Abortion Sociology - Essay Example

? Issues about life are always controversial as this impact personal, ive and moral views. One of the more controversial issues pertaining to life is abortion and this is made even more debatable because of the different legal and moral perspectives fighting against each other. There has been a longstanding argument between abortion rights and anti-abortion movements. This roots from the differing liberal and conservative perspectives regarding life and choice. Pro-choice find abortion rights appealing while the other end of the spectrum finds it immoral and unjustifiable. Key terms here are life and choice, two very important concepts in one’s own personal and subjective opinion. This paper aims to understand the current trends in the perspective on abortion. Also, this paper will show how abortion may be beneficial or detrimental for the people who undergo such procedure. It is important to compare and contrast the views of the different groups as these debating groups impact the decision-making of the woman in the position of deciding whether or not to undergo the procedure. There are various reasons women choose to have abortion. The fact remains, though, that no matter what the reason may be, it is a very disturbing and stressful experience (Faundes & Barzelatto, 2006). Most common reasons of abortion are the following: absence of the father, financial constraints, inability to provide good parenting or interference with life prospects, conflict with prevailing social norms, health concerns, and lack of social support (Faundes & Barzelatto, 2006). Looking at the most common reasons, it can be summarized that abortion becomes a choice when there is no or less benefit that the mother and child can find in pursuing the pregnancy. When the pregnancy becomes an emotional, psychological, physical and financial burden, then the pregnancy becomes unwanted. There is a realization that the necessary environment for the development of the child cannot be given with the resources of the mother. The worldwide rate for abortion in the mid-nineties is at 35 per 1,000 women aged fifteen to forty-four per year (Singh, et. al., 2003). Studies indicate that the pattern of abortion in North America and Western Europe trends with adolescents, and unmarried women and childless women to delay childbearing (Singh, et. al., 2003). In contrast, Eastern Europe and developing countries show a trend of abortion in married women and women with children, often with several children, to space and to end childbearing (Singh, et. al., 2003). For most industrialized countries, women are getting more involved in creating a name for themselves through their careers. Thus, childbearing might mean their professional development will suffer or get delayed. With this, women resort to abortion because they feel that their pregnancy will interfere with their life prospects. This clearly suggests that the reason for abortion is merely a personal choice and not because there is something crucial or detrimental for the mother or the child. In this, I agree with the pro-life advocates wherein they believe that every child has the right to be born and to be loved. In developing countries, where there is a great population of families consisting of more than three kids, women resort to abortion because they feel that their financial and emotional capacity to support more children will hamper the development of the child they are carrying. This indicates that it is more of a consideration for the welfare of the child. Although the reason also suggests that there is an irresponsibility in their sexual practices. Although I agree with the part that having more children without the financial and emotional capacity to provide for their needs is detrimental not just to the incoming child’s development but also for the entire family, I still believe that this is not enough reason to choose abortion. And with this, I will have to agree with the pro-life advocates that it is not the choice of the baby that he is created and with this, he has the right to be spared his life. Also, with this kind of reason for abortion, I agree with the pro-life advocates that it is important that mothers, and women in general, are taught early in life the pros and cons of unplanned pregnancy. It is important that the public is provided the knowledge and the counseling of the impacts of pregnancy and what motherhood is all about. The most acceptable or justified reason that I am seeing why women will choose abortion is because of the health conditions of the mother or the baby. In fact, by the middle of the twentieth century, efforts to expand the justifiability of abortion in the United States include therapeutic or health-preserving abortion as can be seen in several Supreme Court cases (Shroyer, 2010; Francome, 2004). It is easier to understand women who choose abortion because their own lives are at stake. This importance can be further explained especially with mothers who have several children. If there is a complication in their pregnancy that may lead to their incapacity or even death, how then would they be able to support the remaining children? Abortions for health reasons are prevalent in impoverished countries (Faundes & Barzelatto, 2006). Women in impoverished countries have less access to medical attention, which is very important while one is pregnant. There are cases wherein the mother is not fit anymore to have a child because of an unknown illness or disease but because they are unaware of their current health status, they pursue the pregnancy. And when the mother is about to give birth, she will face the decision of having to choose her life or her baby’s, and in most cases, the mothers choose to give up their lives for their babies. With this, the threat to the mother and the child’s life is eminent. That is why early in the pregnancy stage, if the mother knows about their condition, they resort to abortion especially when they already have children needing them. It is hard to condone the act of abortion for this reason as there are health risks involved as well as the risk of leaving other children motherless. As discussed above, there are several reasons why women resort to abortion. For personal reasons such as delaying of childbirth, ending childbirth, financial constraints and abandonment of the father, I feel that it is not enough reason to legalize abortion. With this, I agree with pro-life advocates that there is a need to support the women in terms of educating and counseling them about sex, pregnancy, childbirth and family life. In cases, though, of health complications, whether of the mother or the child, I believe that abortion should be given as an option, not to impose but given as a choice of the mother and/or the father. This is to protect the life of the mother, as well as to consider what is to become of the unborn child when he is born without a mother or with an incapacitated mother. References Faundes, A. and Barzelatto, J. (2006). The Human Drama of Abortion: A Global Search for Consensus. TN: Vanderbilt University Press. Francome, C. (2004). Abortion in the USA and the UK. VT: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. Shroyer, S. M.D. (2010). Abortion: The Legal, Medical and Bio-Ethical Perspectives. NJ: Lulu Publisher. Singh, S. et. al. Abortion: A Worldwide Overview. Ed. Basu, A. (2003). The Sociocultural and Political Aspects of Abortion: Global Perspectives. CT: Praeger Publishers. Read More