...Abortion: A Womans Right To Reproductive Freedom A woman’s Right to Reproductive Freedom “One of the things that makes humans different from other animals is that we are not completely governed by instincts, but have the freedom to make choices” (CCC 9). By nature Humans tend to take different stands in matters that require personal opinions. The controversy of opposite and conflicting feelings about abortion is centuries old. The word “murder” is often used by many pro-lifers to describe abortion. The American Heritage College dictionary defines murder as- premeditated, unlawful killing of one human being by another. But when pro-choice activists support abortions due to unwanted pregnancies, the activists are not rallying behind the idea of sexual incompetence. Rather, they are supporting the idea that women have the right to choose what to do with their own bodies, especially when certain situations such as congenital defects, rape, and financial situation are justifiable reasons for the act. Anti-abortionists have numerous reasons for their beliefs, many of which are attached to their religious ideals, defending the sanctity of human life. They believe that human life commences at conception and that the death of that fetus resembles the murder of an innocent human being. They believe that no one has the power to take command of another’s life, mainly an infant that is dependent on others for survival during the initial stages of life. In addition to the...
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...Abortion, [the termination of a pregnancy, resulting in the death of the embryo or fetus], is a controversial issue in the United States. The right for an abortion was first given attention in 1973, when a woman who used her alias name, Jane Roe, confronted the illegal abortion laws in Texas. The state indentified any action trying to violate the abortion law with the exception of the mother’s life being in danger was considered a criminal act. The final decision of the Supreme Court supported Roe, and she helped bring the constitutional rights to herself and other women in the country. (“Lewis”) The Ninth Amendment in the Bill of Rights which states that, “the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny...
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...October 7, 2012 Abortion- Pro Choice Abortion has always been a controversial subject among our society. Whether we are involved directly or indirectly, whether we are for it or against it; it is nearly impossible to find someone who doesn’t have an opinion about abortion. Since 1973 abortion has been an important issue within the United States. 1973 marks the year that the famous Rowe versus Wade case was decided before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that abortion be legal and available to all women. Legal abortions can be performed up to 24 weeks according to prochoice.org after twenty-four weeks most doctors or clinics will not perform the procedure unless keeping the baby presents a medical risk to the mother. I believe that every person is entitled to his or her own opinions, beliefs, thoughts, and rights. Denying women the right to choose abortion in the early stages of fetal development is denying her rights as a U.S. citizen and is also discrimination against her person. The moral question has always been whether or not it should be a woman’s decision to get an abortion. The other side of that question is whether the government should have control over a woman’s body and forbid her to get an abortion. Pro-life supporters believe that abortion is wrong because it involves the death of a human being on the other hand Pro-choice believes in woman’s right to choose. I am certain that abortion is a personal choice, and this freedom should be protected for all...
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...of one’s life deprives one of all the experiences, activities, projects, and enjoyments which would otherwise have constituted one’s future. Therefore, killing someone is wrong, primarily because the killing inflicts (one of) the greatest possible losses on the victim. This is one of the most hotly contested topics in today’s society. People adopt different viewpoints on this which include: • Abortion is wrong whatever the reasons • Abortion is permissible if the woman’s life is at risk • Abortion is acceptable for a variety of reasons Your opinion on whether abortion is acceptable or not very much depends upon your set of values. If you feel that it is a woman’s right to choose then you are likely to favor the ‘pro-choice’ stance. But if you argue that the fetus has rights and should be treated the same as any other human being then you will adopt the ‘pro-life’ stance. Opponents of abortion cite several reasons for their opposition which include the killing of an innocent human being, the fetus’s right to life, the responsibility of the woman towards the fetus and respect for all forms of life. There are people who are against abortion on principle but do recognize that there are situations in which abortion may be the only rational alternative. This does not mean that they have discarded their beliefs or attitudes; rather that they accept that life is not black and white and that there may be a case whereby an abortion can mean the difference between life and death...
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...differently. Life is about making choices and our maker and society gives us the freedom to choose. It is because of these choices that we will make a decision as to if we are ethically right or wrong. This is because regardless of what people may believe abortion is neither right nor wrong. It is the matter of a personal opinion where each side can say with conviction that the other side is wrong. Abortion is the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus in order to end a pregnancy. Abortion is one of the most controversial issues around and it will remain an issue that will never be agreed upon. The issue of morals has been put into the question of whether it should be legal to have an abortion thus elevating the subject to a higher level. Some people no longer look at abortion as a question of choice but as a question of morality, and these perceptions have led to a full-blown debate over something that should not be questioned. A single pregnant woman brought a class action suit that challenged the Texas law that prohibited abortions except when medically advised with the purpose of saving the mother’s life. Roe was the single mother in this case and Henry Wade was one of the attorneys that argued the case in Texas’s defense. Roe vs. Wade was first argued in the Supreme Court on December 13, 1971, was reargued in October 11, 1972 and again on January 22, 1973 when it was acknowledged that Roe’s ninth and 14th amendment rights had been insignificant and invalid...
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...Civil Liberties and Rights in America Connie Palmer POL: American National Government Instructor: Sara Rogers 4-29-2013 The right to privacy is a civil liberty every American enjoys. The right to privacy is an important freedom for everyone everywhere not just in certain states. Women in America should have the right to do whatever she feels is best for her. The street law website states, “The fourteenth amendment says not state shall deny to any person with in justification the equal protection of the laws.” Women in America are concerned states having different laws concerning abortion. Women have different reasons for wanting or needing an abortion. Some women may be restrictive to the laws and her life could be in danger. The law in Texas states women cannot receive an abortion unless her life could be in danger. This restriction on abortion infringes on the civil liberties of women in the United States. Personally, I believe women should have the right to receive an abortion under certain circumstances. I agree with the law in Texas to a point. I feel if the woman’s life is in jeopardy, if the pregnancy is a result of a rape, or if the fetus is not developing normally are the only reasons I think a woman should receive an abortion. This may be hypocritical of me, but I believe an abortion should not be a justification for birth control. I feel strongly about the right of a woman to choose life or to choose an abortion. Public policy protects the rights of women to choose...
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...where democracy rules and the right to freedom of choice are set at a high priority among citizens, it’s not hard to see pro-choice and pro-life ideals going head on. In this paper I will explain some of the major reasons woman have abortions, as well as how if we are truly a democratic society and we do have freedom, then pro-choice and legalizing abortion is the answer. I will also talk about ethical issues, and how the effect of legalized abortions has affected other countries, as opposed to countries where abortions are illegal. One of the major reasons some women have abortions is because they are too young, other reasons include not wanting to stop work or school, or simply can’t afford it. Some incidents of abortions include rape and incest which are big factors in under privileged countries like Africa. In developing countries, women have the additional concern of health risks and complications that occur as a result of unsafe practices in medical settings. This occurs when there is little social support, when a specific gender of a child is preferred or when governments enforce population control, such as China’s One Child Policy (Juggle, 2012). These reasons are consistent across numerous countries, but the difference between other countries and the US is that we have freedoms and inalienable rights which say woman have the right to make a choice. This country was founded on the ideal of freedom for all, and with that came freedom of choice. Once we make the mistake...
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...Pornography benefits women, both personally and politically (McElroy.W 1995. XXX: A Women’s Right to Pornography). Comment on this statement examining both sides of the argument. Pornography is any type of material that depicts erotic behaviour and is intended to cause sexual excitement in its audience. It is an issue that has been under constant debate in our society and there are many arguments for and against pornography it has been extensively debated whether pornographic material should be legally protected or banned. Those who believe pornography must be protected argue that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, including sexual expression. A strong defender to this view is McElroy, who reflects this in her writing of “XXX: A Woman’s Right to Pornography”. Opponents of McElroy’s view raise moral concerns, arguing that the First Amendment does not protect expression that corrupts people's behaviour, therefore defending the suppression of pornography because it perpetuates gender stereotypes, as women are reduced to nothing more than sex objects which promotes violence against women and that men are viewed as “naturally” oppressive and violent and they are ruled by their sexual natures. Opponents also believe that even if pornography is viewed as speech it should be treated as a low value form of speech that is not entitled to First Amendment protection. According to the Radical feminist view, men are socialized to have sexual desires...
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...a commandment from God. On the contrary, other people say that to choose safe abortion is a right for women and the anti-abortion position is usually based on religious beliefs and threatens the vital separation of church and state. In fact, abortion is completely safe and to hinder abortion also means to limit the women’s rights and cause harmful effects for them and their families. The government should give women the right to decide what they can or cannot do with their bodies instead of having some politicians or churches dictate this to them. To see this more clearly, we should have a look at the current situation of abortion. The issue of abortion is popular, controversial and closely related to the problem of women’s equality in our society. According to the Guttmacher Institute, each year, almost half of all pregnancies among American women are unintended. About half of these unplanned pregnancies, 1.3 million per year, are ended by abortion (par. 1, 3). In 1973, the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade ruled that women have the right to an abortion during the first 6 months of pregnancy, thereby legalizing abortion. The court asserted that abortion is a fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution (Jost 735). Despite that, women today are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain legal abortions. Although the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision supposedly protects a woman's...
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... To an advocate or pro-choice, this would be considered an aggravating circumstance and a reasonable excuse to abort the child since it was not conceived out of love or by the woman’s choice. To an advocate of pro-life, although this is an unfortunate occurrence, aborting this child would be morally wrong and considered murder. Abortion is touchy subject that has essentially divided the nation. On one side people believe that is a woman’s choice regardless of the circumstances. On the other side, there are people who believe that the unborn child is a human being at conception and has the right to a life. Abortion is a very controversial public issue, which highlight two opposing views in regards to abortion and support both views with research. We must first get the full meaning of the word “abortion” before we can talk about it. According to the book “Introduction to Abortion,” it is any procedure that removes a fetus from a woman’s womb” (Roleff). Abortion end’s a pregnancy and terminates a fetus’s life. For most people this very harsh thing to do, but to the women who were sexually assaulted, they feel it is the best decision for them. Who is right? The debate over abortion has divided people in two groups: pro-life and pro-choice. Pro-life group are against abortions and believe that life begins at conception. They also believe the unborn fetus should have the same choices as other persons. The Pro-choice groups protect a woman’s right to choose when and how...
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...hurting one another and treating each other as equals, what is right and what we consider to be wrong. When treating the mentally ill there can be different forms of restraint used such as physical restraint which refers to restricting an individual’s movement, Chemical restraint is giving a patient a pill or injection to make them more compliant and mechanical restraint is using straps and restrictive devices such as straight jackets. For the purpose of this essay physical restraint will...
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...Abortion: Right or Wrong? Kymber McLay Charter College Abstract Start Abstract here Keywords: This paper explores the pros and cons of abortion. Many people believe differently on whether it is right or wrong. [ Abortion ]: Right or Wrong? Abortion has been a huge topic in the United States for years now, and whether it is the right thing to do or not has caused many debates. It was declared a fundamental right by the U.S. Supreme Court during Roe vs. Wade, yet many people beg to differ. The ones who believe it is right identify themselves as pro-choice, believing that abortion is a woman’s right and that it should not be limited by governmental or religious authority. Identifying as pro-life, the opponents believe that it is immoral killing and that personhood begins at conception. No matter what each side thinks, there will always be arguments about it. The choice to abort a fetus is central to a woman’s independence and ability to determine her own future. "A woman's autonomy to determine her life's course, and thus to enjoy equal citizenship stature,” stated by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg during Gonzales vs. Carhart (2007). A woman’s decision can affect her life for the good or the bad, but if abortion was illegal, then a woman cannot make the best decision for herself. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote, "The ability of women to participate equally in the economic and social life of the Nation has been facilitated by their ability...
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...Reference……………………………………………………………………………. 10 Introduction The issue on abortion has always been a world-renowned issue that is highly debated among the government, the liberals and the conservatives. The battle between choosing order or freedom has been a question that many cannot answer as the pros and cons in this issue are at an equal balance. An individual’s moral and religious view are questioned when it comes to this issue as well as a women’s right to choose. The two groups that come into play in this issue is those who supports the pro-life movement and those who supports the pro-choice movement. The pro-life movement is against abortion because they believe that the unborn child has to right to choose whether to be born and the mother does not have the right to terminate a life. The pro-choice movement supports abortion because they believe that a mother should be given the right to choose whether or not to bring a life into this world. Whatever the reason it may be for an individual to choose between being against and supporting abortion, the decision to ban abortion is in the hands of the government. Following the Roe vs Wade case in 1973, a decision was made and the Supreme Court ruled that women are given the right for an abortion and this includes the right to privacy during her decision making period. Even though the court ruled to legalize abortion under certain circumstances, the debate between whether the US government should ban the abortion completely is still being...
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...TermPaperWriter.org Abortion The subject of legal abortion has lead to a nationwide, often emotion-filled, debate that has endured for many years and will for many years to come. People are decidedly in either in the ‘pro-choice’ or ‘pro-life’ camp. There are no compromises to 1 be negotiated: one concerned with the life of a child; the other, the freedom of choice and woman’s health. This paper will first present the ‘right-to-life’ then follow with the ‘prochoice’ argument. The right to choose is the foundation upon which this country was built. Those who are pro-abortion trumpet this slogan while proclaiming a woman’s ‘God given right’ to make her own choices without government interference. This simple ideology is embraced by some but the arguments are flawed when the realities of abortion are examined. Studies have shown that most women are coerced into committing this murderous act of a living human and that there is no such thing as safe abortions as many are led to believe. There is little freedom of choice for women who are experiencing an unwanted pregnancy. The women themselves usually wish to bring their baby to full term. Other powerful influences in her life such as husbands/boyfriends, parents and friends are generally the forces that exact pressures on her to terminate the pregnancy. “Eight out of 10 women surveyed after abortion said they would have given birth if they’d had support and encouragement from family and friends” (Reardon, 2002). It’s the abortion...
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...body to bring new life into the world." In the following viewpoint Caitlin Borgmann argues that abortion is ethical for many reasons. First, women have the right to decide what to do with their own bodies, she contends. Second, abortion allows women to participate equally in society by enabling them to postpone childbearing until they finish school or establish their careers. Borgmann also maintains that abortion allows women to have children only when they are ready to take care of them, and protects their health by allowing women to terminate pregnancies at legal clinics. At the time this article was written, Caitlin Borgmann was state strategies coordinator for the American Civil Liberties Union Reproductive Freedom Project in New York. As you read, consider the following questions: What two groups of women does the author suggest suffer the most due to restrictions on abortion rights? In the author's view, in addition to a woman's right to choose, what else does the pro-choice movement stand for? What examples does the author use to support her argument that institutional opposition to abortion rights is part of a campaign to undermine women's autonomy and equality? The movement to preserve and advance reproductive freedom is suffering the consequences of a great victory. The establishment of the constitutional right to abortion in Roe v. Wade was a monumental step that changed the lives of American women. Girls grow up today under the mantle of Roe, never having known...
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