Abortions Essay, Research Paper

Controversy of Abortions

The topic of abortion is one of the most controversial and sensitive for the society and myself. The debates and confrontations between two opposite groups of opinion are long and sometimes even brutal. Both sides have strong supporting arguments: pro-lifers base on moral principals, which is life before birth, while pro-choicers defend political and social rights, such as right to privacy and right of choice. Neither side can be absolutely right or wrong; basically it is a matter of personal opinion. Mine is that although the abortion is originally wrong, in many cases it must be a legal option.

Abortion is immoral. The statement “a woman has a right to her body” has two weak points. First, unlike her arms, for example, a fetus inside her body is not a part of her body; it is a form of life begun at conception. This new living being has a unique genetic set, totally different from the mother’s cells. The inherited characteristics are established right at the stage of combination of two sex cells, and they will never change. The fetus is growing, reacting, developing, and replacing it’s own cells. Moreover, it feels pain… A film using special technology shows the behavior of a child in the womb trying to resist a special device before it tears off the head? It is alive and it is a human life. Consequently, the second point is arising. The idea of woman’s right brutally ignores the unborn child’s right to his or her body. Why he or she has to see the light to be granted this essential right? It is hard to compare this right with a personal or economical comfort of a “would have been” mother.

Unfortunately, the morality is not the only one thing that rules in the real life. Accidental pregnancies happen to millions of women every year. It’s a natural thing. Ideally, it can be avoided. Everything should be done to prevent this situation, everybody should be responsible for his or her actions. However, people fail, and not only because of lack of education or responsibility, but also because of simple contraceptives unavailability. At this stage, a woman face a perspective of bearing and having an unplanned and consequently, unwanted child.

Personal liberty is guaranteed by the Constitution. Another important right of common law is to choose. This is enough to allow women to decide whether or not to stop pregnancy. Without this interpretation the whole concept of personal liberty would mean little to women. A man can easily break the relations when he finds out about a pregnancy. He makes his choice, and no one doubts it. It is fair to say then that a woman should have the same choice. Pregnancy and childbirth may determine if a woman ever gets an education, and as a result, if she will be able to support herself and a child. Women may also find themselves pregnant in the beginning or middle of the career. Or, couples choose abortion to start their families when they feel ready and able to raise their children. Finally, in some situations, giving birth may result in a medical complication, trauma, or even woman’s death. At a global scale, abortions contribute to the resolving of the overpopulation problem, potentially the worst problem of the coming generations. Meanwhile, only in the US over a million of abortions are done every year.

When these situations appear, abortion is the alternative. Moreover, it must be legal. A woman faces enough personal and social problems deciding for abortion, that leave a mark in her heart for the rest of her life. Facing also the law may become too overwhelming. Besides, banning the abortions will definitely not stop them. It may reduce the number, but will it be worth of miseries, infections, or even deaths, caused by unprofessional “underground’ doctors or worse, women themselves? Popular means of pregnancy terminating are horrorfull? Women must have a place to go where abortions can be performed cleanly with minimal risk.

Abortion is controversial. It is a murder, no matter how uncomfortable this word is. Till murder is immoral, abortion is immoral, too. By no means should it be a resolution in irresponsible sexual life. Its necessity must be avoided in a civilized world (?) However, because of some serious reasons, in real life it may become the only alternative. If it happens, a woman should have a right to choose what to do; and if she has to go through it, then it should be safe and legal.

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