We should keep abortion legalized.
“No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body.” — Margaret Sanger.
There are numerous topics that our judicial system is debating in today’s society, but one that never seems to go away is legalizing abortions. Abortion is defined as the termination of a pregnancy through the removal of the fetus from the womb, resulting in its death. The dispute regarding its legality as a practice continues to this day, encompassing arguments spanning from practical, moral, medical, and religious perspectives. The dispute over the legality of abortion has two primary sides: the pro-choice camp, which thinks that abortion is legal, and the pro-life camp, which supports the unborn’s right to life and strives to show the invalidity of abortion option. It is a tough subject, however after considering may factors such as: the risk of maternal harm and death caused by unsafe, illegal abortions, the opinion that abortion is not murder, unplanned pregnancies, the right of women to their bodies and health, it is justifiable to say that abortion should be legalized.
Abortion should be regarded legal because prohibiting it does not prevent abortions. They become even more harmful as a result. It simply encourages the practice of illegal abortions. Making abortion legal allows the woman to talk about it openly before making the decision without fear of repercussions. Making abortion illegal fosters dangerous and inhumane procedures. According to Daniel R. Mishell, Jr., MD, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, prior to the legalization of abortion, women would frequently try to cause abortions using coat hangers, knitting needles, or radiator flush, or by visiting dangerous “back-alley” abortionists.[1] In 1972, 39 women died as a result of unlawful abortions. This number had plummeted to two by 1976, after Roe v. Wade had made abortion legal throughout the United States. [2] According to the World Health Organization, unsafe abortions result in 68,000 maternal fatalities globally each year, with the majority of these occurring in underdeveloped countries where safe and legal abortion options are scarce.[3] In turn of modern abortion, it is considered to have no risk. Due to the legalization of abortion, major medical issues that could have resulted from childbirth have been avoided. The chance of a woman dying through abortion in developed countries is less than one in 100,000, whereas the risk of dying from giving birth is 13.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. [4]
Moreover, for many years, the legal and scientific status of the fetus has been a point of contention, with no clear consensus in sight. However, it is important to highlight that the majority of abortions occur during the first trimester of pregnancy, when the fetus is still developing. In fact, most abortions take place before the fetus reaches ten weeks of pregnancy. The fetus is still quite little at this time and does not have all of the traits of a human person. As a result, comparing abortion with murder or the taking of a life is false. While some people believe that aborting a fetus is ethically equal to murdering a person, scientific data contradicts this. That being said, there will always be differences of opinion. Having said that, there will always be disagreements about when life begins, but it is reasonable to say that abortion is not an act of murder. [5]
Another reason to support abortion legalization is that it can be a viable option for certain types of unwanted pregnancies. The majority of young women who have had abortions said that the last time they had unprotected intercourse, they did not utilize contraception. Contraceptives may not be utilized for a variety of reasons, including expense, lack of access, and religious or moral objections to their usage. The most prevalent reason given by teenage girls who have had abortions is that they neglected to use contraception or that their method failed. These lapses can occur for a variety of reasons, including forgetting to take a pill or using a condom that has broken. [4] Thousands of people perish each year as a result of unintended pregnancies. For women who are faced with unintended or undesired pregnancies, abortion can be a helpful alternative. Abortion can also protect the mental and physical wellbeing of women who are not ready to become mothers. Women who are experiencing financial trouble or are victims of domestic violence, for example, may be unable to appropriately care for their children. Abortion can bring much-needed relief in these situations, allowing women to focus on self-care. The study, conducted by experts from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the American Psychological Association (APA), compared the mental health of women who were denied abortions versus women who were able to have one. Women who were denied abortions expressed more negative feelings, such as regret and anger, and less good emotions, such as relief and happiness, according to the study. Women who were able to have abortions, on the other hand, reported better mental health results. For these reasons, abortion should be legalized. Furthermore, in some serious circumstances such as pregnancy due to rape or incest, forcing a woman made pregnant by this violent act would cause further psychological harm to the victim. [6] Abortion can help a woman regain control over her body and life in these situations. It can also assist avoid the birth of a child who will most likely grow up in a difficult and frequently abused environment.
Last but not least, women should have the right to decide what to do with their bodies, health and life. “Every person has an inherent and undeniable right over their own bodies, and as such, it is their choice to do with it as they please. This notion forms the backbone for every argument relating to a person’s rights, such as the right to life and liberty, or the right to freedom of speech and expression. While we all have this inalienable right of choice, we also have to be responsible for the consequences of those choices. From a logical standpoint, however, whether a person is responsible or irresponsible for their actions doesn’t change the fact that they have the freedom to choose and act to begin with”.[5] A woman’s right to an abortion is unalienable. Every woman should be able to have a fulfilling life based on her personal preferences. Women should be able to do whatever they want with their bodies if they so desire. The decision to have an abortion should be left up to the woman. The government should not interfere with a woman’s freedom to choose through legislation. Her autonomy and privacy would be violated if she did so. Additionally, abortion also prevents challenges of parenting alone, single mothers also face greater financial insecurity and a lack of social support.[4] This can lead to desperation and even homelessness in some circumstances. Abortion should be authorized for these women to save further agony.
Abortion has never been an easy experience; it can be a tough decision to make and a stressful process. There are numerous compelling reasons for someone to have an abortion. Some women may feel unprepared to become parents, while others, due to circumstances, may not have so many choices to make. Whatever the reason, completely enforcing anti-abortion laws is impossible, therefore abortion should be legalized in order to reduce the risks occurred during such process. Ultimately, patients should talk to doctors or qualified experts in order to make the best decisions.
Sources
[1] Morrison, Patt. “The Coat Hanger, Symbol of Dangerous, Pre-Roe Abortions, Is Back.” Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2014, www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-the-coat-hanger-symbol-of-dangerous-preroe-abortions-is-back-20140324-story.html.
[2] Cates, Willard, Jr, et al. “The Public Health Impact of Legal Abortion: 30 Years Later.” Guttmacher Institute, 19 June 2018, www.guttmacher.org/journals/psrh/2003/01/public-health-impact-legal-abortion-30-years-later.
[3] Ahman, Shah. “Unsafe Abortion: Global and Regional Estimates of the Incidence of Unsafe Abortion and Associated Mortality.” World Health Organization, 2000.
[4] T, Adam, et al. “Why Abortion Should Be Legal (Free Essay Sample).” Essay Zoo, 13 Apr. 2022, essayzoo.org/blog/why-abortion-should-be-legal-essay.
[5] Jones, Clarissa. “Top 10 Reasons Abortion Should Be Legal.” List Land, 27 Aug. 2019, www.listland.com/top-10-arguments-in-support-of-abortion.
[6] “Sexual Violence: Prevalence, Dynamics and Consequences.” World Health Organizaion, 2018.
