In the war between those who are pro abortion, or Pro-Choice, and those who are anti abortion, or Pro-Life, the most important thing to remember is that not everyone who is pro abortion is against having children. On the contrary, there are many pro abortion people who would not have an abortion themselves, but consider themselves Pro-Choice because they believe that every woman has the right to choose for herself whether or not she gives birth.
Pro abortion or Pro-Choice people are primarily concerned with womens rights. The major question about abortion that they consider when arguing for abortion rights is, does a woman have the right to choose what happens to her own body? Overwhelmingly, their belief is yes.
The primary issues that pro abortion people concentrate on aside from the womans right to choose are the effect on the crime rate and back-alley abortions. Economists have studied the crime rate in the United States for decades. But the most interesting recent data shows that the crime rate has dropped dramatically since the legalization of abortion is 1973 with the Supreme Courts ruling on Roe vs. Wade.
There is a direct correlation between the decreased crime rate and this legal precedent. It seems that as poverty stricken women are able to access abortion procedures, unwanted and therefore unloved children have been prevented.
The biggest of these issues for pro abortion people is the issue of back-alley abortions. The term is slang, and refers to any abortion performed in unsafe environments, and/or performed by unlicensed practitioners.
These are incredibly dangerous procedures for the woman, and until the legalization of abortion, many women died from these practices of from trying to give themselves an abortion. IN the 1950s and 1960s, there were about 1.2 million illegal abortion performed, and of these, a large percentage caused serious damage to the woman. Since the advent of legalized abortion, the rate of death from abortion procedures has dropped dramatically. Today, abortions are one of the safest medical procedures a person can have.
Many pro abortion advocates feel that women who do not want to raise a child should not be forced to do so because that can be incredibly hurtful to the child emotionally. Children who grow up in unloving homes tend to have more psychological problems than those who know they are loved and wanted.
Also, many women who become pregnant unexpectedly may be financial unstable, and this can also cause a lot of problems for both the child and the mother.
Azzam Sheikh
Facilitator 'Strengthening families, strengthening communities' parent programme.
pregnancy resource center
