I don't think #1 is really an reason for abortion. It's a reason why it is ok, but not a reason to have one, if you know what I mean. Instead, I'd say that legalizing abortions helps the entire public sector by reducing crime rates, as well as reducing reliance on welfare.
I'll try and address the objections to the reasons for legalizing, just for fun.
Obj 2. A woman’s right to have control over her own body should also include taking the necessary measures to prevent unwanted pregnancies by the responsible use of contraception or, if contraceptive methods are not available, abstinence.
- Studies show that young people who are taught abstinence are actually at a HIGHER risk of unwanted pregnancy than those who are taught about contraception. Also, contraceptives can and do fail.
This objection also does nothing to address rape in all its forms.
Obj 3. Abortions themselves often cause psychological pain and stress and women who have them tend to regret it later in life.
A study from UC San Francisco shows that women denied abortions feel even more negative emotions as time passes than those who have abortions. Also, almost 90% of women who had abortions, even if they used the term "regret" to describe their emotions, also said they would do it again. This means they do not wish they could undo it type of regret, but instead regret that such action was necessary, but never-the-less feel it WAS necessary. So the vast majority, though they may feel some mild emotional distress near the event, do not in fact regret it.
Even more recent studies show that women, post abortion, suffer the same or LESS PTSD and depression that women in the general population. The evidence for the regret argument is thin.
Obj 4. There is no need to opt for such an unsafe and illegal procedure when the safer and more viable alternatives of adoption is a possibility.
The risk of serious medical complications during pregnancy and childbirth are much, much higher than the risks associated with abortion.
The risk of death associated with a full-term pregnancy and delivery is 8.8 deaths per 100,000, while the risk of death linked to legal abortion is 0.6 deaths per 100,000 women in the US.
Claiming that abortion is unsafe and that adoption (which presumes childbirth) is somehow safer is not just misleading, it is downright lying.
That's it for now.
I'll try and address the objections to the reasons for legalizing, just for fun.
Obj 2. A woman’s right to have control over her own body should also include taking the necessary measures to prevent unwanted pregnancies by the responsible use of contraception or, if contraceptive methods are not available, abstinence.
- Studies show that young people who are taught abstinence are actually at a HIGHER risk of unwanted pregnancy than those who are taught about contraception. Also, contraceptives can and do fail.
This objection also does nothing to address rape in all its forms.
Obj 3. Abortions themselves often cause psychological pain and stress and women who have them tend to regret it later in life.
A study from UC San Francisco shows that women denied abortions feel even more negative emotions as time passes than those who have abortions. Also, almost 90% of women who had abortions, even if they used the term "regret" to describe their emotions, also said they would do it again. This means they do not wish they could undo it type of regret, but instead regret that such action was necessary, but never-the-less feel it WAS necessary. So the vast majority, though they may feel some mild emotional distress near the event, do not in fact regret it.
Even more recent studies show that women, post abortion, suffer the same or LESS PTSD and depression that women in the general population. The evidence for the regret argument is thin.
Obj 4. There is no need to opt for such an unsafe and illegal procedure when the safer and more viable alternatives of adoption is a possibility.
The risk of serious medical complications during pregnancy and childbirth are much, much higher than the risks associated with abortion.
The risk of death associated with a full-term pregnancy and delivery is 8.8 deaths per 100,000, while the risk of death linked to legal abortion is 0.6 deaths per 100,000 women in the US.
Claiming that abortion is unsafe and that adoption (which presumes childbirth) is somehow safer is not just misleading, it is downright lying.
That's it for now.
“Eternity is a terrible thought. I mean, where's it going to end?”
― Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
― Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
