Upholding Women's Rights: A Case for Legalizing Abortion
In contemporary society, the debate over abortion remains highly contentious,
with passionate arguments on both sides. However, the fundamental issue at stake is the
autonomy and rights of women over their own bodies. Legalizing abortion is not merely
a matter of personal preference; it is a crucial step towards ensuring women's rights,
safety, and the prevention of children being born into unsafe environments. Moreover, it
is imperative to separate matters of law from religious doctrine, as the interference of
the church infringes upon the principles of secular governance and individual liberties.
Legalizing abortion first and foremost protects a woman's autonomy over her body.
Every person has an intrinsic right to bodily integrity and autonomy; denying women
access to safe and legal abortions violates these rights. Society essentially denies women
the agency to make decisions about their own lives, health, and futures by making
abortion illegal. Women are prevented from fully exercising their rights as citizens and
gender inequity is maintained by this denial of autonomy. Legalizing abortion is a
recognition and respect of women as independent individuals with the capacity to make
knowledgeable decisions regarding their reproductive health.
Second, when it comes to abortion, safety and regulation are the most important
factors. Women are compelled to seek out risky, covert treatments when abortion is
prohibited or severely limited; these procedures sometimes result in serious
complications or even death. Legalization of abortion makes it possible for appropriate
control and regulation, guaranteeing that the operations are carried out in a hygienic
environment by qualified medical personnel. In addition to safeguarding women's
health and wellbeing, this lessens the strain that treating complications from unsafe
abortions places on healthcare systems. Legal abortion also promotes family planning
and contraceptive counseling and education, which benefits society well-being and
general reproductive health.
Legalizing abortion also significantly contributes to keeping children out of
dangerous situations at birth. Many of the women who find themselves pregnant against
their will are not emotionally, financially, or socially ready to parent. Enforcing these
women to bring undesired pregnancies to term has the potential to sustain abusive,
neglectful, and impoverished cycles. Women who may legally access abortions are
empowered to make informed decisions about their reproductive destiny and to put
their own and their children's health first. Legalized abortion can contribute to ending
the cycle of poverty by avoiding unintended pregnancies and lowering the number of
children born into unstable and difficult conditions.
Despite these strong justifications, opponents of abortion frequently point to
religious convictions for their objection. Nonetheless, in secular nations, it is crucial to
understand the separation of religion and state. Public policy shouldn't be governed by
religious concepts, particularly when it comes to issues involving individual rights and
liberties. While people have the right to practice their religion as they see fit, forcing
someone else to adopt your views through legislation goes against the idea of religious
freedom and threatens the secular basis of government. Furthermore, public policy
should be founded on the ideas of inclusion and respect for diversity because varied
societies are made up of individuals with a variety of moral and religious beliefs.
Comparing and contrasting adoption versus abortion. Adoption and abortion are
frequently compared in the abortion debate, with some people contending that adoption
is a better option overall. Adoption is unquestionably a worthwhile option for some
women who find themselves pregnant against their will, but it's important to
acknowledge the complexity of both options and comprehend why abortion could be the
better decision for many [Link] the restrictions and difficulties
associated with the adoption process is crucial. Adoption can provide needy children
loving, secure homes, but the truth is that a lot of foster children experience difficult
circumstances, such as instability, overcrowding, and a lack of permanent placement
choices. All parties involved in an adoption, including the child, birth parents, and
adoptive parents, may find the adoption process to be emotionally stressful and
complicated.
It's important to understand that legalizing abortion does not mean that babies' or
unborn children's rights are completely disregarded in regards to those of the fetus or
unborn kid. Instead, it shows an understanding of the complicated nature of
reproductive rights and the necessity of striking a balance between conflicting interests
in a varied community. It's critical to recognize the difference between potential and real
life while discussing baby rights in the context of abortion. A fetus does not have the
same legal and moral standing as a born kid, despite the fact that it has the capacity to
develop into a fully formed human person.
Keeping abortion legal ensures a woman’s safety when faced with unplanned
pregnancies, provides hope for rape victims and helps them in moving on with their
lives, and protects women’s rights. Making abortion illegal does not stop women from
trying to terminate a pregnancy, nor does it save lives. Rather, it does the
opposite—illegalizing abortion puts women in danger and prevents them from having
control over their own bodies.
Sources:
Abortion Rights - Amnesty International. (2024, May 7). Amnesty International.
[Link]
ts/
Ray, N. (2023, January 30). Progress on Abortion Rights in the Philippines. Center for
Reproductive Rights.
[Link]
criminalization/
Making abortion legal - Ipas. (2024, May 2). Ipas.
[Link]
IHealth benefits of legal abortion: an analysis. (n.d.). PubMed.
[Link]
