The Morality of Abortion The topic of abortion and it’s morality has been an extremely passionate debate for some time now. While many are against it, there are also many that support it for a variation of reasons. The question of the morality of abortion is a main focal point in these opposing views. Although both sides provide applicable reasoning for their stance, particular circumstances provide a slight edge for those that are pro-abortion. A variation of circumstances, including but not limited to, victims of rape, health concerns for the mother of the unborn child, and at times even financial woes easily make the morality of abortion morally acceptable. In the following, these situational circumstances will be discussed, explored, and supported to provide evidence of the moral standpoint from which each circumstance stands on. Abortion has been a practice for many decades now. “The practice of abortion, the medical removal of a fetus, has been known since at least ancient times. Various methods have been used to perform an abortion, including the administration of abortifacient herbs, the use of sharpened implements, the application of abdominal pressure, and other techniques.” (Devereux, 1967). This practice has been used for many reasons for many years, some morally acceptable, some not. A particular reason that most find morally acceptable is abortion from a survivor of rape. The morality factors normally included in any argument against abortion and it’s morality are difficult, and nearly impossible, to defend when dealing with a circumstance involving a victim of rape. “One per cent (of aborting women) reported that they were the survivors of rape (NAF).” (Abort73, 2015). Although this percentile is low in comparison to other reasons for abortion, it tends to not be a prominent focal point in debates between the morality, or lack thereof, in abortion practices. The strongest argument towards abortion practices in cases involving rape victims tends to be based off of religious beliefs. This argument may provide an interpersonal clash in the decision making of the woman contemplating and/or practicing abortion in this case, but is easily dismissive for those that do not hold the same or similar religious beliefs. The physically, emotionally, and psychologically traumatizing results attached to survivors of rape is normally more than enough evidence to provide a firm foundation for the morality of abortion in this particular circumstance. Victims of rape are not the only morality defendable circumstances in the practice of abortion. Many women in this day and age have many health issues. A variation of these health issues make it a major health risk for a woman to carry an unborn child. In many cases, the act of giving birth while dealing with health issues can cause a raise in concern for the well-being of the mother, at times to the extent of being concerned the mother may die during the process of giving birth. These health issues include, but are not limited to, a variation of cancer patients, women with health conditions that require blood transfusions, and the health status of internal organs involved in the pregnancy and delivery processes. “Only 12% of women included a physical problem with their health among reasons for having an abortion (NAF).” (Abort73, 2015). At this percentile, it is made more clear how the concerns via health issues give the practice of abortion some morality in this circumstance. A good reason for this is the fact that this statistic shows the amount of women that decided to partake in abortion because of health risks, but also leaves the ideology of the amount of women that did not and ultimately passed away because of the health risks attached to the pregnancy and delivery phases. Health risks and victims of rape aren’t the only valid reasoning for the practice of abortion to have morality. The mental state of an individual plays a major role in every aspect of that individual’s life. The decision making process, as well as the interpersonal perspective of the world as a whole, is largely affected by the mental state of an individual. That being said, it can be argued that a woman suffering from depression could easily look at abortion as a more favorable decision. The argument attached to this ideology could be made that one would have to be inconsiderate, selfish, and careless to bring another life into a world that they personally only find pain and despair in. Another argument could be made that an individual with this perspective on the world could be considered to have sociopathic behavior for doing so, making them a higher risk at not being capable of parenting at a suitable level. An argument assumed to be applicable with this particular circumstance could be that one could still give birth and then give the child up for adoption. The flaw in this argument would be that it completely disregards, and fails to negate, the validity of the perspective of the individual’s viewpoint of the current state of society and its negative implications perceived on an interpersonal level. Financial difficulties is a more popular reason for many women to partake in the practice of abortion. “On average, women give at least 3 reasons for choosing abortion: 3/4 say that having a baby would interfere with work, school or other responsibilities; about 3/4 say they cannot afford a child; and 1/2 say they do not want to be a single parent or are having problems with their husband or partner (AGI).” (Abort73, 2015). Although the argument of adoption being a higher morality standpoint in this circumstance, it doesn’t completely negate the validity of the concerns attached to this particular circumstance. The time, financial necessities, and the emotional attachment required during the pregnancy process are still a major part of the process of giving birth. The financial problems don’t simply go away for the estimated time period of nine months of the pregnancy, making it a valid reason and concern. The morality in this is questioned from a standpoint of assumption, typically negating the situational and unique factors to each individual case. Simply put, if the resources are not there, then they are simply not there. If they are not there, then it would be irrational to attempt to go forth with the duration of the pregnancy and then give birth. The morality of abortion is, and more than likely, will always be a hot topic of debate. Although neither side has a clear dominant perspective in the perspective of individuals that remain neutral on the topic, there are and always will be particular circumstances that make the practice of abortion morally proper. This does not mean all circumstances and cases hold high morality, but the circumstances that do not can’t negate the validity of the moral presence of the circumstances that do. Every circumstance is different in it’s own way. Therefore, particular circumstances in cases of abortion do indeed contain morality.

References
Devereux, G (1967). A typological study of abortion in 350 primitive, ancient, and pre-industrial societies. In Harold Rosen. Abortion in America: Medical, psychiatric, legal, anthropological, and religious considerations. Boston, Massachusetts: Beacon Press. OCLC 187445. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
Abort73 (2015). Facts About Abortion. US Abortion Statistics. Retrieved on November 25, 2015 from http://www.abort73.com/abortion_facts/us_abortion_statistics/