Abortion vs. Right To Choose - Essay Example

? "Abortion vs. Right to Choose" Summary Abortion is a miscarriage, a deliberate act of instant killing of a fetus before the baby is born. The issueis rising as one of the most vital modern problems in the current state of affairs. The issue is being debated regarding the ethical and moral concerns. Although a painful subject for the couple who witnesses moral dilemma, it is a matter that carries two viewpoints about choice and life (Cline, "Ethics of Abortion: Is it Moral or Immoral to Have an Abortion?"). Debates related to abortion include the lawful eminence related to the fetus. Considering fetus as an individual, abortion is comparable to the murder and therefore abortion is an illegal act. On the other hand, it is necessary to understand that a fetus is a part of women's body and there’s no state or legislation which can force a woman to continue with the pregnancy if a woman is not willing to. Therefore, abortion must be considered as an ethical choice of a woman and should not be a considered as a murder (Cline, "Fetus, Humanity, Personhood: When Does a Fetus Become a Human Person with Rights?"). According to Edward Abbey, "Abolition of a woman's right to abortion, when and if she wants it, amounts to compulsory maternity: a form of rape by the State" (Brainy Quotes). Sociological Perspective Any pregnancy cannot happen without a male partner; essentially, consent of a father is necessary for the abortion. If the father agrees to take up the responsibility for the child, women gain confidence. In the present era when relationships are fragile, women do not want to have any binding to forgo their career or liberty, especially in relationships where the couple does not like to enter into any child-related commitment. A woman should be the choice maker as, under a given condition, woman is able to judge better what risks she’s going to take to nurture the fetus and then the child with the extreme care and devotion; if she fails to do so, it may cause psychological issues in a child. In the present situation, when women make significant contribution to the economic growth and development, continuing with the pregnancy may hinder career growth. It is essential to understand that personal ethics of women is essential when the decision is taken whether to pursue pregnancy or not. Moreover, the anatomy of body should also allow the continuity of pregnancy; teenage pregnancy hampers studies, career development followed by weak job opportunities. It is not moral to give birth to an unwanted child and nurture the child with least botheration. In certain cases pregnancy could be the result of contraceptive failure for the reason woman is not prepared for, woman may become pregnant due to sexual assault, rape, abuse or sexual harassment and would not like to bear the burden of child all through her life, therefore abortion becomes important such cases demand legalization of abortion. Apart from legal relationships the present society observes premarital sex and also extramarital sex; this normally occurs due to prolonged working hours in the workplace, developing intimacy with a colleague followed by the development of physical relationships. There is a marked difference in the social culture and norms where morals and ethics are becoming an age old stories. Media, movies and other sources of mass communication are playing an important role in germinating the seeds of sexual desire at an early age; this half knowledge and poor sexual orientation results in teenage pregnancy or unwanted pregnancy. In certain cases the male partner leaves the female to bear the burden of pregnancy and be a single mother. The female has to sacrifice her well being if she continues with the pregnancy, thus, abortion of the unwanted fetus becomes essential to build a career and then take up a responsibility of being a mother (Macionis, 2010). These thoughts form a difference with the words of Alveda King, who said, "Abortion and racism are both symptoms of a fundamental human error. The error is thinking that when someone stands in the way of our wants, we can justify getting that person out of our lives. Abortion and racism stem from the same poisonous root, selfishness"(Brainy Quotes). Socialization Theories: Conflict Theory Conflict theory of socialization could be viewed as a powerful procedure to preserve the status of an individual. The theory states that conflict is unavoidable and is a continuous process. Conflict persists in every society irrespective of the geographical location and is the fundamental aspect of the society. Conflict theory deals with the haves and the have-nots, abortion is, therefore, considered as a conflict more associated with social occurrence as it deals with ethics and rights of the inhabitants of the society (Social Theories). The socialization cycle developed by Bobbie Harro, encompasses- History reveals that abortion has always been a pressing issue; the issue was prevalent even before the birth of Christ. Some traditional methods were common to kill the unwanted fetus, although it was a legal as well as had political concern. It was Plato (428- 347 BC) and Aristotle (384-322 BC) who expanded the outlook regarding abortion. Aristotle developed the thought of "delayed ensoulment" which had far-reaching suggestions amongst intellectuals. He discriminated plants, animals, humans and framed the view that the soul entered the human body once the body was fully formed; he also postulated the ensoulment, for males it is forty days and for females it is eighty days. Roman law did not provide any legal standing to the infant till the family head accepted it. Later, with the advent of Christianity life in womb was also considered to be sacred and, therefore, contradictions started to show; it is a pressing issue even in the present situation (Roos). Considering the ongoing debate all over the world in regards to the issue of abortion, it is to be said the issue has influenced the various aspects of human venture, may it be cultural, spiritual, political or moral. All these debates argue upon the legality of abortion, only a few issues are concerned with the life that is being provided to the child when this unwanted child comes in the real world. The view that fetus has the same set of genetic material as an adult brings to focus the rights a fetus possesses. According to this view fetus possesses the same rights that any other human does, having the same set of DNA or the genome as parents. Thus, argument takes a different shape when the genetic aspects are considered ("Difference between Genotype and Phenotype."). In essence, the rights of the fetus depend on personal outlook, but one can consider the financial burden of one more child, the exponential growth phase of the population burden that the planet can tolerate; therefore, unwanted pregnancies must be prevented through abortion if a congenial atmosphere for the development cannot be provided to the fetus or care cannot be given to make the fetus a citizen with a broad and positive outlook, away from the frustrations and dissatisfactions in life. This could only be possible if the mother, who is willing to give birth to a child, doesn’t fail to take up the responsibility, which, in turn, wouldn’t develop disobedience in the child preventing him/her to turn out to be a good and responsible inhabitant. If a child is never provided with the amiable and pleasant atmosphere to grow and develop he/ she is less likely to be a good person in future (Cline, "Fetus, Humanity, Personhood: When Does a Fetus Become a Human Person with Rights?"). Society is formed by humans, individuals only modulate all the ethics and morals but when the help is truly desired it remains unattended and, therefore, in the present situation women have adopted abortion as the means to safeguard themselves from all the worries and to live a life of respect and dignity. Modern women understand the severity and the consequences of continuing with the unwanted pregnancies and they do want to have a happy life instead of a life full of shame and guilt that society gives them; it is, therefore, that abortion has emerged as one of the most important moral issues today. Works Cited "Abortion." Web. 3 Feb. 2012. . "Brainy Quotes." Web. 13 Feb. 2012. . Cline, Austin. "Ethics of Abortion: Is it Moral or Immoral to Have an Abortion?" Atheism.About.com. Web. 3 February 2012. < http://atheism.about.com/od/abortioncontraception/p/AbortionEthics.html>. Cline, Austin. "Fetus, Humanity, Personhood: When Does a Fetus Become a Human Person with Rights?" Atheism.About.com. Web. 3 February 2012. < http://atheism.about.com/od/abortioncontraception/p/PersonhoodFetus.htm >. "Difference between Genotype and Phenotype." Web. 3 Feb. 2012. . Harro, B. "The Cycle of Socialization". Web. 3 Feb. 2012. . "Introduction to the abortion debate". Web. 3 Feb. 2012. < http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/abortion/legal/introduction_1.shtml>. Macionis, John J. Sociology. 13th ed. Pearson, 2010. Print Roos, F. J. "Abortion and the Early Christian Church." Web. 3 Feb. 2012. . "Social Theories." Web. 3 Feb. 2012. < http://freebooks.uvu.edu/SOC1010/index.php/03.html>. Read More