The Arguments of The Pro-choice Faction in The Abortion Debate

Abortion is, according to Webster’s dictionary, the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy. The debate on whether or not abortion should be allowed has been very popular for many years. There are many people who consider themselves ‘pro choice,’ which includes those that believe in a woman’s right to choose abortion. Others fall within the ‘pro life’ group, which are against abortion. Both groups hold rallies to increase awareness. A woman ultimately deserves the ability to decide whether or not she wants to birth a child or terminate the pregnancy.

While it is true that if one is ready to have sex, they should be ready for the responsibilities that come with it; however, there are many circumstances resulting in a pregnancy that are reasonable to have an abortion. If a woman does not feel as if she is capable of being a good mother and does not want to bring a child into this world, she should not be forced to. A woman may have been raped and does not want to bring that child into the world for personal reason. A mother may be the only breadwinner in a family and needs to work every hour she can, and does not want to ruin her future by taking the time off a pregnancy requires. The family may not have the financial status to support the pregnancy. The mother, or family, may also have diseases or addictions they do not want to pass on to that child. It is not fair to bring an unwanted child in the world and make that child live with the fact that their parents did not want them. The National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws agrees that childbirth and pregnancy substantially affect a woman’s educational prospects, employment opportunities, and self-determination, restrictive abortion laws narrowly circumscribed women’s role in society and hindered women from charting their paths through life in the most basic of ways.

One may argue that abortion is murder, but this depends on when one considers a fetus to be a person. Unfortunately, currently there is no agreement in medicine, philosophy, or theology as to when a fetus is considered to be a human. According to the United States government, in some states, such as South Carolina, if a pregnant woman is murdered and the baby in the womb is killed it is considered a double homicide. However, the Supreme Court would not allow abortions to occur legally if it was considered murder. Abortion is considered the termination of a pregnancy, not of a human life. Personhood, according to pro-choice action network, at conception is a religious belief, not a provable biological fact. Technically, when having an abortion one is not ending the life of anyone. According to Suzanne Staggenborg, the Supreme Court has deemed abortion to be a fundamental right under the constitution.

Abortions can occur anywhere from the first week through nineteen weeks of gestation. There are two main different forms of abortion, which include medical and surgical. Surgical abortion is the most common type of abortion procedure. It involves using a suction device to remove the contents of a pregnant woman's uterus. A woman can have a surgical abortion up until twenty-two weeks pregnant. The second most common abortion procedure is a medical abortion (also known as an "abortion pill"). This involves taking medications, usually mifepristone and misoprostol, within the first nine weeks of pregnancy to induce an abortion. A woman can have a medical abortion up until the ninth week of pregnancy. No matter the method or the reason, having an abortion may be ‘morally wrong’ to some, but so is making a woman have a child against her will.

The National Abortion Federation states that, “women deserve the autonomy and dignity to act in accordance with their personal convictions, and to decide what is best for their own lives and families. Women should be trusted and respected to exercise the choices about their bodies and lives that are best for them, and not be forced by the government into personal reproductive decisions that are against their will." Ultimately what a woman wants to do with her body is up to her. Neither society nor the government can make a woman have a child if she does not want to. No matter what the circumstances are it is the woman’s choice as to if she carry on her pregnancy.