Introduction
The issue of abortion has fostered vigorous debate for decades due to societal disagreements over the ethics of the procedure. The basis of discussions and disagreements is the matter of women’s right to decide on the fate of a fetus. This essay aims to cover the subject comprehensively, emphasizing the indisputable right of women to make decisions about their bodies, including abortion. Delving into the topic involves not only stating the evidence base for the outlined argument but also considering counter-opposing perspectives, which, in fact, have led to debates for many years. Despite all the intricacies and disagreements, women have a full right to abortion because it is a matter of reproductive autonomy, a better option for a woman’s health than childbirth and motherhood in many cases, and it also correlates with socio-economic factors affecting well-being.
Reproductive Autonomy
Reproductive anatomy occupies one of the leading places in the human rights system. It cannot be encroached on since it stands against the norms of ethics, privacy, and personal freedom. Everyone should be free to make any decisions regarding their own body. Since the fetus is in the female body and is created and developed thanks to its processes, the woman must independently decide its fate.
Although the adequacy and appropriateness of this narrative would seem obvious, a significant part of women who have experienced or are planning to have an abortion face a stigmatized attitude. Quite often, society has a negative attitude toward the issue of abortion, emphasizing the debated rights of the fetus, if such exist, and not giving sufficient importance to the rights of the woman (Mehta et al., 2019). These statements are based on poor awareness, a narrow vision, and a lack of understanding of the woman’s condition and experiences.
Moreover, not only does the enactment of abortion affect the negative attitude of a specific part of the population, but also vice versa. The stigma surrounding this issue and condemnation do not allow women to talk about their experience openly or even dare to have an abortion, despite its obvious necessity in certain life circumstances. In contrast, women with a solid and clear understanding of their rights and reproductive autonomy have a protective mechanism against stigma (Mehta et al., 2019). Therefore, it is essential to encourage the normalization of the practice of abortion by increasing public awareness and fostering understanding and support. The right to an abortion should not be disputed in any case, as it is the basis of reproductive autonomy and is directly related to social respect.
Women’s Health
Realizing the indisputability of an individual’s personal choice, including what concerns one’s own body, it is also worth noting the issue of abortion from the point of view of women’s health. Non-admission at the legal or social level to this procedure can have serious negative consequences for both physical and mental health. In order to evaluate the appropriateness and necessity of allowing abortions, it is enough to outline situations in which pregnancy is unwanted, including untimely, unplanned, or even arising as a result of sexual violence. Considering the issue from this perspective, abortion becomes the only possible action that would contribute to the improvement of the woman’s condition.
Furthermore, restricted access to the abortion procedure often forces women to look for other options, which can be not only illegal but also unsafe. While abortion is completely prohibited in over 20 countries of the world, this does not mean that such procedures are not carried out there (Zaręba et al., 2021). Moreover, safety depends on availability, so this issue must be reviewed. Going deeper into the facts, according to research, 73.3 million abortions are performed worldwide every year, 45% of which are unsafe (Topcu et al., 2023). The appalling figures indicate the unpreparedness of the health care system and authorities to address all the needs of women in this position and to provide adequate frameworks for appropriate action. It is wrong to assume that banning abortion leads to better social outcomes when the facts suggest the opposite.
On the other hand, the legality and availability of abortion services at any stage of pregnancy will contribute to a better state of a woman’s health. Accordingly, it is worth noting that this issue relates to the physical, mental, and mental condition. Providing a safe option can significantly reduce a woman’s health risk and increase the chances of a future healthy planned pregnancy if there is such a desire and favorable conditions. Considering that between 4.7% and 13.2% of all maternal deaths occur as a result of a dangerous abortion procedure, this topic is of utmost importance (Fathalla, 2020). From a broad point of view, the legality and indisputability of the right to abortion correspond to the norms of international law and individual rights.
Socio-Economic Challenges
The final argument in support of women’s right to abortion is the socio-economic factor. Pregnancy and subsequent motherhood are challenging, primarily affecting financial safeness and well-being. Consider a scenario where a financially unstable woman gets pregnant unplanned. The lack of an abortion option will not only significantly worsen economic difficulties but also pose a risk to the child’s well-being.
Furthermore, studies show that financial burdens associated with pregnancy can cause postnatal depressive disorders (Atif et al., 2021). Consequently, it is essential to recognize that every child has a full right to live in a well-off family and not to lack basic needs. Accordingly, socio-economic factors support the argument that abortion must be available.
Opposition and Rebuttal
When discussing the issue of the permissibility of abortion, it is worth noting that there are different points of view, each of which has a significant number of supporters. Thus, individuals advocating for the prohibition of abortion are usually guided by corresponding ethical or religious beliefs. Anti-abortion proponents support their arguments by the fact that the procedure undermines the sanctity of life and violates the right to life of an unborn person (Lowe & Page, 2019). Some of them offer further adoption as a more humane option for parentage refusal. While, in a particular perspective, such an option is possible, it is utterly meaningless in the context of the emotional, mental, and physical state of a pregnant woman during pregnancy and in the post-pregnancy period.
Although anti-abortion advocacy is widespread and has strong arguments, it violates a person’s right to reproductive autonomy, thereby undermining the foundations of social respect. In addition, the anti-abortion movement significantly contrasts with the focus on women’s health, as it pays minimal attention to this issue with its proposed practices. Thus, giving considerable importance to the alleged rights of an unformed individual, supporters are unconcerned about the condition of an unplanned pregnant woman and, in the future, an unhappy mother.
Conclusion
In conclusion, having secured biblical and other moral and religious arguments, the promotion of the prohibition of abortion neutralizes the significance of the socio-economic burden and the successive challenges related to it. Taking into account the arguments mentioned above and contrasting opinions, it is worth establishing that the right to abortion is inalienable and cannot be violated.
The issue of abortion is multifaceted and opinionated, so it needs comprehensive consideration and establishing a clear framework. The right to an abortion should be absolute, as it is based on the essence of reproductive autonomy, women’s health, and socio-economic well-being. This argument is based on the principles of fundamental human rights. In addition, it is worth referring to women’s numerous challenges and difficulties in the described situations. Finally, this argument is supported by the factual evidence provided in the essay. By looking at different perspectives and comparing the outlined data, it becomes clear that advocacy for the right to abortion is critical and needs to be addressed at the highest levels.
References
Atif, M., Halaki, M., Raynes‐Greenow, C., & Chow, C. M. (2021). Perinatal depression in Pakistan: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Birth, 48(2), 149-163. Web.
Fathalla, M. F. (2020). Safe abortion: The public health rationale. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 63, 2-12. Web.
Lowe, P., & Page, S. J. (2019). Rights-based claims made by UK anti-abortion activists. Health and Human Rights, 21(2), 133. Web.
Mehta, N., Baum, S. E., Cartwright, A. F., Cockrill, K., & Upadhyay, U. D. (2019). The association between reproductive autonomy and abortion stigma among women who have had abortions in the United States. Stigma and Health, 4(4), 377. Web.
Topcu, E. G., Ramirez, A., & Ubom, A. E. (2023). A global study on the abortion views and knowledge of trainee obstetrician‐gynecologists. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 163(2), 453-460. Web.
Zaręba, K., Herman, K., Kołb-Sielecka, E., & Jakiel, G. (2021). Abortion in countries with restrictive abortion laws—possible directions and solutions from the perspective of Poland. Healthcare, 9(11), 1594. Web.