I need some brief coherent arguments to support a pro-choice policy directed towards minors (usually under 18) - This implicates allowing teen girls to abort without parental consent. It is a bit more difficult to argue about compared to adults. Also what age do you think should be the minimum? Or should there be none? I think it should be legal from the moment it's possible to get pregnant
Here's the arguments I came up with:
1 - Sometimes teens need abortion the most, because having kids can be a burden and either ruin your plans for the future, or seriously incapacitate them, not to mention going trough a pregnancy when you're still in important stages of psychological and physical development
2 - Overparenting is harmful to teens/children, and such a decision like abortion shouldn't be enforced (in this case, the refusal to let a teen girl abort) because of personal position parents may hold (like religious ones
3 - You shouldn't refuse your children an abortion and force motherhood, like you wouldn't force them to work.
Counter-arguments people have directed towards me:
1 - Just like teens or minors aren't allowed to do a lot of less serious acts [compared to abortion] like buying property (a house, a car, etc.) or consuming alcohol, tobacco, drugs or engaging in sexual intercourse, a more serious decision like abortion should be the parents decision, not to mention a minor doesn't possess enough mental development to know if an abortion really is the best option and this could result in depression and regret
(I really need help with this last one!)
2 - Allowing free abortion for minors could cause a derail to allow them to buy tobacco, alcohol, drugs and thus incentive legalization of some things minors shouldn't be doing for their own good (slippery slope)
3 - It should be allowed because parents will be the ones legally with the job to provide and take care of the kid, so the teenager will have no trouble other than a [simple -- sarcasm!] period of 9 months pregnancy (gasp*)
Anything to add in favour? And how do I counter the first two counter arguments? I'm having trouble.
Here's the arguments I came up with:
1 - Sometimes teens need abortion the most, because having kids can be a burden and either ruin your plans for the future, or seriously incapacitate them, not to mention going trough a pregnancy when you're still in important stages of psychological and physical development
2 - Overparenting is harmful to teens/children, and such a decision like abortion shouldn't be enforced (in this case, the refusal to let a teen girl abort) because of personal position parents may hold (like religious ones
3 - You shouldn't refuse your children an abortion and force motherhood, like you wouldn't force them to work.
Counter-arguments people have directed towards me:
1 - Just like teens or minors aren't allowed to do a lot of less serious acts [compared to abortion] like buying property (a house, a car, etc.) or consuming alcohol, tobacco, drugs or engaging in sexual intercourse, a more serious decision like abortion should be the parents decision, not to mention a minor doesn't possess enough mental development to know if an abortion really is the best option and this could result in depression and regret
(I really need help with this last one!)
2 - Allowing free abortion for minors could cause a derail to allow them to buy tobacco, alcohol, drugs and thus incentive legalization of some things minors shouldn't be doing for their own good (slippery slope)
3 - It should be allowed because parents will be the ones legally with the job to provide and take care of the kid, so the teenager will have no trouble other than a [simple -- sarcasm!] period of 9 months pregnancy (gasp*)
Anything to add in favour? And how do I counter the first two counter arguments? I'm having trouble.
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you
