Abortion is a contentious issue that has provoked several political, social, and moral debates. Terminating a pregnancy is a very personal decision that involves issues of bodily autonomy, women’s rights, and the role of government in regulating reproductive decisions. Regardless of one’s beliefs or whether they are pro-choice or pro-life, the topic of abortion impacts everyone, and it is critical to comprehend the arguments and data supporting either perspective. Abortion should be allowed since it is the fundamental right of women to manage their own bodies and make decisions without interference from the government or others. Denying safe and legal abortion services can lead to serious consequences such as increased maternal mortality, human rights violations, increased stigmatization of abortion, and severe physical and mental issues.
First of all, this problem is related to human rights. Women have the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies, including reproductive health issues. A number of human rights provisions that provide freedom of decision-making in private situations support this right (Center for Reproductive Rights, n.d.). They include safeguards for the right to bodily integrity, the freedom to choose the number and spacing of one’s children freely and responsibly, and the right to privacy (Kaczor, 2022). Denying it breaches both women’s human rights and the Constitution. As a result, women should be able to choose whether or not to undergo an abortion.
From the point of view of a medical approach, unwanted pregnancy and childbirth can be dangerous and life-threatening. Unwanted pregnancy and childbirth can be risky and life-threatening from a medical standpoint. When a pregnancy is undesired, the consequences can be devastating to a woman’s physical and mental well-being. Abortion is a widespread and safe medical treatment, much safer than childbirth. The hazards of abortion are small and equivalent to those of other minor medical procedures (Erdman & Cook, 2020). Access to safe and legal abortions is critical to women’s health (Assis & Erdman, 2022). In addition, raising a child requires significant time, energy, and resources. Women may not have these opportunities for various reasons, and this will affect the quality of not only their lives but also the life and upbringing of the child. Therefore, they should not be forced into motherhood if they do not feel ready or willing. Choices concerning one’s body, especially one’s reproductive capability, are clearly within the purview of private decision-making (Cohen, Donley & Rebouché, 2023). Only a pregnant woman can choose if she is ready to have a child, and governments should not make that decision for her.
The government should not deprive women of the right to terminate a pregnancy when they consider it necessary and because it will lead to serious health problems and exacerbate demographic problems. Restricting abortion access at the state level may raise the total maternal mortality (Vilda et al., 2023). This is due to the fact that the state ban on abortion stimulates the development of illegal services, the quality and safety of which cannot be controlled. The demographic problems that the government seeks to address by banning abortions can only be exacerbated by maternal deaths from illegal abortions (Biggs, Brown & Foster, 2020). In addition, such procedures can lead to a woman’s infertility in the future, further exacerbating the problem. Thus, the ban on abortion not only violates women’s rights and threatens their lives, but also has longer-term and global negative consequences for the entire population.
Abortion should be a woman’s decision because the prohibition of this freedom contributes to the stigmatization of the issue. This can lead to an aggravation of the social and psychological problems of those people whose abortions are forced by health conditions. This stigma is created by cultural norms and reinforced by policies that harm both those who have abortions and those who have them (Turan & Budhwani, 2021). Social pressure, stress and depression associated with this can further exacerbate problems in society.
The concept that all human beings are created equal, regardless of size, level of development, education, or degree of addiction, is important to those who push for an abortion prohibition. As a result, ending the life of a preterm newborn violates the fundamental right to life, according to this definition (Gostin, 2022). Nonetheless, abortion is only legal during the first trimester of pregnancy, when the fetus is unable to survive outside the uterus and hence cannot be deemed living. Furthermore, such a pro-life argument contradicts the reality that every woman has the right to her own life and body (Boonin, 2019). Denying a woman an abortion is denying her a fundamental right. As a result, the choice to terminate a pregnancy should be made completely by the woman.
The right of women to safe and legal abortion services is a fundamental human right. The decision to terminate a pregnancy is extremely personal and frequently painful, and it should be left entirely up to the individual woman, free of compulsion or judgment. Denial of this right endangers women’s health and lives while perpetuating detrimental gender inequities. It is critical to continue advocating for reproductive rights and healthcare access for all women, regardless of their background, financial level, or geographic location. Gender equality and justice can be achieved only when society recognizes and respects women’s sovereignty over their own bodies.
References
Assis, M. P., & Erdman, J. N. (2022). Abortion rights beyond the medico-legal paradigm. Global Public Health, 17(10), 2235-2250. Web.
Biggs, M. A., Brown, K., & Foster, D. G. (2020). Perceived abortion stigma and psychological well-being over five years after receiving or being denied an abortion. PloS One, 15(1). Web.
Boonin, D. (2019). Beyond Roe: Why abortion should be legal – Even if the fetus is a person. Oxford University Press.
Center for Reproductive Rights. (n.d.). Safe and Legal Abortion is a Woman’s Human Right. Reproductive Rights. Web.
Cohen, D. S., Donley, G., & Rebouché, R. (2023). The new abortion battleground. Columbia Law Review, 123(1), 1-100. Web.
Erdman, J. N., & Cook, R. J. (2020). Decriminalization of abortion–A human rights imperative. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 62, 11-24. Web.
Gostin, L. O. (2022). The US turns its back on women’s reproductive rights. The BMJ, 377. Web.
Kaczor, C. (2022). The ethics of abortion: Women’s rights, human life, and the question of justice. Taylor & Francis
Turan, J. M., & Budhwani, H. (2021). Restrictive abortion laws exacerbate stigma, resulting in harm to patients and providers. American Journal of Public Health, 111(1), 37-39. Web.
Vilda, D., Wallace, M. E., Daniel, C., Evans, M. G., Stoecker, C., & Theall, K. P. (2021). State abortion policies and maternal death in the United States, 2015‒2018. American Journal of Public Health, 111(9), 1696-1704. Web.