who will seek out illegal abortions similar to the year 1965, and many of them will lead to two deaths instead of one, including the mother. Illegal abortions may also be unsanitary because they do not involve professional health care. In cases like this, the mother may also encounter other dangers that can have long-term effects on her life.

Contraception and Responsibility

The same argument can also be made against using birth control pills. If birth control prevents you from having children, then women should have the right to decide whether or not they want to have the baby. If pro-life individuals are deeply concerned with abortion, then why are the states with the strictest laws not taking action to protect the women during or after birth? Pro-life individuals only care to know that babies are not being murdered. They don’t consider the child’s life after birth, which makes it unfair for the child because he or she may live a tough childhood with parents who weren’t ready to have a child. One may indicate that adoption could be the best option, but it is not fair to the mother to proceed with a forced pregnancy. Many anti-abortion arguments fail to address the actual responsibility that partners should take to prevent having a baby.

If contraception fails to prevent pregnancy, does that make the two partners irresponsible? Adults realize the consequences that come with contraceptive methods, but if they attempted to use it correctly, then it wasn’t their mistake as a result of pregnancy. Using contraceptive methods proves that the adult is indeed responsible and should not be liable for proceeding with an unintended pregnancy. For unprepared women to care for an unwanted child, they should have the decision to abort the fetus. The decision to keep the baby should not be left to someone else who does not understand the woman’s situation.

Conclusion

With all discussed, a woman’s choice should be made based on the circumstances she faces in life and whether she can financially care for the child. Regarding pro-life supporters, no one should decide for a woman, and government interference with a woman’s choice is unconstitutional against her right to privacy. Abortion should stay legal, and the Roe v. Wade decision should not be overturned, as many problems will occur, and back-alley abortions may repeat if abortions are made illegal. A woman’s decision should be discussed with herself and her doctor. Women are being treated unconstitutionally based on their right to privacy, and their privacy is their body.

References:
- Merino, N. (2013). Abortion. Opposing Viewpoints Series. Greenhaven Press.
- Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973).