Social Issue: Abortion, Term Paper Example

Introduction

Abortion and the right to make reproductive health choices is one of the most debated questions in today’s America. Public attitudes and opinions about abortion are constantly changing due to the influence of politics, religious groups and non-profit social organizations. While the debate is not likely to be decided as a result of reviewing the two sides in the below paper, the authors would like to analyze the social theories and moral arguments surrounding the question. Hinman (2013) states that simply applying the labels of “pro life” and “pro choice” to divide the two groups of advocates would be wrong, because none of the opinions seem to be applicable for all cases. While individual circumstances need to be reviewed in each case, the authors of the below overview would like to investigate generalized principles of both sides.

Arguments For And Against

The main focus of debate is based on the argument whether women’s rights or the fetus’ rights should be considered. The humanist view looks at reasons why women choose to get an abortion, while Catholic and religious groups argue that innocent fetus has the same right as a grown adult.

“Pro- choice”.

The Center for Reproductive Rights (2) states that everyone’s rigth to life should be protected. This includes women. The organization argues that it is impossible to eliminate abortion, therefore, policymakers should focus on making it available and safe. The authors also state that all women should have equal rights to reproductive health. They also state that “denying women access to abortion is a form of gender discrimination”. (3) Further, women should have rights to reproductive self-determination. On the other hand, the report (The Center for Reproductive Rights 4) states that denying the right to terminate a pregnancy creates mental and physical suffering.

Hord (2) states that women should have the right to choose whether or not they want to carry on with the pregnancy. Women know their situation the best, therefore, safe, human and effective abortion procedures should be provided for them in order to protect their health and well-being. The main argument of the author is that while even in countries where abortion is considered illegal, exceptions are made; for example in case the pregnancy is a result of a rape or it threatens the life of the woman. Still, even these women are stigmatized and denied their rights to safe abortion.

“Pro-life”.

Hinman (9) analyzes the main arguments of “pro-life” advocates. He states that the fetus is an innocent person, therefore, as it is morally wrong to kill an innocent person, abortion is immoral (Schwartz).

Wright states that public opinion greatly influences court decisions, such as the case of “Roe and Wade”. The author argues that prevention should be in the focus of both sides, therefore, in order to reduce the number of abortions, it is crucial that women’s socioeconomic circumstances are taken into consideration. Wright (5) also calls for policies to be implemented to help women carry on with their lives if they decide to keep the baby. This means that teenage mothers should be given the chance to continue with their education and draws an idealistic image that all women should have the right and opportunity to carry on with pregnancies. While the author is catholic, he does not state that abolishing abortion is the characteristic and only answer to the social problem. He also states that “Outlawing abortion … will not lead to a one-off decline in actual abortions” (Wright 4).

Argument Analysis

According to Hinman (8), the problem with the debate is that the question whether or not the fetus is a human being and whether it has human rights or not is not decided. Fried (3) comes to the same conclusion: while it is not possible to characteristically determine the legal status of the fetus, it cannot be confronted with mothers’ rights. She states that while Choice focuses on women’s freedom to reproductive integrity and autonomy, but other groups would claim the same rights, such as gay people and other disadvantaged individuals. On the other hand, the author argues that the real “issue of “life” is based on the conflict between women’s and fetus’ rights.

Conclusion

Fried (2) lines up ten different arguments against “Choice”’s abortion attitudes. The initiative that the author examines is not clearly “pro-abortion”, but it focuses on women’s rights to reproductive choices.  Her main argument is that prevention, education and policies to support women making the right decisions the first place should be promoted instead of creating debates that cannot be agreed on. Indeed, the socio-economic aspect of abortion is an area that needs to be studied in more depth, and – as both groups agree – abortion is not good for anyone; as Fried (3) states: “women who have abortions talk about them in terms of necessity and survival”, policymakers should make an effort to develop a plan that reduces women’s risk of getting into this “dangerous” situation. Abortion, on the other hand, can only be justified or ruled immoral on an individual basis; homogenization of the problem does not result in agreement on the debate.

Works Cited

Center for Reproductive Rights “Safe and Legal Abortion is a Woman’s Human Right” 2011. Web.

Fried, M.  “10 Reasons to Rethink Reproductive ‘Choice’” 2008. Web.

Hinman, L. “Abortion: An Overview of the Ethical Issues” 2013. Web.

Hord, C.  “Making Safe Abortion Accessible: A Practical Guide for Advocates” Ipas publication. 2001. Web.

Wright, J. “Reducing Abortion in America: Beyond Roe v. Wade” 2008. Web.