Women’s Rights to Abortion

The dictionary defines abortion as: The termination of pregnancy and expulsion of an embryo or of a fetus that is incapable of survival. This simply means, inducing birth to kill the fetus or baby before it is carried to full term. The most popular procedure involved in abortions is the vacuum aspiration which is done during the first trimester (three months or less since the women has become pregnant). A tube is simply inserted through the cervix and the contents of the uterus are vacuumed out. The most commonly used type of second trimester abortion is called dilation and evacuation.

Since the fetus has bones, bulk and can move, second trimester is not as simple. When as much of the fetus and placenta are vacuumed out then tweezers are used to remove larger parts. The controversy of abortion has become one of the most divisive an irrationally controversial issues of our times turned into a legal and political power struggle with no permanent resolution in sight . I am pro-choice! For years it has been said that abortion should not be legal . Today it is a big issue , many people feel aborting an unwanted child should be against the law , As I see it a woman’s body is her own to do whatever she wants .

Approximately one to three million abortions are done each year. Women get abortions for many reason; such as rape , teen pregnancy and health reasons . Rape is one of the many reasons that cause woman to choose to end their pregnancies. Many of them feel guilty about ending a life, but they know deep down how badly they would treat the child , they hate their rapist, so in turn would hate the child. Pro-life activists say that abortion is murder and is in defiance of God. Would God want a Mother to hate her child or do her child harm? They would also question whether this child would be like it’s father (a rapist ).

Young woman between 15 and 18 account for atleast 5 million abortions every year . One of every 5 pregnancies happen to teenage girls, in these situations some teenagers no they are not able to take care of these children for they are not mature enough for this awesome responsibility . In many cases the child would have no one to rely on but a single mother with no schooling and maybe a non-supportive family . The child would have a miserable upbringing left vulnerable also a baby born to a teenage mother is at a risk of suffering more health issues than a baby born to an older mom. Teenage mothers are more likely to get addicted to drinking, smoking and drugs due to the post pregnancy stress. Teen mothers also gain very less weight during pregnancy and are also at a higher risk for premature birth, which can also affect in low birth weight of the baby. Babies who are born with a low birth weight suffer from serious health problems like underdeveloped organs, infant mortality, stomach complications, loss of vision in one or both eyes, respiratory complications and other lung problems. Most babies of teenage moms are likely to die early than babies of women in their twenties and thirties.

Teenage parents often face some huge economic hardships. Teen mothers are forced to give up education and drop out of school, less than 20% of teenage mothers earn a high school diploma. It’s very difficult for a teenage mother and father to support themselves and their baby. As their education is cut short, it’s very difficult for teenage parents to find a decent job. With education cut short, they are left with very little employment opportunities and they face a lot of hardship in building a secured future for themselves and their kid. Over 85% of teen parents rely on welfare for financial support at some point in their lives. With the little income of both parents, it’s very difficult to provide the baby with the required nutrition and care. After taking into consideration all of the hardships that will be faced abortion becomes a reality, and the teen mom realizes that pregnancy is not just about life in the womb, life comes with the responsibility of providing the child all the rights and comforts that they are entitle to. Another reason women seek abortion is Incest, why should a woman bring a child in the world that was conceive with a family member usually against her will.

In Bioethicist Andrew Varga’s article it is argued that in this tragic case the great value of the mental health of a woman who becomes pregnant as a result of incest can best be safe-guarded by abortion. It is also said that a pregnancy caused by incest is the result of a grave injustice and that the victim should not be obliged to carry the fetus to viability. This would keep reminding her for nine months of the act committed against her and would just increase her mental anguish. It is reasoned that the value of the woman’s mental health is greater than the value of the fetus.

In addition, it is maintained that the fetus is an aggressor against the woman’s integrity and personal life; it is only just and morally defensible to repel an aggressor even by killing him if that is the only way to defend personal and human values. It is concluded, then, that abortion is justified in this case. Another reason women seek abortions is Incest, why should a woman bring a child in the world that was conceive with a family member. It is argued that in this tragic case the great value of the mental health of a woman who becomes pregnant as a result of incest can best be safe-guarded by abortion.

It is also said that a pregnancy caused by incest is the result of a grave injustice and that the victim should not be obliged to carry the fetus to viability. This would keep reminding her for nine months of the act committed against her and would just increase her mental anguish. It is reasoned that the value of the woman’s mental health is greater than the value of the fetus. In addition, it is maintained that the fetus is an aggressor against the woman’s integrity and personal life; it is only just and morally defensible to repel an aggressor even by killing him if that is the only way to defend personal and human values.

It is concluded, then, that abortion is justified in this case. Pro- life activist have bomb abortion clinics, On January 29, 1998 a nail-studded bomb killed a guard and seriously injured a nurse at an abortion clinic in Birmingham, Alabama. October 23, 1998: Dr. Barnett Slepian was shot to death at his home in Amherst, New York. His was the last in a series of similar shootings against providers in Canada and northern New York state which were all likely committed by James Kopp. Kopp was convicted of Dr. Slepian’s murder after finally being apprehended in France in 2001. May 31, 2009: Dr. George Tiller was shot and killed by Scott Roeder as Tiller served as an usher at church in Wichita, Kansas. Is taking a life of a full functioning human being worth spending life in prison for an unborn fetus. In conclusion for any pregnant woman making a decision to abort her unborn child is painful and ruthless, but under certain situations a woman should be able to terminate her pregnancy by abortion.