Introduction
The controversy over abortion rights has existed for a very long time. People are divided into two movements: the conservative, which opposes abortion, and the liberal, which believes that a pregnant woman, not society, should decide to give birth or not to give birth. The latter seems preferable; however, despite personal convictions, it is worth considering both ideologies. With reasoned differing positions, the pro-choice and pro-life movements have been fighting for many years, and it is imperative to find a solution to mitigate this struggle.
Causes Pro-Choice Movement Stands for Abortion
While the pro-choice movement provides ample evidence for abortion, its success would not have been as significant without one occasion. In the course of the case Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court sentenced that for the first three months a woman has the right to decide whether to maintain or terminate her pregnancy (Barbour, 2019). This case made abortion affordable and accessible for many women and made pregnant people self-sufficient (Shane, 2021). The abortion law reflects the observance of human rights and freedoms, allowing pregnant women to make their own decisions.
The main issue is an unwanted pregnancy, which can occur both in the case of negligence or a defect of the contraceptive and in a violent sexual act (for example, rape or incest). Above all, the right to abortion allows the pregnant woman to control her own body. Frequently a woman’s unavailability to support and raise a child accompanies an unplanned pregnancy. As a result, an unwanted child who is born may not receive sufficient providing and quality of life, be abandoned, as well as experience physical or mental abuse leading to psychological traumas. In the occurrence of assault, a person receives a severe post-traumatic disorder, and if pregnancy is the consequence, she seeks to have an abortion in most cases. Any violence is formidable stress, and having a child as a result of a violation will be more traumatic for a woman.
Pro-abortionists believe that the fetus does not experience pain and cannot be considered a formed creation until a specific term. Consequently, abortion cannot be considered murder but a fact of termination of pregnancy. Moreover, modern research methods make it possible to notice abnormalities in the embryo’s development in the early terms, and abortion allows avoiding the birth of an unhealthy child. In addition, legal pregnancy termination prevents unsafe abortions in artisanal conditions (fraught with complications up to death). Referring to Cauterucci (2020), most Americans support the right to abortion, and there is a tendency to form a common view on such a controversial topic. The pro-choice movement advocates for a pregnant woman’s right to make an independent decision to give birth or have an abortion according to her life circumstances.
Anti-Abortion Ideology
On the other hand, the pro-life movement opposes abortion rights, supporting their statements with reasons not to terminate a pregnancy, whatever the occasion. The anti-abortion program is supported mainly by a conservative and religious society, whose goal is that “abortion and birth control should be outlawed” (Barbour, 2019, p. 43). Their ideology is based on the firm belief that any life begins with conception, and termination of pregnancy is nothing more than murder.
Pro-life statements are based on criticism of abortion and all the shortcomings of this procedure from religious, medical, psychological, and social points of view. First of all, anti-abortionists rely on religious beliefs and moral values that prohibit depriving any creature of the right to life (Abernathy, 2021). By viewing the fetus as an empowered creature, they protect its freedoms and the chance of birth and life. In addition, pro-lifers argue that abortion causes psychological harm to a woman, and may cause depression or other mental disorders (ProCon.org, 2019). Abortion is often presented as a dangerous medical procedure with serious health complications (Shane, 2021). Anti-abortionists believe that termination of pregnancy due to abnormalities in the embryo’s development is a manifestation of discrimination. As an alternative to abortion, they propose giving birth and allowing the adoption of the unwanted baby to people who cannot have their children. The pro-life movement is opposed to abortion, guided by conservative and religious beliefs, trying to preserve every life that God has created.
Probable Solution
The right to abortion has been a hot and debated issue for many years, but no concrete solutions have been found. Abortion is a consequence of unwanted pregnancy, and unwanted pregnancy in most cases is a consequence of the absence or misuse of contraception. Based on this causal relationship, it can be concluded that affordable and effective contraception will indirectly reduce the number of women who want to terminate their pregnancies (Guyot & Sawhill, 2019). To minimize the number of unwanted pregnancies, it is worth arranging timely and correct sex education, as well as providing the population (especially those with low incomes) with the necessary contraceptives. The expected decrease in the number of abortions would be favorably received by the pro-life movement and would not contradict the pro-choice movement’s statements.
Conclusion
The confrontation between the two movements over the years has led to the fact that abortion has become a controversial topic; nonetheless, the discussions do not lead to agreements or joint solutions. It is difficult to predict whether the struggle between liberal and conservative representatives will end and the outcome. However, it is worth noting that both movements have formulated provisions that reflect the views of different societies and have dissimilar foundations. Pro-abortionists defend the right to self-control over woman’s bodies, while pro-lifers defend the right to life of the unborn child. The solution to this conflict is to minimize the cause itself – to reduce the rate of unwanted pregnancies and, as a result, abortions.
References
Abernathy, G. (2021). Opinion: Tighter abortion restrictions may really indicate the law is finally catching up to science. The Washington Post.
Barbour, C. (2019). AmGov: Long Story Short. CQ Press.
Cauterucci, C. (2020). Reminder: The Majority of Americans Support Abortion Access. Slate.
Guyot K., & Sawhill I. V. (2019). Reducing access to contraception won’t reduce the abortion rate. Brookings.
ProCon.org. (2019) Should Abortion Be Legal? Britannica ProCon.
Shane, C. (2021). Stop Being Stupid About Abortion. Gawker.