The question of whether abortions should be legal remains a topical one for nearly every nation worldwide. This issue is particularly sensitive since there are only two possible options to choose from, a person can be either pro-life or pro-choice. Naturally, it generates endless debates between supporters of the two different stances, which take place at various levels, from family gatherings to parliaments. Yet, ultimately, it is important to remember that abortions inherently concern women’s rights, which must be respected and observed by governments. Thus, abortions must be legalized because they recognize the female bodies’ autonomy and ensure the equality of the sexes, and the claim that abortion is murder is not based on scientific evidence.
It is a basic human right of every individual not to be subject to activities they do not desire, and pregnancy is not an exception since it interferes with a woman’s body autonomy. Females can only partially control their reproductive capacity because the current contraception options are imperfect and often unavailable for some people and in certain circumstances. If a woman becomes pregnant with an unwanted child, it must be considered her right to remove the fetus since it depends on her to survive and consumes her resources. She must bear no obligation to keep it because it resides inside her body, which belongs to her only and essentially constitutes her property, which she can utilize in any way she wants. Abortions have to be legal because they allow women to be in full control of their bodies, which is their right.
Moreover, every pregnancy limits women’s opportunities in life and often prevents them from advancing in their chosen area of expertise, therefore, making abortions illegal would mean an attack on their equal status. Success in some careers, for example, sports, depends on age, and young female athletes who accidentally become pregnant simply do not have any time to spend on bearing a child. In their twenties, they are in their prime physically, and pregnancy is a major stress for their body, its proper functioning and a direct threat to their success. Thus, pregnancy can hinder the prospects and aspirations of women, and abortions can be a reasonable decision in such situations, which absolutely justifies its legalization.
Proponents of the pro-life position employ different types of reasoning to support their ideas, but the most common one is that abortion constitutes the killing of another human being. They believe that a woman who ends her pregnancy should be considered a murderer and held accountable for her crime. Yet, such people often intentionally confuse the notions of a child and a fetus, which do not have the same meaning. According to some studies, a fetus does not develop proper brain connections before the age of 24 weeks, which means they are not sentient and cannot feel pain (Coghlan). Based on this fact, it can be said that fetuses do not possess the moral status of a person and, therefore, abortion cannot be recognized as killing and a crime.
Abortion is an inherent right of every woman since it ensures their body autonomy and their equal status, and it cannot be considered murder since fetuses are not sentient. Pregnancy constitutes a process that occurs in a woman’s body, and she, as its owner, can remove the fetus because it interferes with her property. Moreover, abortions can help women not to give up their life and career opportunities due to an unwanted pregnancy. Some people believe that abortions must be viewed as a crime, but the studies show that fetuses do not feel pain even at 24 weeks, which prevents them from receiving a human’s moral status.
Work Cited
Coghlan, Andy. “24-Week Fetuses Cannot Feel Pain.” New Scientist, 2010. Web.