Evaluation of The Reasons Supporting Prohibition of Abortion

Abortion has been a controversial issue for many years now. The topic has raised debate in various places such as elections, campaigns, and even religion gets involved. Abortion has two solid sides whose arguments are so legitimate that either side cannot help but to defend their side. However, there is a rapidly increasing grey area to the debate (Alcorn, 3). This area is filled with people that cannot make up their minds about which side is more right. Most people skip talking about this topic because the two sides are not only legitimate, but highly valid in the everyday community as well. This has been the focal point for the controversy surrounding abortion for many years. There have been many Supreme Court cases involving this issue of abortion (I am, 7). Yet, even the most powerful of government cannot decide which side has the right to become the official right argument and the winner of the debate. This issue is just simply too powerful to decide. Both sides fight for the extremist of sides that a compromise can happen, but will not happen because there will always be someone who doesn’t get what they want (Legal, 4). I believe abortion should be illegal because of the psychological ramifications as well as the sociological and harmful effects it has; however, I understand the counterarguments presented by the pro-choice side.

Abortion takes a heavy psychological toll on the women that go through with it. Women that subject themselves to abortion go through enough psychological torture to make their minds up for that decision (Kimport, 1). Many women, even after the abortion, show signs of ultimate regret and suffering (Kimport, 1). They, then realize that the abortion made them lose not just a child that they didn’t want, but they lost a part of themselves (Kimport, 1). This shocking realization is the reason why many women go through many horrific psychological stages in their life not to mention the feeling of guilt all their lives (Kimport, 1). One of the most common symptoms of a psychologically-unstable woman is post-traumatic stress disorder (Abortion, 6). Many women get forced into abortions and this makes up a lot of the stress that is buildup within the woman on top of her own feelings (Kimport, 1). If abortions are illegal, there would be no force to get one due to the fact that they are not available anymore. The fact that they not only witnessed a “murder” but they were the cause, reason, and part of that event leaves them mentally scarred for life (Abortion, 6). Post-abortion is a really tough time for women and they need all the support they can get (Kimport, 1).

However, sometimes it is not enough. A woman has certain defense mechanisms working due to the fact that such a significant thing has happened and she does not want to make the same mistake to where another significant event happens ever again. A dangerous symptom of post-traumatic stress is called “intrusion (Abortion, 6).” Intrusion is where the woman goes through the same experiences and same feelings (Abortion, 6). These can occur at any time and any place (Abortion, 6). It may not matter if the woman is over the abortion, the effects of intrusion can still occur (Abortion, 6). This includes random flashbacks of the reoccurring experiences, random nightmares, and even depressive states of mind on anniversaries of the abortion (Abortion, 6). Another big example of how psychology plays into the torture of women with post-abortion syndrome are the number of suicides attempted and, unfortunately, the number of suicides completed (Abortion, 6). This is another thing women do not just whenever they feel like the guilt and depression is too much for them, but also on the anniversary of the abortion (Abortion, 6). Some women go through a year of post-abortion hell and they just cannot take it anymore (Abortion, 6). They need a release from the agony of the fact that it was because of them that the poor, innocent child is not there by their side (Abortion, 6). Women have enslaved to their depression and guilt to the point where they cannot be repaired ever again and suicide seems like the only reasonable escape (Abortion, 6).

Teenagers, among all abortion patients, seem to be the most widespread victim to post-abortion suicide attempts (Abortion, 6). Many women throw themselves into negative health habits. Some women go on a limb with post-abortion smoking (Abortion, 6). They think that that relaxation gained by the nicotine streaming within their veins will give them the satisfaction they desire (Abortion, 6). They do not realize that the smoking is harming not just their bodies, but their cognitive minds as well. After a couple of cigarettes, they feel alive and they crave that same feeling all the time because they do not want to go back to the pit of despair (Abortion, 6). They are afraid that is they stop then the will be enveloped by the same shallow darkness of desolation that once caused them to commit suicide in the first place (Abortion, 6). They yearn for the same rush of the relaxation that they once had. That feeling make them feel so good to the point when they finally open their eyes to the truth, they realize that they have become smoking addicts and there’s no way to go back (Abortion, 6).

Another similar example of the abuse of harmful items is alcohol and drug addictions (Abortion, 6). Women drink themselves until they get into such a state where they cannot recall or even feel their emotions. The same goes with drugs. The use of drugs gets women into a euphoric as well as a certain hallucinogenic state to where they are not mentally in this world (Abortion, 6). Women use and abuse these items to run away from the guilt and depressive state (Abortion, 6). They claim that this makes them happy but in reality these things makes them forget about why they are sad. So their happiness is not genuine happiness, it’s a lack of sadness which turns into happiness (Abortion, 6).

Many women even start getting eating disorders (Abortion, 6). They throw themselves at food and a full stomach satisfies them to where they attain a lot of happiness. Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are common in many women who have experienced post-abortion stress (Abortion, 6). Abortions lead woman to believe that children have to be beaten senselessly. Child abuse can be linked to post-abortion stress as well as the remains of post-traumatic stress (Abortion, 6). Women take out their anger/guilt on their own child because if it wasn’t for the abortion she would have had things differently (Abortion, 6). Abortion has such a mental and psychological change of the woman that she becomes somewhat of a different woman than she was before the abortion (Abortion, 6).

Abortion causes woman to have certain cognitive changes such as not trusting males and lower self-esteem issues. These issues do not just go away (Abortion, 6). They stay with the woman until she has accepted them or until she has found a way to let the abortion go. Many women have these symptoms simply because they regret doing the abortion and they wish they could turn time back. However, they can’t. Whatever has happened is in the past and for that action, blame gets put on either the man pressuring her to get the abortions or on woman herself (Abortion, 6). Nonetheless, this causes major relationship problems and many divorces also (Abortion, 6). This can happen also by the male seeing the change in the woman and leaving her, which causes the woman for think that everybody in her life is leaving her (Abortion, 6). Forced with new abandonment issues, she is subject to any of the symptoms and disorders of post-abortion stress, including suicide (Abortion, 6). Substance abuse such as drugs and alcohol gives the woman the forgiveness they desperately need.

Abortions also psychologically lead woman to have multiple abortions within her lifetime (Abortion, 6). Women who have had an abortion are more likely have them at least one more time in their lifetime (Abortion, 6). Women think that it is very convenient so they have more sexual activity without being responsible about it. They see that they can abort the unwanted child and start the cycle all over again (Abortion, 6). Multiple abortions also happen because the women are still in the low self-esteem post-abortion state to where they cannot think properly (Abortion, 6). Other symptoms that woman have after the abortion are not being able to sleep, panic attacks, and anxiety issues (Kimport, 1). These things drive women crazy to the point where they cannot handle it. They try to replace it with things such as food, smoking, drugs, alcohol, and even more abortions but the guilt and regret does not go away (Abortion, 6). Finally, they chose to kill themselves to end their grief. Not all women are like this though. Many women are modern and strong enough to look past the abortion and move on with their lives (Kimport, 1). However, most women actually go through at least one of these things post-abortion. That is why abortions are bad and that is how abortions have a psychological toll on the women that get them (Abortion, 6). The best solution is to make abortion illegal. It is just psychologically too much to handle.

Abortion takes a big social hit to the women who do it. If the child is unwanted, then there is no need to have it aborted (Alcorn, 3). They can just give it in to an adoption home (Alcorn, 3). Over there, there are many people such as gay couples as well as couples who cannot have children who would not just be glad to have a child, but thankful to the person who gave it away in the first place (Alcorn, 3). No child is ever considered unwanted (Alcorn, 3). Even though society is accepting of the fact that abortion is available, some people are still judgmental of the woman that does the abortion (Alcorn, 3). The biggest question of the turn of the century is: How does society view abortion (Alcorn, 3)? When teenage girls get pregnant and get an abortion, society has such a negative reaction to it (Alcorn, 3). The girl is, then described as irresponsible and other profound, vulgar words in the dictionary (Kimport, 1). Even though majority of citizens like abortion as a good way out of the troubles of unwanted/ unneeded children, they deem people that get the abortions done immoral.

They see them as murderers. People, for this reason, hide the fact that they got an abortion (Alcorn, 3). When even considering an abortion, girls tend to not even consult that many people, whereas, they should (Alcorn, 3). They are so afraid that society will automatically assume that she got her baby aborted that she does not consult many people (Alcorn, 3). Society has done this before. Many times have women aborted their unwanted baby and the result is public humiliation on top of the ruining of their image. Nobody wants to talk to or even be affiliated with a social outcast not to mention one that “murders.” They view ladies that get abortions as a bad sense of character (Alcorn, 3). Women that get abortions are in need of social support, from their families, friends, etc. However, when those things are not available because of the judging implications of how society will react to her getting the abortion, the woman keeps in within her. She feels the need to either tell someone about it or to further suppress it in herself (Alcorn, 3). This is where the drugs, alcohol, and eating disorders come into the picture (Alcorn, 3). She views these things as people that stay with her no matter what, not for the harmful effects that have on her physical and mental state of mind.

Abortion is also very bad because of the harmful effects it has to the woman’s body (Legal, 4). Abortion clinics and many people say that it is a safe procedure, however statistics do not lie (Legal, 4). Women that have abortions are more likely to get breast cancer later on in their life than women that go through the full-term pregnancy (Alcorn, 3). Also abortions are not as easy as they may seem. Abortions that happen at abortion clinics are highly painful to the mother itself, not to mention what the defenseless unborn child has to go through (Legal, 4). There have been numerous cases of women that get abortions and suffer death (Legal, 4). Legal abortions are the cause of many deaths of women per year. Legal abortions can also cause future complications in the baby such as birth defects, not to mention future traumatic miscarriages (Legal, 4). Abortion has a toll on not just the mother, but future babies as well (Legal, 4).

For example, having a child with something as bad as a birth defect or a born disability is simply dreadful. Life is a gift but when a gift is not fully received, the child might not mind but the parent sure will (Birth, 5). The child probably feels like he/ she does not belong amongst these “normal people (Alcorn, 3).” From receiving special attention to getting special stares, these children arguably live the toughest life out of everyone amongst us (Birth, 5). They are viewed as liabilities by society and sometimes even mistakes, by their own parents (Alcorn, 3). “Sometimes things go wrong and a baby is born with important birth defects that will mar the child's life (Birth, 5).” When the child realizes what they are not able to do and how people in the outside world view them, some lose their will to live (Birth, 5). They wish that they were normal too. Do they not have the right to be normal? Everyone deserves a normal life (Birth, 5). Every child wants to live the American Dream someday; some unfortunate students cannot do that. Parents blame themselves for their children’s diagnosis and struggles. It would be in the child’s benefit to not even be born, than to live such a cruel life where true potential is limited by something not even in control of the child (Birth, 5). Abortion, many times, leaves these types of expectations for the upcoming children after the abortion. These children will be scarred for life just because their mother decided to not be responsible with her (Birth, 5). She getting an abortion and the next child being born with a terrifying birth defect depicts the mother to be nothing short of selfish. Abortion should be illegal for these reasons (Birth, 5). It is psychologically, socially, and futuristically harmful to the situation. Once it is done, it is done. The road ahead is no easy path both for the woman and the birth-defected child.

Keeping in mind the valid points that make abortion a bad idea in my eyes, I understand the counterarguments presented by the pro-choice side. Many people believe that abortion should be legal. If not for every reason, they should at least be legal for rape and incest cases (Pro-Choice, 2). Rape is neither the mother’s fault nor the child’s, so why should both suffer (Alcorn, 3)? By getting an abortion for the unwanted baby, the woman can start to relieve herself of the painful experience that she had to go through (Pro-Choice, 2). Having the baby around would constantly remind her everyday of that day that she was raped and the baby was conceived (Pro-Choice, 2). In her head, she would probably start to have thoughts such as “what if I aborted the baby?” or “how would my life be if the rape never happened?” There are too many emotional, physical, and mental tolls on the women who do not want the baby (Pro-Choice, 2). They would then blame the child for the rest of his/her miserable life (Pro-Choice, 2). I also understand the argument that abortions should be legal for the women who cannot financially provide for the child. Having a child live in severe poverty is no way for the child to live (I am, 7). If the mother is already having a financial problem or if she knows for a fact that she will not be able to provide for the child, then the unborn baby should be rightfully aborted.

Also abortion is an issue of woman’s rights (I am, 7). If the woman does not want the child for whatever reason, we are nobody to force her to have the baby. Even in that scenario, the child would be looked at as the biggest mistake the mother has ever made for the rest of his/her miserable life. If the woman sees that she either cannot afford to or simply does not desire to have the baby, then it is her body (Alcorn, 3). Therefore, nobody should be able to stop her from having her will (Alcorn, 3). They should not have to take care of a baby they do not want to have (Pro-Choice, 2). Stereotyped as emotional, women have the ability to choose for themselves (Alcorn, 3). If they wish to have an abortion, then they must have thought it through first (I am, 7). Another point to this is that if abortions were illegal, then everyone would go back to the old, dangerous methods of illegal abortions such as “clothes hangers” and “back-alley” abortions (I am, 7). If we make woman have their unwanted babies, then they will chose to dispose of them later, contributing to infant fatalities (I am, 7). All the stories on the news about a woman putting her baby in an oven, waiting for him/her to explode and die in one of the worst possible fashions will become true (I am, 7). They will become more prominent too as women’s’ egos shall go against themselves. I understand the valid points of legalizing abortion; they have many reasonable arguments that they can make and I understand their position.

I believe abortion should be illegal because of the psychological ramifications as well as the sociological and harmful effects it has; however, I understand the counterarguments presented by the pro-choice side. It takes such a psychologically-heavy hit on the women that have to go through everything that it messes up their lives forever, without them realizing it (Abortion, 6). Society nowadays is in more favor of abortion than ever. However, people are also more judgmental and a sometimes even close-minded about it (Kimport, 1). The fact that abortion does so much physical harm to the woman’s body makes it clear how helpful abortion really is. Abortion is not helpful at all to the woman getting it because it can lead her to have unplanned miscarriages and could even scar the future child for life with a horrendous birth defect. Even though I understand the opposing side of the argument, I feel compelled to take the side of anti-abortion and pro-life. I have a personal experience of someone close to me that came across the same situation of either to have an abortion or to keep the child. To this day, she is still thankful that she did not go through with that dreaded abortion. She kept the child and she has never regretted that decision.