In light of the policies adopted recently in several American states, the issue of abortion has become particularly crucial to discuss. The subject matter is typically framed as the argument either in favor of a woman’s choice or a fetus’s life, which appears to be a fundamental misconception of what the pro-life solution entails. Since the decision to opt for an abortion typically suggests an unwanted pregnancy, insisting on continuing it suggests not only blatant neglect of a woman’s right to bodily autonomy but also the invalidation of a child’s right to be born into a family where it is wanted.
By forcing a woman to give birth to an unwanted child, one creates the environment in which the infant that is born is unwanted and unneeded, thus building the foundation of an unhappy family and, possibly, a neglected child. Indeed, without the emotional connection based on love and positive feelings, the relationships between a woman and her child, to which she was forced to give birth, are bound to become rapidly deteriorating. In a certain way, the argument of prohibiting abortion, when implemented, is likely to lead to a rise in child neglect and, possibly, even child abuse (Singer, 2019). Therefore, to prevent a rise in the specified statistics, allowing abortion as the means of terminating an unwanted pregnancy must be seen as a way of preventing the scenarios in which unhealthy and unhappy relationships, as well as scenarios for neglect, are developed.
In addition, considering the issue from the perspective of child protection, one will have to admit that being supported and raised by a loving parent is not only a right but also a necessity that defines successful development and prevents instances of serious health issues, particularly, mental health concerns. Studies indicate that children born into families where they were initially unwanted are particularly prone to mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and related mental health complications. Needless to say, the emotional development of children in the specified families is aggravated by the lack of reciprocity from their parents (Rocca et al., 2019). Therefore, insisting that a woman should continue the unwanted pregnancy to give birth to a child with whom she is unlikely to have any emotional connection will ultimately lead to detrimental effects for both.
Specifically, it is crucial to provide women with a legal and safe opportunity for performing an abortion. Studies show that, despite the attempts at banning abortions, the specified measures do not lead to a drop in abortion rates; instead, they entail a rapid and uncontrollable increase in illegal terminations of pregnancies (Damota, 2019). In turn, the specified procedures, when performed in an illegal setting, suggests that the conditions in which the procedure is carried out are most likely to lack the required quality level.
Arguably, giving a child away for adoption could be the solution that a pregnant woman could choose as opposed to abortion. Considering the ethical implications of the proposed choice, the described solution might seem satisfactory for all criteria concerning the ethical aspects and the health-related outcomes of the child and the mother (Harris et al., 2018). Therefore, from the perspective of certain ethical standards, the application of the pro[posed compromise could be seen as a solution for the problem at hand.
However, the described solution is not always available as a possibility for pregnant women. In addition, even with the opportunity to give a child up for adoption, a woman still must experience pregnancy and the further process of birth, which will inevitably be quite traumatic (Singer, 2019). Moreover, while satisfying one of the issues, namely, the needs of a child, the proposed solution neglects the other half of the conflict, which is the bodily autonomy of a woman. Apart from the absence of healthcare assistance at an appropriate level, the specified environment is likely to be unsanitary, which will cause further complications and even the threat of a fatal outcome for a woman (Rocca et al., 2019). Therefore, the ban on abortions suggests an increase in the deaths of women using illegal abortion services, as well as a rise in the number of health complications caused by the specified services.
Therefore, abortion as a means of terminating pregnancy must be seen as an essential right of a woman. Unless specific medical conditions that do not allow for the specified option to be selected are observed, abortion must remain an option that a woman can choose when making a decision concerning her pregnancy. Any other solution that could potentially block a woman’s ability to select the specified option will inevitably suggest compromising the bodily integrity and autonomy of a woman. Since a pregnancy implies facing a range of complex problems that are unique to the female body, it is crucial to provide women with a choice of whether to endure specified challenges or to terminate the pregnancy. Thus, abortion must be viewed as a fundamental women’s right.
References
Damota, M. D. (2019). Prevalence and Associated Psychological Effects of Induced Unsafe Abortion. Journal of Health Sciences, 1(1), 103-108.
Harris, L. F., Halpern, J., Prata, N., Chavkin, W., & Gerdts, C. (2018). Conscientious objection to abortion provision: why context matters. Global Public Health, 13(5), 556-566.
Rocca, C. H., Wilson, M. R., Jeon, M., & Foster, D. G. (2019). Stability of retrospective pregnancy intention reporting among women with unwanted pregnancies in the United States. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 23(11), 1547-1555.
Singer, E. O. (2019). Realizing abortion rights at the margins of legality in Mexico. Medical Anthropology, 38(2), 167-181.