Legalized Abortion
Why is legalized abortion such a controversial issue? Is
it a human at conception or not until the fetus is fully developed? Is taking
away abortion also taking away a woman’s right to her body and choice? These
are just some of the common strongly debated questions asked since the
legalization of abortion on January 22, 1973. Since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, abortion has become a much
divided opinion for everyone. Forty-three years later, eight Supreme Court
justices are hearing arguments in Whole
Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, the Texas abortion case that will determine
the fate of reproductive rights in America.
Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, and Feminist
View
One of the biggest reasons abortion has come into
question on its legalization, is because of the very large, active opposing or
supporting movements arguing their views on the topic. The Pro-Life movement
within the United States was created to protest abortion legalization. This is
a social and political anti-abortion movement that has brought rise to a
different understanding of abortion. Their stance is that abortion is killing
of an innocent human who does not have the ability to make a choice in the matter
(Githens, McBride-Stetson, 7). “Because the pro-life movement grounded its
arguments in the language of human value and constitutional rights, it was able
to attract a politically and religiously diverse coalition that actually gained
strength over time,” (Williams).
Feminist
viewpoint has also had similar opinions on the issue of abortion. Feminism is a
philosophy that embraces basic rights for all humans without exception
(Foster). Early American feminist, Susan B. Anthony argued, “Perhaps there will
come a day when...an unmarried mother will not be despised because of her
motherhood...and when the right of the unborn to be born will not be denied or
interfered with” (Foster). Despise the few rights early American woman had
during this time, feminists in the 1800s still believed in the worth of all
human lives. What early feminists called a horrible crime, the second wave of
feminists prior to the 1970’s saw differently. The second feminist movement
began to embrace abortion as the most fundamental right of a woman (Foster). Roe v. Wade pro-abortion attorney, Sarah
Weddington, argued the discrimination and other injustices women had to face
while being pregnant and going to school or being poor. She did not state that
these injustices be improved, but instead, “Demanded for women the “right” to
submit to these injustices by destroying their pregnancies…that women need
“relief” from pregnancy, instead of arguing that women need relief from these
injustices” (Foster). This argument alone changed many women’s opposition
solely in the relation to discriminating. The outcome of the court case is also
where a large amount of women turn to pro-choice (Githens, McBride-Stetson,
10).
The
pro-choice movement is a sociopolitical movement supporting women’s legal right
to an elective abortion or to their body choices (Githens, McBride-Stetson, 11).
Unlike the pro-life movement, the pro-choice movement supports abortion to the
extent that it is the woman’s right to her body choices. This also is implying
how pro-choice does not believe that it is a killing of another human being.
Pro-life defines the fetus as a living human being at the start of conception
(Williams). These opposite understandings of pregnancy is one on of the most
important reasons as to why abortion is such a controversial and continually
rising issue in the United States.
Policies and Medical Views
There are many state and federal policies for abortion
within the United States. NAF State Policy Department works to ensure that
voices of the patients and providers are heard at a state level (Education and
Advocacy). “More than 500 bills limiting women’s access to abortion are filed
in state legislatures every year, and more than 350 anti-choice bills have
become law in the past decade,” (Education and Advocacy). This has become
another issue on how abortion is being attacked in the U.S. In the last three
years, more than 200 anti-abortion laws were enacted at the state level
(Githlens, McBride-Setson, 20). Many of these laws are called Targeted Regulations
of Abortion Providers, or TRAP laws (Education and Advocacy). The National
Abortion Federation State Policy Department continues to fight to stop
anti-choice legislators from trying to pass these “unconstitutional” and to
bring help more access for abortion to all women.
While
State laws are only legal within each state, federal policies are being made to
further defend and expand women’s access to providers through government
relations. “Introduced in November of last year by pro-choice champions in the
House and Senate, the Women’s Health Protection act would create Federal
protections against TRAP laws and other anti-abortion laws,” (Education and
Advocacy).
Medically,
both the fetus and the newborn certainly are human beings and potential
persons, but neither is a ‘person’ in the sense of ‘subject of a moral right to
life’ (Minerva). They are potential persons in a sense that they can develop
those properties to make them ‘persons’, or at which they will be able to
appreciate their own life. “The alleged right of individuals (such as fetuses
and newborns) to develop their potentiality….is over-ridden by the interests of
actual people (parents, family, society) to pursue their own well-being…merely
potential people cannot be harmed by not being brought into existence”
(Minerva). Many medical professionals have recognized the need for guidelines
in hopeless prognosis cases where abortion is the best interest instead of a
newborn experiencing unbearable suffering (Githens, McBride-Stetson, 26).
Effects
of Abortion v. Miscarriage
There are many side effects that can
come with having an abortion. It is also different for every patient and can
become long-term or severe. The possibility that abortion can lead to mental
consequences has been widely investigated in the last few years (Bellieni,
Buonocore). Depression, anxiety disorders (e.g. post-traumatic stress disorder),
and substance abuse disorders are among the most common studied outcome. “The
same concerns apply also to miscarriage...therefore psychological support has
been advocated for women who experience a fetal loss, either induced or
involuntary” (Bellieni, Buonocore). More studies have shown that in comparing
abortion and miscarriage effects, higher risk of suicide ideation, depression,
substance abuse, anxiety, and risk of subsequently low self-esteem are from
patients who have gotten an abortion. A big difference in effects is abortion
seems to have more long-term effects while miscarriage has more short-term
(Bellieni, Buonocore). Although these
studies have shown a variety of effects, almost ninety-five percent of women
who have gotten an abortion say that it was the right decision and they do not
regret it (Githens, McBride-Stetson, 31).
Conclusion
Abortion
has become a very controversial issue since its legalization. While there are
many opinions, whether religious, medical, or political, there seems to be no
‘correct’ answer to if it is morally right. A woman who chooses to have an
abortion does so for many different reasons based on her individual
circumstance. One in three women will have an abortion by age forty-five
because of the safest medical procedure provided in the United States. Although
abortion is being strongly fought against continuously, it still remains legal
and accessible in the U.S. for all women today.
References
Bellieni, C. V., MD,
& Buonocore, G., Md, PhD. (2013, July 16). Abortion and
Subsequent
Mental Health: Review of the Literature.
Retrieved March 09, 2016, from
Education & Advocacy
– National Abortion Federation.
(1996, September). Retrieved March
Foster, S. M. (2015,
January 07). The Feminist Case Against Abortion. Retrieved March 09,
Githens, Marianne, and
Dorothy McBride-Stetson. "Abortion Politics." Public Policy in Cross-Cultural Perspective. (2010): 1-31. Web.
Retrieved 09 Mar. 2016.
Minerva, F., Dr. (2012,
February 23). After-birth abortion: Why
should the baby live? Retrieved
Williams, D. K. (2016,
January 4). What You Don't Know About the Abortion Fight Before Roe
