FOR OR AGAINST ABORTION?

In recent times, more than ever, a particularly sensitive topic is being discussed all over the world: abortion. 

Today we will address this topic, which belongs to the enormous sphere of feminism, and we will do so by analyzing all the so-called "pros and cons".

But let's start with the definition of abortion:

abortion traditionally means the interruption of a pregnancy before the fetus has reached the stage of development in which it can survive separated from the pregnant woman. Essentially, abortion can be of two types: spontaneous, where the fetus dies due to natural causes, and voluntary, where the pregnancy is interrupted by the mother's will.

Obviously today we will talk about voluntary abortion.

PRO VOLUNTARY ABORTION

Here are some reasons and explanations from those who are in favor of voluntary abortion.

• At the time of the abortion the fetus is not yet fully formed, therefore it cannot be considered a separate entity as it cannot exist outside of her womb;

• In the case of rape, forcing a woman to become pregnant through this violent act would cause further psychological harm to the victim;

• A woman’s ability to have control over her own body is fundamental to civil rights, the decision whether or not to have a child should be the responsibility of the woman herself, as she is the one who will have to face all the physical, emotional and social consequences of pregnancy and motherhood;

• Adolescents who become mothers have bleak prospects for the future. They are much more likely to drop out of school; receive inadequate prenatal care; or develop mental health problems;

• Serious malformations of the fetus that with birth would lead to malfunctions in the health of the individual, such as syndromes or incurable diseases;

• Complications during pregnancy for the health of the mother, perhaps previously ill, could lead to the death of the woman if the pregnancy is not stopped;

• Prevention of pregnancy risk does not always work 100%, so even a woman who uses all methods of contraception can get pregnant. And why should a woman abstain to avoid pregnancy while a man does not? The responsibility is of both.

AGAINST VOLUNTARY ABORTION

Now here are some reasons and explanations from those who are against voluntary abortion.

• Because life begins at conception, abortion is similar to murder in that it is the act of taking human life;

• No civilized society allows a human being to intentionally harm or take the life of another human being without punishment, and abortion is no different;

• An abortion can cause medical complications later in life;

• In the case of rape, taking certain drugs immediately after the event can ensure that a woman does not become pregnant. Abortion punishes the unborn child who has not committed any crime; instead, it is the perpetrator who should be punished;

• For women who require complete control of their bodies, control should include preventing the risk of unwanted pregnancies through the responsible use of contraception or, if this is not possible, through abstinence;

• It is morally wrong to use tax dollars from individuals who are against abortion to fund abortion itself;

• Those who choose abortion are often minors or young women with insufficient life experience to fully understand what they are doing.

MY OPINION

After showing you most of the pros and cons I would like to share my opinion with you and I would like you to do the same.

Abortion must be a human right because it is the woman who must carry and subsequently raise that individual for nine months, how can you deny this choice to a young woman, or with health problems, or who has become pregnant due to rape? 

It is totally immoral to prohibit a woman from choosing what to do with her own body, with this I do not mean that if this individual has a father present, he has no say in the matter, but based on the situation the two parents will have to decide what to do. 

I believe that to arrive at a gesture like abortion there must be valid reasons behind it, not a simple lack of desire to have a child, because in these cases one could think of a less lethal solution, such as adoption. 

I repeat this is just my opinion that perhaps over time will change or be enriched with reasons, what do you think? 

Should the government ban abortion or protect women who want it? 

Before deciding on an answer, stop and think: "What would I do if I were in the mother's situation?"

By, Anna Grassi