The Rational Woman's Right to Abortion

1788 Words4 Pages

A nineteen year old girl lies frozen in the fetal position; taking three positive pregnancy tests has thrown her into a nightmare. Reflecting on one poor decision she made- one pill she skipped- she imagines foregoing all of her dreams of getting a doctorate in order to become another working-class single mom. She disregards this option upon much deliberation and decides to have a medical abortion. Holding no beliefs about souls residing in unborn embryos or fetuses, she is relatively unshaken by the procedure and makes a commitment to be more vigilant moving forward.
This girl, like all women, has the inalienable right to determine what they do with their bodies regardless of faith or personal opinions of others. Fetal development occurs within the confines of a woman’s body, and is therefore subject to any decision she may make. Unplanned pregnancies occur in the contexts of all walks of life under many circumstances, whether consensual unprotected sex, incest, or rape. Those who hold opinions against letting women choose to terminate pregnancy have judgments clouded by predetermined dogmas, such as religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds. This is a substantial problem because ethical issues such as abortion are most effectively debated in the realm of objective viewpoints. By putting personal beliefs aside, people could learn to think better, do better, and ultimately be better when it comes to allowing others to make their own decisions.
The timeless debate over the right to abortion services has been reinvigorated in light of safer medical procedures, new legislation, and increased media coverage. The hot topic, however, has been mostly affected by the new identity of women in America. Generation X and Y has bred a race ...

... middle of paper ...

...nce and more about contraception, and they are more independent and accountable for their actions. This generation is one that hasn’t been suppressed from proper sexual education, and a free-thinking rational woman should equally not be oppressed from considering termination when faced with an unplanned pregnancy.

Works Cited

Dadlez, E. M., and William L. Andrews. "Post-Abortion Syndrome: Creating an Affliction." Wiley Online Library. July 7, 2009. Accessed April 27, 2014. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8519.2009.01739.x.

"Religious Groups' Official Positions on Abortion." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS. January 16, 2013. Accessed April 27, 2014. http://www.pewforum.org/2013/01/16/religious-groups-official-positions-on-abortion/ .

Vaughn, Lewis. Contemporary Moral Arguments: Readings in Ethical Issues. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010.

More about The Rational Woman's Right to Abortion

Open Document