Introduction
There are many factors that affect the choices that one makes. This involves societal influences, the beliefs that families and friends strong upon, and religious worship. When it comes to abortion, this choice is solely dependent on the woman to make. There are two sides to the argument regarding abortion: pro choice and pro life. Ms. Politt, a known feminist, states, “In doing so, she not only illuminates a hiterto shadowy aspect of American life but also raises crucial questions about the relationship between official mores and the values by which people make the decisions that shape their lives.” (2019) By this, she means a woman can either choose what she believes is truly right or wrong. Yet the question still remains: what is the right or wrong thing to do in this situation?
To tackle this concurrent complication, several cases and opinions have been stated in order to make their beliefs effective. With this historical lens, one can dive deeper into the past decisions that have influenced the laws that are made today. Many arguments that have been mentioned in the Roe v. Wade case laid its foundation to what many states now follow. This case addressed the abortion altercarion with two contradicting sides in order to change the laws that affect women.
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From that, it can go further into the futuristic view where it touches with what might happen in the time to come based on what has happened in the past. Based on both sides of the disagreement, considering both of the possible outcomes can entail what may be better for the women to choose. Its possible effects, in order to be the most effective and beneficial should be in a way that is acceptable for mostly everyone to choose.
The Governmental Say: Roe v. Wade
Context
A known abortion case, being the Roe v. Wade case, is significant because of its effects on abortion laws today. Similar cases and arguments have influenced current abortion laws that are upheld now. On January 22, 1973, The Supreme Court’s final decision, after Roe v. Wade, established the woman’s right to choose abortion without government restriction.
Roe’s Side. Norma McCorvey, also known as Jane Roe, was a pregnant woman that wanted an abortion, however, she was in a place that banned it. Here, abortion was only allowed if it was necessary to save the mother’s life, otherwise, it was not permitted for personal reasons. She argued against these laws, then stating that they were unconstitutional. Based on the Bill of Rights, a woman should have the right to end her pregnancy. Her side, supporting the pro-choice side to the argument, took a change, as she says, for the better.
Wade’s Side. On the other hand, Henry Wade argued that the State should have a duty to protect the unborn child and that life is already present at fertilization. Because life is considered as already present, there should be protection under the Constitution. It is to protect the safety and the health of all citizens, including the unborn.
Effects. Like previously mentioned, the court stated that by upholding the Fourteenth Amendment, which protects a right to privacy, women should have the choice to denying or accepting abortion. The case was then revisited in another post case, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992), which restructured the idea of women’s choice in teh matter.
Analysis
These controversial ideas create a non-ending loophole that only becomes based off of beliefs. This goes for the belief that life is present the moment it is conceived, versus the contradicting idea that life is present at the moment it is birthed. By having the inclusion of laws towards beliefs, it limits the woman into doing what she would like with her child.
But even so, while some may argue against the case, some side with it. Coming back to Ms. Politt, she states, “Moderate reforms had already been tried: twelve states permitted abortion in instances of rape, incest, danger to physical or mental health, or fetal defect, but since most women sough abortions for economic, social, or personal reasons, illegal abortion continued to thrive” (2019) In this way, she sides with the causes and the results of the Roe v. Wade case, showing that it was necessary at the time. It was for the best and it benefited and hurt the least.
Possible Speculations
From this, one can only move forward which brings forth the future. While there are many things that the future may hold, one can only speculate what might happen based on the past and current events. When it comes to the acts of abortion, in order to understand both sides, it is necessary to go to the extreme when explaining these situations. Pro-Choice
Basing this off of the life experience of McCorvey, there is only one outcome that comes from continuing her choice if she were to decide to choose abortion without any governmental restrictions. She wouldn’t have her child, Melissa McCorvey. She would protest her actions against the opposing view like she did with the Roe v. Wade case. She would not grasp the realization she had, that contradicted her argument in the case. She would not have converted into a Catholic that believes in saving children. She wouldn’t live the life she was currently enjoying.
Pro-Life
Elizabeth is a mother that decided to live with pro life beliefs and decided to give birth to her child. With a choice that she could have taken but decided not to, she suffers the unready hands of taking care of a child. Because she was stuck in a situation that she could not escape from the start, she cannot do anything about it. Because the laws forced her to keep the child against her own will, she is now stuck with a huge hole in her heart full of sadness. This is not her only choice though. She decides to send the child to adoption, but in doing so, all she has to hold on to her past child is the faint connection that holds them together, their blood. She says, “It’s not an easy thing to do, but it’s the easiest option . . . it makes it bearable, if you have a termination, you lose the child forever.” (Elizabeth 2010)
Analysis
Both slightly depressing situations all end horribly because of forced decisions that didn’t go upon their own destiny. In a scientific sense, it is in order to save the woman. In a religious sense, it is to keep upholding the worship they have. Each has their own outcome with their own tale. Each also comes with their own consequence and their own gift. With this being so, there is no scientifically right or wrong decision and is purely based off of morals and beliefs.
Implications
While both choices have their merits, they also have their own flaws that can be interpreted differently depending on the world views. Pro-choice for starters gives the woman a chance to back out of taking care of a child, while pro-life will allow the child to be born but can fail to consider socioeconomic situations that are inherent with raising a child. While there are other avenues to consider such as adoption, these are still bandaids to the situation and the overlying moral dilemma inherent with this problem.
Conclusion
While these problems can not be solved through one magic solution, there are things we can do to help mitigate these problems for the future. The only way to prevent these situations from happening is to allow future generations to receive adequate knowledge on the subject matter by allowing them to know both the pros and the cons of each side. From that they can make a decision based off of which alignment they gravitate towards. There are no magic solutions for the problems faced but together it can move forward slowly towards a better future.
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