Persaud 1

Abortion
With the forever changing standards of society, the ongoing social and political debate on
abortion is nowhere close to moving towards a solution that everyone can agree on. Its an
intense debate in our society and a rather controversial topic to many. Worldwide, of the
approximately 210 million pregnancies occurring every year, an estimated 38% are unplanned
and 22% end in abortion. (Unplanned pregnancy and abortion: Options for the future) In my
paper I want to open you, the readers minds and further explore; the two distinct sides of
abortion, whether or not it should be legal or illegal and explore why it should be the womans
choice on whether or not she can have an abortion, because I strongly believe that a woman
should have the right to choose.
After conception the intentional termination of a pregnancy is known as an abortion. Its
a safe medical producer and its done in the first trimester of the pregnancy. The fetus is
independent on the female, for it is attached by what is known as the placenta and umbilical
cord. The health of the fetus is dependent on the female, it cant exist without her. Although an
immense number of women have planned abortions there are a percentage of women who
experience spontaneous abortions or miscarriages. This is due to a number of medical reasons
such as chromosomal abnormalities, diabetes, infections etc. However my focus is on the act of a
planned abortion.
The act of an induced abortion is as stated earlier a controversial topic. The battle has two
(2) distinct sides, pro-life and pro-choice. Pro-life are the oppositions, it is a group or individual
who believes that the government has an obligation to reserve all human life. Pro-choice are the
supporters of abortion and advocates a womans right to control her own body. I would like to
examine some of the arguments presented by both sides.

Persaud 2

Pro-choice argues that: (1) when does personhood begins if biological life begins at
conception and (2) a preborn infant does not have the complete make-up, the ability to feel pain
and isnt even self aware etc, then why should it be granted the rights to personhood? Pro-lifers
counteracts with: (1) personhood is not something we know or do not know, its something we
decide and we cant grant rights to people whom we value and deny it to those we dont and (2)
qualities argued by pro-choice are said to develop over time, a newborn is simply smaller, less
developed and very much independent of the female but doesnt make it less of a real person.
Its quite vivid that there will always be a back and forth ongoing dispute between each
side, but is there another way we can look at this? Is there another way we can all take a step
back and review the battle? Is there another way we can maybe approach this topic and meet half
way on amending it?
Is there another way I ask? I would like to now take my discussion down the path of
whether or not abortion should be made legal or illegal. Legal is defined as appointed or required
by the law, where as illegal is the complete opposite. It is contradicting the law, it is forbidden.
About 26 million women have legal abortions each year, and 20 million have abortions in
countries where abortion is restricted or prohibited by law. (Induced Abortion Worldwide. (Facts
in Brief)). There is a mere difference of six (6) million when it comes to having legal and illegal
abortions.
I urge you my readers ask yourselves do you like being dictated. Do you like to have life
changing decisions made for you by someone else. Do you not have common sense and the
ability to be able to make such decisions? In some countries abortion is illegal, now I understand
the argument presented by the pro-lifers. But what happens if a female is raped and from that she
became pregnant. What happens then? Another example, what happens when contraceptives fail,

Persaud 3

theyre not one hundred percent (100%) safe. You tell me what should that woman do?
According to the pro-life side of abortion, the government has an obligation to reserve all human
life. Put yourself in the position of a young woman who was raped, and the law states that you
have to keep that child; can you imagine how that would affect you physically, mentally and
emotionally?
The law of illegalizing abortion can still lead to women having abortions. As stated
earlier 20 million have abortions in countries where abortion is restricted or prohibited by law.
Despite what the law may be, when restrictions are made by the government, there are ways in
which one can go about having a do it yourself abortion. Illegal abortions carry a high risk of
complication including: perforation of the uterus, severe bleeding and infertility, trauma to the
bladder and intestines and often death. When I think about women having to go through such
excruciating dilemmas, it makes me sick.
Raising a child is a full time labor intensive process and without the proper care, what
kind of life would that child have. Legalizing abortion will have an effect on not only the mother
but on society of a whole. Premature infants, the cost of maintaining the medical aid to keep the
infant alive would be flagitious. What if that mother or couple is unable to handle the
commitment or isnt financially stable? Let us not forget the environmental factor that plays a
key role in the upbringing of a child.
This January marked the fortieth anniversary of the Roe V. Wade decision that legalized
the act of abortion in the United States. Despite the legalization of abortion, a conflict still
remains and it is a widely diverse issue in the United States and around the world. However what
is being done today about legal abortions? Even though the technologies and human rights have
evolved greatly in providing a safe medical way of providing abortions there is still an alarming

Persaud 4

statistic. An estimated 22 million abortions continue to be performed unsafely each year,

resulting in the death of an estimated 47000 women and disabilities for an additional 5 million
women. (Safe Abortion: Technical and Policy Guidance for Health Systems) Is this what we
want women to go through, in this day and age? Is this what we wish for our daughters, nieces,
and granddaughters? Is this fair to women?
After all that is being said throughout my paper, I basically wanted to not only re-visit
what you my reader already know, that is the two (2) sides of the debate on abortion, pro-life and
pro-choice. I am sure that you have your own views on this topic and given your chosen side,
you may not agree with the other. However I did my research and was utterly jaw dropped by
what I read. Women do face a number of decisions when she becomes pregnant. She is not only
faced with a decision that will change her life, but the life of another human being also. We
should educate the women of our society on abortion. Explain fully what are the consequences
and have that individual chose what she knows best.
We can go on and on about the pros and cons about legalizing or illegalizing abortions
but will that honestly make things easier or bring us all to a conclusion we can all agree on. You
know the answer to that. In the 55 countries where abortion is permitted on general grounds or
for socioeconomic reasons, the law usually stipulates some conditions. These restrictions, whose
impact on a womans ability to obtain an abortion varies from country to country, generally fall
into certain categories. ( Abortion in Law: Legality and Actuality. (Induced Abortion)). Is this
what it has come down to? Women can only have an abortion that falls into certain categories.
I believe that every woman who finds she is carrying an unwanted child should have that
right to decide for herself the best course of action. The law and attitude of society at large,
including religious leaders will not be by the side of that woman when the time comes for her to

Persaud 5

raise that child. I fully acknowledge that life does begin at conception; the fetus is made up the
fusion of twenty-three (23) chromosomes from the male and female. However the child is but a
fetus and it is in its simplest form, a collection of cells.
I am on the fence when it comes to either pro-life or pro-choice fully. I must amend both
sides on their respective arguments, all of which are valid points. However with all my research,
I am pro-choice let me explain further. I am pro-choice in the sense that I am well aware of the
consequences of having an abortion. The consequences are mental, emotional and physical. But
at the tender age of twenty (20) mistakes do occur. With the forever changing views of society,
we should all open our minds to accepting that a woman should be allowed to have a legal
abortion if she wishes to, for it is her body, who are we to subject her to undergo a pregnancy
which she is not ready for. Because contraceptives can fail and accidents happen.

Persaud 6

Citations
Abortion in Law: Legality and Actuality. (Induced Abortion)."
Sharing Responsibility: Women Society and Abortion Worldwide.Guttmacher Institute,
1999. 20+ Academic OneFile.Web. 2 Apr. 2013.
"Induced Abortion Worldwide. (Facts in Brief)"
Readings on Induced Abortion, Volume 2: A World Review 2000. Guttmacher Institute,
2001. 55+. Academic OneFile.Web. 7 Apr. 2013
"Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health systems"
Reproductive Health Matters May 2012: 205+. Academic OneFile.Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
"Unplanned pregnancy and abortion: Options for the future
(Societal Responses and Responsibilities)." Sharing Responsibility: Women, Society and
Abortion Worldwide.Guttmacher Institute, 1999.42+. Academic OneFile.Web. 2 Apr.
2013.