Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Response Question 3
Before women actually get an abortion there are many factors and unknown circumstances that contribute to her decision to go through with the procedure. Under what circumstances do you think that abortion is socially/morally acceptable, if you think abortion is never acceptable, why is don't you approve of the reasons behind the choice?
Response Question 2
Another factor that affects the abortion process is whether or not parental consent is needed to perform the procedure. Parental consent involves the parent being informed of the abortion before it occurs, and in some giving permission for their teen to get an abortion. Do you think that parental consent should be mandated in all states or do you believe that teens should be allowed to make the decision for themselves?
Response Question 1
Many people argue about when human life officially begins, and this debate sways their opinion on whether or not abortion should be made illegal. Often times people believe that the earlier an abortion is performed the more moral it is, and the later the abortion occurs the more inhumane it is. When do you think human life begins, and how does this affect your stance on abortion?
Our Stance on Abortion
After doing a great deal of research on the topic of abortion and many opinions read, our group came up split on how we felt about the controversial issue of abortion. Two of us, Brynn and Margaret, found that they were pro-choice and felt that abortions were acceptable. While the other on of us, Shannon, decided that she was pro-life and against the choice to abort. After this stalemate we decided that the two different sides would each write their own stance on abortion and post them here.
Shannon's Stance:
Abortion is a decision made between a doctor and the mother but someone is being left out. The unborn baby, not only is this child a person it is living. Some people believe that a baby is not a human being until it has been born but I believe conception is where life begins. A person's a person... no matter how small...taking a life away that has not been given the chance to live is unthinkable to me. People should not be allowed to kill more than 3,000 babies a day, babies who don't even have a voice. Abortion is allowed in the United States through all 9 months of the pregnancy, so if you do not believe that a fetus is not human is a 9 month old unborn baby still not a person?
There are many reasons that a woman would feel the need to abort her child but these are all excuses. Financial crisis's, unplanned parenthood, this all cannot be blamed on the child because it is in no way his or her fault. If anyone becomes pregnant it is no ones fault but their own and this mistake should not cost the life of another. Stopping abortion could bring new lives into this world whom might not have been given a chance to walk this earth. If all of us living being started off as fetuses what gives us the right to live and denies the aborted babies that right. As U.S.A citizens we should not be denying any of the rights granted in the constitution, one of which is life.
Brynn & Margaret's Stance:
We feel that abortion is an acceptable option that woman should have access to as a last resort. There are many reasons that a woman could choose to get an abortion, including rape, lack of means to take care of the child, lack of time to dedicate to the baby, incest, young age, lack of a significant other to help them with the child, or simple fear of what will happen to them and their lives after the birth of the baby. We believe that all of these reasons are equally viable as acceptable reasons to get an abortion. Some may say that these are just excuses, but we see them as showing a sense of responsibility of the woman. She knows her limits.
If the United States made abortions an illegal procedure the consequences would be severe. Without having a qualified doctor legally allowed to perform the procedure many women would resort to "back alley" abortions which would put their lives at an extreme risk. They would have to rely on inexperienced, perhaps not even doctors, to perform their abortion. We think that this risk associated with making abortions illegal is too great a chance to take regarding the safety of American citizens.
We also think that the government, or others, do not have the right to impose their morals on women. These women choosing to get an abortion should have the opportunity to make their own choice on whether or not to have their child, and the government should not have a say in this. In the long run the woman choosing to have the baby is the one is most affected by her decision, not the government.
Lastly, every child who is brought into this world should be a child that is going to be cared for and loved to the best ability of the parent. If a woman knows that she can not provide for a loving environment for her child then she should definitely have the chance to get an abortion. Having abortions as a legal option decreases the number of children wrongfully brought into this world and the number of abused children.
Shannon's Stance:
Abortion is a decision made between a doctor and the mother but someone is being left out. The unborn baby, not only is this child a person it is living. Some people believe that a baby is not a human being until it has been born but I believe conception is where life begins. A person's a person... no matter how small...taking a life away that has not been given the chance to live is unthinkable to me. People should not be allowed to kill more than 3,000 babies a day, babies who don't even have a voice. Abortion is allowed in the United States through all 9 months of the pregnancy, so if you do not believe that a fetus is not human is a 9 month old unborn baby still not a person?
There are many reasons that a woman would feel the need to abort her child but these are all excuses. Financial crisis's, unplanned parenthood, this all cannot be blamed on the child because it is in no way his or her fault. If anyone becomes pregnant it is no ones fault but their own and this mistake should not cost the life of another. Stopping abortion could bring new lives into this world whom might not have been given a chance to walk this earth. If all of us living being started off as fetuses what gives us the right to live and denies the aborted babies that right. As U.S.A citizens we should not be denying any of the rights granted in the constitution, one of which is life.
Brynn & Margaret's Stance:
We feel that abortion is an acceptable option that woman should have access to as a last resort. There are many reasons that a woman could choose to get an abortion, including rape, lack of means to take care of the child, lack of time to dedicate to the baby, incest, young age, lack of a significant other to help them with the child, or simple fear of what will happen to them and their lives after the birth of the baby. We believe that all of these reasons are equally viable as acceptable reasons to get an abortion. Some may say that these are just excuses, but we see them as showing a sense of responsibility of the woman. She knows her limits.
If the United States made abortions an illegal procedure the consequences would be severe. Without having a qualified doctor legally allowed to perform the procedure many women would resort to "back alley" abortions which would put their lives at an extreme risk. They would have to rely on inexperienced, perhaps not even doctors, to perform their abortion. We think that this risk associated with making abortions illegal is too great a chance to take regarding the safety of American citizens.
We also think that the government, or others, do not have the right to impose their morals on women. These women choosing to get an abortion should have the opportunity to make their own choice on whether or not to have their child, and the government should not have a say in this. In the long run the woman choosing to have the baby is the one is most affected by her decision, not the government.
Lastly, every child who is brought into this world should be a child that is going to be cared for and loved to the best ability of the parent. If a woman knows that she can not provide for a loving environment for her child then she should definitely have the chance to get an abortion. Having abortions as a legal option decreases the number of children wrongfully brought into this world and the number of abused children.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
History of Abortion in the United States
Originally in the United States abortion was not only a legal option, but widely encourage and available to those who desired the procedure. This attitude was widely accepted until 1821 when Connecticut became the first state to make a law against legal abortions. After this first law barring abortions other states began to follow suit to the point where in 1860 twenty states had laws against terminating pregnancies. By 1965 all fifty states banned abortions.
For a long time period the topic stayed untouched on the political scene until 1965 when the Supreme Court, in the case of Griswold v Connecticut, ruled against prohibiting giving married couples information about birth control and contraceptives. This case showed people gave people confidence in their ability to change the political scene regarding birth control, and hinted that changes in other areas, such as abortion, were possible. Very shortly after in 1967 Colorado made the first law that allowed its people to get legal abortions.
In 1973 a landmark case on the topic of abortion was raised. In the case, Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court ruled against state laws that made abortions illegal. This hugely controversial case sparked intense debates, still alive today, on the topic of abortion and its questionable legality. After the ruling in Roe v Wade Congress made the first Hyde Amendment, saying that federal Medicaid would not be used to pay for economically challenged women to have abortions. The next year this amendment was revised, allowing abortions to be covered in cases of rape, incest, or when it would damage on a a long term level the woman.
Today abortion is still a widely debated topic that continues to appear in court cases around the nation. Legislation is still constantly changing regarding limitations and restrictions on abortion and whether or not women should have the right to an abortion.
For a long time period the topic stayed untouched on the political scene until 1965 when the Supreme Court, in the case of Griswold v Connecticut, ruled against prohibiting giving married couples information about birth control and contraceptives. This case showed people gave people confidence in their ability to change the political scene regarding birth control, and hinted that changes in other areas, such as abortion, were possible. Very shortly after in 1967 Colorado made the first law that allowed its people to get legal abortions.
In 1973 a landmark case on the topic of abortion was raised. In the case, Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court ruled against state laws that made abortions illegal. This hugely controversial case sparked intense debates, still alive today, on the topic of abortion and its questionable legality. After the ruling in Roe v Wade Congress made the first Hyde Amendment, saying that federal Medicaid would not be used to pay for economically challenged women to have abortions. The next year this amendment was revised, allowing abortions to be covered in cases of rape, incest, or when it would damage on a a long term level the woman.
Today abortion is still a widely debated topic that continues to appear in court cases around the nation. Legislation is still constantly changing regarding limitations and restrictions on abortion and whether or not women should have the right to an abortion.
Reasons for Aborting-US 2004
This pie chart demonstrates the reasons women gave for having their babies aborted. Some people believe that abortions should be made illegal/legal based on the reason for the termination.
*click to enlarge*
*click to enlarge*
American Opinions on the Legality of Abortion Based on Point in Pregnancy
Many Americans are more likely to approve of abortion when the abortion is executed very early on into the pregnancy. This graph illustrates the opinions of Americans on when during a pregnancy abortion should take place.*click to enlarge*
Map of US Depicting Parental Consent Laws
The map shown here displays the parental consent laws in the United States. Parental consent is when parents are required to be informed before their teen gets an abortion, making the abortion harder to achieve.*click to enlarge*
Number of Weeks into Pregnancies that Abortions are Employed
This pie graph shows how far into the pregnancy the woman chose to terminate the fetus. This information depicts how quickly women choose to abort, before the fetus is too developed.*click to enlarge*
Number of Abortions in the US
This graph depicts the number of abortions annually in the United States. It is clear that the numbers went up after unrestricted abortion legislation was changed in 1973.
*click to enlarge*
*click to enlarge*
Pro Abortion Information
Essentially "pro-choice" (pro-abortion) thinkers believe that abortion is an acceptable practice that should be continued. They base their arguments on ideas like a woman would lose control of her body to the government if abortions were made illegal. She would lose the rights to make choices about her future and the future of her unborn child. This leads to another pro-choice belief that it is far better for a woman to know her limits and terminate the pregnancy before bringing a baby into a world where it would be neglected and not taken care of properly. Having abortion as a legal option allows woman to choose whether or not they have the ability to raise and care for a baby.
Pro abortion thinkers also believe that as a result of making abortion illegal more "back alley" abortions would occur. This means that since qualified doctors would not be allowed to perform the procedure women would have to resort to inexperienced people who don't know what they are doing or the result of completing the procedure in an incorrect manner.
One main argument of pro choice is that the fetus is technically not alive yet, therefore deeming abortion not a murder. They think that while the baby is still less than three months old it does not have enough human characteristics to qualify as a living being. This lack of vitality decreases the guilt associated with abortion and makes its a more humane process.
Lastly, abortion gives young teens and unready mothers a final option to save their situation. These woman may have a full life ahead of them, that an abortion could keep them from. In order to reach their full potential the pro-choice group thinks that abortion should be a legal option to keeping young women from being trapped by their babies.
For More Information About Pro-Choice Stances Please Visit...
http://www.pregnantpause.org/abort/choicarg.htm
http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528su%252CNone%252C10%2529pro%2Bchoice%2524&contentSet=GSRC&sort=Relevance&tabID=T010&sgCurrentPosition=0&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&prodId=OVRC&searchId=R1¤tPosition=11&userGroupName=wiltonhs&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28SU%2CNone%2C10%29pro+choice%24&inPS=true&searchType=BasicSearchForm&displaySubject=&docId=EJ3010034217&docType=GSRC
Pro abortion thinkers also believe that as a result of making abortion illegal more "back alley" abortions would occur. This means that since qualified doctors would not be allowed to perform the procedure women would have to resort to inexperienced people who don't know what they are doing or the result of completing the procedure in an incorrect manner.
One main argument of pro choice is that the fetus is technically not alive yet, therefore deeming abortion not a murder. They think that while the baby is still less than three months old it does not have enough human characteristics to qualify as a living being. This lack of vitality decreases the guilt associated with abortion and makes its a more humane process.
Lastly, abortion gives young teens and unready mothers a final option to save their situation. These woman may have a full life ahead of them, that an abortion could keep them from. In order to reach their full potential the pro-choice group thinks that abortion should be a legal option to keeping young women from being trapped by their babies.
For More Information About Pro-Choice Stances Please Visit...
http://www.pregnantpause.org/abort/choicarg.htm
http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528su%252CNone%252C10%2529pro%2Bchoice%2524&contentSet=GSRC&sort=Relevance&tabID=T010&sgCurrentPosition=0&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&prodId=OVRC&searchId=R1¤tPosition=11&userGroupName=wiltonhs&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28SU%2CNone%2C10%29pro+choice%24&inPS=true&searchType=BasicSearchForm&displaySubject=&docId=EJ3010034217&docType=GSRC
Con Abortion Information
The basis for "pro life" (anti-abortion) thinking stems from the idea that while a fetus is not yet born, it is still a living being and you are taking a life. Some even go as far to suggest that abortion is murder. Pro life thinkers believe that often times the decision to abort is made by inexperienced teens who do not know what they are doing, and are not capable of making an educated choice. They think that it's possible to take away societal contributions that could potentially be made by the unborn baby. For all the woman knows her child could cure cancer or be the next Einstein.
Not only does abortion take away from society, it also takes away from the rights of the unborn fetus. In the Constitution we are all guaranteed the right to life, liberty, and property, but by aborting an innocent baby we are taking away these inherent rights.
Lastly, abortion is also a danger to the woman who chooses to follow through with it. The choice to get an abortion can come with major health consequences as well as the potential to lose her fertility. The woman must risk her own health and future child bearing potential to terminate her pregnancy with an abortion. There are also many psychological effects after getting an abortion. Pro life thinkers believe that the woman could feel extreme guilt for her decision to abort, and also lose the approval of the child's father. Since abortion is such a controversial issue making the choice to abort also could lead to disapproval by family members or friends, leaving the woman with no support network after the procedure.
For More Information Regarding Anti-Abortion Stances Please Visit...
http://www.choicematters.org/articles/legal-abortion-arguments-pro-con/
http://www.feministsforlife.org/news/commonw.htm
http://www.nrlc.org/
Not only does abortion take away from society, it also takes away from the rights of the unborn fetus. In the Constitution we are all guaranteed the right to life, liberty, and property, but by aborting an innocent baby we are taking away these inherent rights.
Lastly, abortion is also a danger to the woman who chooses to follow through with it. The choice to get an abortion can come with major health consequences as well as the potential to lose her fertility. The woman must risk her own health and future child bearing potential to terminate her pregnancy with an abortion. There are also many psychological effects after getting an abortion. Pro life thinkers believe that the woman could feel extreme guilt for her decision to abort, and also lose the approval of the child's father. Since abortion is such a controversial issue making the choice to abort also could lead to disapproval by family members or friends, leaving the woman with no support network after the procedure.
For More Information Regarding Anti-Abortion Stances Please Visit...
http://www.choicematters.org/articles/legal-abortion-arguments-pro-con/
http://www.feministsforlife.org/news/commonw.htm
http://www.nrlc.org/
THESIS
Our thesis statement for this blog is...
What are the pros and cons of abortion and how do these factors influence our own opinions and the opinions of others?
Definition/ Pre-Research Soures
According to the medical dictionary abortion is defined as the following. Please use this definition to formulate your own opinions on the subject matter.
"An abortion is the premature exit of the products of conception (the fetus, fetal membranes, and placenta) from the uterus. It is the loss of a pregnancy and does not refer to why that pregnancy was lost.
A spontaneous abortion is the same as a miscarriage. The miscarriage of 3 or more consecutive pregnancies is termed habitual abortion."
Works Cited for Pre-Research Print Soures Whose Information Contributed to the Development of the Bog
Hull, N.E.H., and Charles Hoffer. Roe v. Wade The Abortion Rights Controversy in
American History. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas, 2001.
Print.
Luker, Kristin. Abortion & the Politics of Motherhood. Berkley, CA: University of
California Press, 1984. Print.
Lunneborg, Patricia. Abortion: A Positive Decision. New York: Bergin & Garvery,
1992.
Rosenblatt, Roger. Life Itself: Abortion in the American Mind. New York: Random
House, Inc., 1992. Print.
Williams, Mary. Abortion: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press,
Inc., 2002. Print.
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