Abortion: one of the most controversial topics for decades. In 1973, the Supreme Court decided that abortion is legal in the first trimester in the famous court case of Roe v. Wade. This court case shaped the U.S., dividing most of it into pro-choice and pro-life sides.
When it comes to abortion, many people have very extreme views. Many of these views stem from religion. I was raised Catholic, and I remember learning about abortion in the seventh grade at Catholic School. I remember learning that it was against our religion to have an abortion. Catholics believe that "human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception." I remember my religion teacher reading us scenarios in which we decided if we thought that the woman should get an abortion or should not. One of them went like this, "A fifteen year old girl is pregnant. She is not married and lives in a cave in an outback area with very little money or resources. The man she is engaged to is not the father of the baby. There is no hospital or doctor available. Would you recommend that she get an abortion?" As a class, we thought that it might be reasonable for her to get an abortion. Our teacher then told us, "In that case, you would have just aborted Jesus Christ!" (Here's a link to other scenarios: http://www.catholic-convert.com/blog/2013/07/10/should-this-baby-be-aborted-you-decide-3/)
This gave us a new perspective on abortion, realizing who's life you might be taking away. Even though I was raised Catholic, I still believe in a woman's right to choose. Like in Susan Davis's article, I believe that women have the right to reproductive freedom. But as the articles on reproductive rights talked about, even though we have the right to abortion, that doesn't mean it is an easy thing to do. Once you get passed all the negativity from pro-life activists, it is still a process.
I read a post on twitter just yesterday, and I thought it was both funny and eye opening. It read, "How about we treat every young man who wants to buy a gun like every woman who wants to get an abortion - mandatory 48-hr waiting period, parental permission, a note from his doctor providing he understands what he's about to do, a video he has to watch about the effects of gun violence, and an ultrasound wand up the ass (just because). Let's close down all but one gun shop in every state and make him travel hundreds of miles, take time off work, and stay overnight in a strange town to get a gun. Make him walk through a gauntlet of people holding photos of loved ones who were shot to death, people who call him a murderer and beg him not to buy a gun. It makes more sense to do this with young men and guns than with women and health care, right? I mean, no woman getting an abortion has killed a room full of people in seconds, right?"
I think that this post poses a good argument on not only the issues that come with abortion, but compares it to another important issue like gun control. It opens up a whole different argument by asking: How can one buy a gun, a tool used for killing, so easily, when it is harder for a woman to get an abortion? I think it is something to think about.
Bailey,
ReplyDeleteI too was raised Catholic and these views start from my religion upbringing. Especially, with the stance that reproductive freedom is looked down upon until after marriage in the Catholic religion. Which gives women a feeling that their power is taken away even with the government regulations and societies views. I personally feel that women are entitled to their fertility rights and control. It puts pressure on women to follow guidelines and not take control of their powers. In the "Contested Terrain" article she states,"The Catholic Church did not prohibit abortion before quickening fetal movement around the fourth month of gestation." Which describes that abortion was once not entirely frowned upon at one point and women still did have the decision to choose. As women pushed for more rights then the Catholic church slowly created more regulations. Granted, the Catholic Church is not the only group against these rights but I feel more affected by it because of my upbringing in the religion. In addition, the comparison to men buying a gun and a woman getting an abortion was interesting. Men are not questioned as much and it would seem strange if they were because of how society perceives each of these acts. I think women's rights are influenced by many outlets such as society, media, government and religions. I wonder if women will ever have as more control over their own body without the thoughts of others pressured on them.
I don’t want this to start a major debate on your blog, such that abortion should be legal or illegal. But, I agree with your statement about abortion being women’s choice. In my opinion, I do not want to have a baby until I am financially able to support my child and have the time to give the child everything it needs. Obviously most people do not want a child at the age 19 while studying their life away in college or at 16 when they are in high school and missing out on all the school dances and trips because they are at home taking care of their child, but I have seen it happen. Successfully, too. But, I still think abortion should be decided by the woman carrying the child because it is her body. Although this can be hard when the father of the child wants to keep the baby and the mother doesn’t, but that is a whole different situation.
ReplyDeleteI love how you incorporate buying a gun in this post also. I feel like it gave a new perspective to relate about when talking about abortion. Men are usually not questioned or hold up a huge argument or dispute over the purchase of a gun. On the other hand, when women want to get an abortion, it is considered murder and the end of the world for them. Mostly because of course (sarcastically) getting an abortion has killed a whole room of people multiple times before, just how your twitter post stated.