Abortion Rights
Despite the fact that the United States is a modern and developed nation, abortion is still a highly controversial issue in this country. Even though the constitution has guaranteed abortion rights ever since Roe v. Wade in 1973, thirty years later, nearly half of the population is opposed to abortion because of ethical, religious or political reasons. However, these should not be the primary things considered. In my opinion, human beings’ rights are always more important than faith, ethics, or religion; and an existing life is absolutely more important than a potential one. Thus, I support the right to legal abortion because I believe in certain cases it is necessary to protect the health of the mother and fetus. In addition, there are personal factors which include the individual desire to have a child, and the rights of women to make their own decisions concerning their body.
First, the health conditions of both mother and fetus are the most important thing that needs to be considered. For example, if either the mother or the father has any genetic family illness, or the fetus is supposed to become a congenital baby, but the mother was not allowed to abort, then who would be the victims in this difficult situation? The child, parents, even the whole family would be; but not the people who only care about the ethical principles. In addition, in some cases, abortion is absolutely necessary, if the pregnancy has already become a threat to the mother’s health and she has been or will be in a dangerous situation.
Secondly, abortion due to financial circumstances, or other particular personal reasons should be supported. For instance, if the parents’ financial condition is not stable enough to afford one more child, or even they can afford the child but decide against it, these are understandable and acceptable situations. Bringing a child into this world is supposed to be a wonderful thing that makes our lives happier, not something that causes pain and suffering. Furthermore, reluctantly having a baby in a violent, fragile marriage is also a cruel decision, not to mention pregnancy due to rape or incest. Don’t these women deserve to be protected, rather than thrown into another trauma?
Finally, every woman in this century should have their women’s right to choose the number of children, the timing of gestation, and also to choose the method of childbirth. Women are not machines of production. They should have the right to refuse giving birth to a baby if they are not willing, even if they are married. Besides, women also have a right to decide the timing of pregnancy. For example, they shouldn’t have to suspend a promising career just because they get pregnant.
Even though the pro-life individuals maintain that fetuses are persons, and therefore have a right to live, I still believe that the rights of the mother take priority. To protect the unborn fetuses’ living rights at the expense of the mother deprives a woman of personal liberty, and that is unreasonable.
A pregnant woman needs the right to think thoroughly about the health conditions of both herself and the fetus because nobody wants an unhealthy child. She also needs to make sure the circumstances are good for the child because a bad childhood can have an irreversible lifelong impact, and this can be detrimental to society as a whole.
