This is one of the highly debated topics, where a consensus is not likely to be met any time soon. If you want to find out more about this subject, there is more than just one free argumentative essay on abortion, available online, as well as in written publications.
It seems, though, that, no matter what titles they carry, any abortion essay tends to present a biased opinion towards one of the two sides: the ones pro-abortion, or the ones against it.
We’ll try and be as objective as possible while presenting an overall view of abortion as regarded today in societies around the world.
What does abortion mean?
First, as an introduction, let’s try and give a short definition of what abortion is: the spontaneous or induced termination of pregnancy.
A few words about spontaneous abortion: it rarely is something that is desired to happen. It most often comes from some sort of health problem that the child or the mother, has. Statistically, it happens more often to women above 35 years of age, although, it is not that uncommon in the case of younger women, as well. For those who want to give birth to a child, it can be a very traumatic experience, greatly associated with severe depression. Fortunately, there are doctors specialized in fertility issues, with great results in preventing this sort of abortion to occur.
The problematic and disputed part refers to the intentionally induced abortion, and on this point, authors of various abortion essays argue over the women’s right to undergo such a procedure, as well as over the disadvantages of giving birth to an unwanted child versus the benefits of going through with the pregnancy.
The pro side
The representatives of this current are more focused on the right that women have to freely choose what happens with their bodies. They tend to consider that the embryo is not a human person as long as it is in the womb. It becomes a child only after birth, and thus the abortion cannot be considered a crime.
It is more and more associated with women rights activists, given the fact that empowering women is one of the main topics in their every speech. They claim that imposing to have a child, could mean refusing their right to achieve a professional career and therefore a higher social and financial status. Pregnancy and giving birth should be a benevolent choice and not become a source of extra stress. The main example to be given here is that of college students that may face the choice of continuing their studies, or try and raise a child while pursuing a career goal.
Also, there is risk associated with legally interdicting the procedure, while women are going forward with their decision to terminate the pregnancy. This may lead to health, or even life hazards, if let’s say, the intervention is performed in an unsafe environment.
The extreme way to go about favoring abortion is the example of countries such as China, India, Russia, where this is used as a powerful means of birth control.
The con side
We do not include here only the religious fanatics that believe every life is God-given and no other has authority over it. Although the religious arguments have their place in the debate, we found that the majority of those that stand against abortion are those who believe that every human life is sacred. And the way they see it, human life begins the moment of fertilization.
This side of the debate also has a lot of arguments against abortion: the risk of something going wrong during the intervention, seeing as it is unnecessary and easily avoidable; the post-procedural physical complications that can appear; the psychological stress that women often feel after ending the pregnancy.
There are a few issues to address when talking about the psychological implications. Having an abortion has often been associated to behavioral abnormalities that vary from the lack of feeling pleasure in sexual relationships, developing a general discontent towards men, having couples issues, developing a lack of self-worth, which may lead to altering the lifestyle into promiscuity. Post-abortion stress also causes alterations of eating habits, severe depression, violent behavior that women feel towards themselves as well as towards others, going as far as enabling child abuse, or even suicidal tendencies.
One of the advantages offered by people who are so set out to keep women from getting an abortion is the lengths they will go to help to prevent and to deal with any unwanted pregnancy. There are specialized centers with professionals to aid with both prenatal and after birth care, counseling for post-birth depression and child adoption services.
The middle ground
There are some countries where it is legal to have an abortion up until 14 weeks into pregnancy, at their demand. When the pregnancy goes into the second trimester, it is forbidden to perform the abortion, unless proven to be a risk factor for the mother’s health. Up until 14 weeks, the child isn’t considered a functional human being, but rather a conglomerate of living cells. After 14 weeks, it develops functional internal organs, nerves, and muscles. Cranium made of bones starts to evolve around his head and sex can be established. He also starts to develop what appears to be a conscience: the reflex to reach for the nipple to feed himself, the thumb sucking reflex, he begins frowning, looking sideways or grimacing.
Some other countries with a more liberal view, outline the legal setting in which an abortion can be conducted, but give full freedom to the doctors, that can choose whether or not to perform the surgery and terminate the pregnancy. It so happens, that some take action by the 14th week rule as mentioned before. Others claim that it is against their personal beliefs, seeing as they made an oath to help preserve the human lives and instead of ending a pregnancy, think it would be better to aid these women during this whole period, as well as after the child is born
Conclusion
A lot has and will continue to be said about this sensitive subject, and all sides have powerful arguments to sustain their position. The ones that are for it can base their claim on women’s rights, while the ones that are against it have the ethical and moral ground to support them. In between, are the ones that try and do good by both parts involved, protecting the mother as well as the unborn baby.
