Should Abortion be an Option?

Raul Martinez

                                                                                                                                                                       

Mrs.Boresen

Period 4

May 13, 2011

Final Essay

Should Abortion be an Option?

Abortion in the United States has been legal in every state since the Supreme Court decision on January 22, 1973, but there is still much debate on whether or not it should be an option. Is there a sufficient impact on humanity to support the illegalization of abortion? After researching the statistical data, I am pro-choice on the subject, meaning that abortion should remain a legal option. Human birth is an experience that should take place under the right circumstances. Granted there is no correct way of raising a child, nor are there eligibility rules here in the United States for who may give birth, but there is the option for choosing whether or not one will go through with the birth of their expected baby. I am in support of allowing the expecting mother to choose if she would like to go through with the birth of the expected baby.

Besides getting into the legal aspect of the argument, there is a great deal of reasons why this option should remain open. Taking the same position as Brian Elroy McKinley on the matter, I can support the claims. Nearly all abortions take place in the first trimester, when a fetus cannot exist independent of the mother. It is a dependent of another life form and has not begun its own life. Abortion is a safe medical procedure. Eighty-eight percent of those who do have an abortion have it done in their first trimester. This does not physically affect a woman's health or future ability to become pregnant or give birth. In cases of rape, a woman may be uncomfortable of the realization of this terrible act, or is unaware she is pregnant. In the case of not knowing, the morning after pill is ineffective. Teenagers who become mothers have grim prospects for the future. They are much more likely to leave of school; rely on public assistance to raise a child; and develop health problems. It is good that abortion is an option because a baby is a huge responsibility that affects more than its own life.

The website abortionfacts.com holds the arguments against abortion are on the subjects of immediate and eventual medical effect, psychological effects, and effects on future children. Of the psychological reactions reported after abortion it was reported that women who had an abortion as a teen were significantly more likely to report: nightmares; flashbacks to the abortion; hysterical outbreaks; unforgiveness of those involved; feelings of guilt; fear of punishment from God; excessive interest in pregnant women; excessive interest in babies; a dramatic personality change for the worse; a waking or sleeping "visitation" from the aborted child; having talked to the aborted child prior to the abortion. To this side of the argument I can consider that a person’s well-being is a huge part of their life, but these are emotions. Feelings change, memories fade, and people come in and out of one another’s life. A human born unto a mother is going to stay that person’s son or daughter for the rest of their life. The central theme of birth is not bad, it is when the mother is a teenager, or has been raped, or any other unfortunate example you can think of, when following through with the birth is not the best option.

Abortion is not a good thing overall. I say that because it had to come from somewhere where a man or woman did not love each other, or it was caused by an act of rape. I certainly hope that no one would ever need an abortion. The simple idea here is that it is important for it to be an option for the sake of progress. Whether it’s progress in the expected mother’s life, or on a larger scale of progression of American women as a whole, the point is that it provides a way to set up to do things right the next time.