Should women be allowed to voice their opinions on whether they will to bring a baby into their life or not? Should abortions be legalised in cases of rape and incest and the reasons behind it? Here are a few arguments as to why and why not we should legalisation abortion.
Firstly, we will look at the effect legalising abortion may bring. People and communities feel strongly about this topic as it affects millions of women worldwide each year. Generally, people believe that the answer to whether abortion should be legalised is yes. However, others feel it should be a woman’s choice whether she brings her child into the world or not.
Financially babies and children pose significant strain on families and many women may have insufficient funds to support the baby’s constant needs, for example a cot, pram, food, toys and clothes. A mother could also have a disability or an infirmity and may not be mentally stable or physically able to look after herself posing a risk to her unborn child. An unwanted pregnancy may affect the mother and child’s life choices leading to poverty and social exclusion. The infant may also develop idiosyncrasies and personality traits from the father or develop his facial characteristics, which then may remind the mother and bring back unwanted traumatic memories which would have a negative effect on the child growing up and the relationship between mother and child. This may make the mother resent the child, leaving the child feeling unwanted and unloved.
In worst case scenario, for example if a young innocent, 14-year-old girl was raped and abortion was illegal she would then be forced to proceed with the unwanted pregnancy with her rapist as well as take care of a child while still officially being a child herself. The victim could be teased and abandoned by her friends and family, her childhood destroyed, missing teenage opportunities, perhaps leaving her feeling excluded and alone, unable to cope. The young mother may develop depression as at such a young age she is not emotionally capable to care for a child and wouldn’t have the skills to manage the situation. If abortion is not made legal then in some cases women may choose to try and abort the baby themselves in unsafe, unhygienic procedures which could potentially lead to death. Can a baby born from such a traumatic experience bring love and forgiveness? For some the answer is no, as the child would be a constant reminder of the violation that took place at time of conceiving.
On the other hand, there is a strong belief that abortion should not be legalised. No unborn should ever be punished and the criminal act that has been perpetrated is fully with the rapist and not the innocent child. Many Pro-Life activists believe that infants deserve the right to be brought into the world and cherished. Anti-abortionists do not believe in ending a life under any circumstance. No allowance is made for belief or religion, only that the unborn is innocent and deserves to live, no unborn child’s life should be terminated. Anti-abortionists believe that woman who have endured the trauma of rape doesn’t need the added invasion of abortion. Feticide would not erase what happened, it would just add to the problems of an already emotional woman. The individual didn’t opt to be raped but the baby didn’t choose to be conceived either. Being pregnant from rape or incest is unimaginable but a child can still benefit from a mother’s love. A baby has a heartbeat, it is a living being and doesn’t deserve to be murdered just because it was conceived in an act of intrusion. A woman has a right to her body and the baby is a part of her. Is abortion a further act of violence?
Incest victims have 140 days to report the assault, many often don’t disclose their abuse even to family doctors because medical professionals are mandated to report the crime to authorities. Children are often terrified to report incest or rape because of fear that they’ll be placed in foster care, disbelieved or that their relative will get in trouble and it is somehow their fault. Women’s hesitancy to report comes with good reason, police departments and healthcare professionals frequently mishandle cases, victim-blame, and further traumatize. A bill in Iowa, USA is not about protecting women or doing what’s best for them, it forces girls and women to carry pregnancies whether they want to or not. There’s also something particularly troubling about enforcing women to “prove” their abuse before the state allows them to have a medical procedure.
In Some religions it is expected that individuals take full personal responsibility for everything they do and for the consequences that follow. Also, several religions believe heavily in the sanctity of life and under no circumstance would allow abortion. The decision to abort is therefore a highly personal one, one that requires careful, compassionate exploration of the ethical issues involved and a willingness to carry the burden of whatever results in that decision. The ethical consequences of the decision also depends on the motive and intention behind the decision and the level of mindfulness with which it was taken. Many groups face a difficulty where an abortion is medically necessary to save the life of the mother and so a life will be lost whether there is a termination or not. In such cases the moral status of an abortion will depend on the objective of those carrying it out. If the decision is taken compassionately and after long and careful thought then although the action may be wrong the moral harm done will surely be reduced by the good intentions involved.
“But in the only major study of pregnant rape victims ever done, Dr. Sandra Mahkorn found that 75- 85 percent chose against abortion”. This evidence was recorded in 1994 therefore these results may be unreliable as people’s perception of abortion has changed since then but should make people pause and reflect on the presumption that abortion is wanted or even best for sexual assault victims. “The Guttmacher Institute conducted a write-in survey of 1,160 women in 2004 and found 1.5 percent of abortions were reported due to rape or incest. The University of British Columbia’s Department of Psychiatry, reported in the March 3, 1978, issue of Psychiatric News, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association, that abortion often exacerbates a woman’s psychological stress.”
This is an extract taken from a book called Recall Abortion and states: “Throughout the years I have been depressed, suicidal, furious, outraged, lonely, and have felt a sense of loss… The abortion which was to ‘be in my best interest’ just has not been. As far as I can tell, it only ‘saved their reputations,’ ‘solved their problems,’ and ‘allowed their lives to go merrily on.’” Consider the example of Edith Young, a 12-year- old incest victim who was raped by her stepdad. She writes 25 years after having the abortion of her child. The child would have been affected for life and have faced so many different emotions at such a young age.
In conclusion to this much debated topic. Personally, I believe abortion should be legalised and should be available to all, regardless of race or religion. An individual who is mature and capable of choosing the right decision, should be able to do so. Abortion doesn’t stop rape, abortion terminates the life of an unborn, unwanted pregnancy.
Life is a wonderful thing as is choice and freedom of speech. I believe that the birth of a child is an amazing, beautiful thing and believe that it should be celebrated. I also strongly believe a child should be cherished, wanted and showered with the love and commitment it truly deserves.
In final conclusion, the choice should be made wholly by an individual woman when and if they decide to proceed with any pregnancy.
Bibliography
- https://savethestorks.com/2017/04/abortion-allowed-rape-incest/
- http://afterabortion.org/rape.html
