Abortion Pregnancy and Birth Control

Abortion is a conversation that is very controversial. This topic has become the main discussion of many heated debates and arguments. Opinions forming from a religious point of view or a feminist point of view about women’s choice. Having an abortion is a procedure that is performed by a doctor or by the female swallowing a pill to terminate a pregnancy. This subject has been the debate in many classrooms, homes, and even in the center of courtrooms. As you continue to read further you will learn why this subject is the center of attention and why it is such a sensitive debate. Here’s a couple of terms you should understand before continue reading on and the difference between the two. To be Pro-Life you are against women having abortions and to be Pro-Choice you are fighting for the rights of women to have the choice whether they decide to have an abortion or not. In the middle of this controversial subject is Planned Parenthood.

In 1921, American Birth Control League (ABCL), later to be known as the Planned Parenthood Federation of America in 1942 was founded by Margaret Sanger (Carter). Sanger founded this non-profit organization based off her experience growing up as a child in a large family. Her parents reproduced eleven children and she was the sixth (Carter). She believed that wealthy families had smaller families compared to poorer families living in poverty. In Sanger’s autobiography, My Fight for Birth Control, she wrote, “I associated poverty, toil, unemployment, drunkenness, cruelty, quarreling, fighting, debts, jails with large families.” Basically, she was saying that poorer families are low-class members of society that are unstable and incapable of producing smaller families because they are bonded by their circumstances. Thus, sculpting her mind to believe in negative eugenics. Eugenics is the reduction of sexual reproduction through birth control and the sterilization of people for the betterment of the economy. Eugenics is commonly targeted toward families living in poverty.

Planned Parenthood is an organization that provides clinics within communities to assist people with reproductive health care and sex education, etc. They have more than 600 specifically diverse health centers that provide communities with different health care services based on the need of their community. Their mission is to help prevent unintended/unplanned pregnancies, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and screen for cervical cancer and other cancers. Although, this organization provides all these services they are mostly known for providing women with birth control and aborting pregnancies. Thus, making them the center of attention when it comes to the supporters of Pro-Life.

Pro-life believers believe that the female is committing the act of murder when they have an abortion. Even though the fetus within the woman is still developing, they believe that the mother is taking away the rights of the unborn child. To further their position, the U.S. government consider unborn babies to be human beings (ProCon.org). The federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act states that “anyone killing or attempting to kill an unborn child should be punished.” This Act was passed in at least 38 states with similar fetal homicide laws to protect unborn children from assault and murder.

When an unborn child is conceived, life is created which makes the fetus a human being with the rights to life. Even though, the child has not been born it’s still a form of human life. At the end of the first trimester of a pregnancy, a woman will come into a clinic to have an abortion at 12 weeks. Some people believe that the fetus can feel pain during the abortion procedure. According to late abortion doctor Dr. Bernard N. Nathanson, who is now a Pro-Life believer stated that “When an abortion is performed on a 12-week-old fetus, we see in an ultrasound image the child’s mouth open in a silent scream. This is the silent scream of a child threatened imminently with extinction (ProCon.org).” Furthermore, some Pro-Life believers believe from a religious standpoint, that abortion is the killing of a human being and is an act that defies the word of their God.

Pro-Choice is the belief that a woman should have the right to make the decision regarding what she does with her body. No man or the government should have a say so in how she chooses to operate her own body. Many of them believe that women should have the right to abort an unborn child if they were raped, do not have the financial means to take care of a child, and if she is just not ready for motherhood. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “reports show that 32,000 pregnancies in the United States occur each year as a result of rape and approximately 12,000 of which are carried to term and raised by their birth mothers (Muller).” Next, it takes approximately about $233,610 to raise a child through the age of 17 according to the article, “The Cost of Raising a Child Jumps to $233,610 (Gajanan).” A person must be financially stable to raise a child and to give that child the best life possible. Last, of all, some women are just not meant to be mothers or do not want to have children at all. The Pro-Choice movement fights for the rights of women to have the choice to do what’s best for their body and life.

You may be wondering whether if I am Pro-Life or Pro-Choice? To answer your question I am Pro-Life for the following reasons: I believe that when a woman forms a fetus within her womb that fetus is a human being just not fully formed, there are many adoption options if a woman decides that she does not want to keep the child, and it is commonly known that when two people are having sex that there is a possibility that the woman’s womb can conceive a child. Even if you are practicing safe sex by using a condom, the packages always tell you that they are not 100% effective. Furthermore, there is the option of birth control, but that also is sometimes not 100% effective because a woman can still get pregnant. I do understand why the Pro-Choice believers are fighting for women who have been raped and have conceived a child by their assailant. As stated before there are options like putting the child up for adoption. These are the reasons up above why I am a Pro-Life believer.

In conclusion, the debate between Pro-Life and Pro-Choice will continue to be a controversial topic. Whether you are in a classroom, in the comfort of your home, or at a social gathering, if you start talking about abortion it will surely start up a heated debate. This topic is a sensitive matter to some and a fight for rights for others. Everyone has the right to form their own opinions, whether you agree or disagree. When debating this topic, always remember to be respectful and openminded, but stay true to your beliefs. Are you Pro-Life or Pro-Choice?

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