Preview

Abortion as Population Control: Crime or Social Responsibility

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1736 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Abortion as Population Control: Crime or Social Responsibility
Population control comes in many forms: cancer, famine, A.I.D.S, genocide, war and natural disasters, but never has one been so celebrated and socially accepted before abortion. Abortion has been practiced for hundreds of years and medical technology has advanced accordingly; providing a safer and much more sanitary procedure for the women receiving the operation, but the result remains the same for the defenseless child. Abortion continues to be one of the most debated and country dividing topics this nation has seen. In the recent past, there has been steady movement towards the governmental restrictions of abortion. The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 was one of the greatest victories in congress related to this topic. The ban restricts a certain form of abortion (partial-birth abortion) past 24 weeks from conception (United States Congress). Even though this is a positive step in the right and moral direction, the act needs to be revised. It needs to have the allotted time reduced from 24 weeks to 20 weeks based upon new medical research that fetuses can “feel pain” prior to 24 weeks. Abortion will never become completely illegal (that is just harsh reality), but the restrictions that govern abortions can be fine tuned to incorporate a smaller and more humane window for abortions.
Abortion has been a topic of debate for the past two hundred years. During the years shortly after our country’s independence, abortion laws were little to none other than the common law adopted from England; which held abortion to be legally acceptable if occurring before quickening (the fetus’s ability to stir in the womb) (Lee). Various anti-abortion statutes began to appear in the 1820s, and by 1900 abortion was largely illegal in every state. Some states did include provisions allowing for abortion in limited circumstances; generally with the purpose of protecting the woman's life or pregnancies related to rape or incest (Kauthen). This nation-wide ban of abortion only

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the 1990’s the Abortion Law was passed, enabling people around the country to legally get an abortion. While a large percentage of the population demanded the veto of this law, it would later end up in the positive aspect of society. Still with much…

    • 559 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dorothy E. McBride, PhD, is a professor emeritus of political science at Florida Atlantic University and has contributed in the editing and writing process of several other books, including Abortion Politics, Women’s Movements and the Democratic State: A Comparative Study of State Feminism and Women’s Rights in the U.S.A.: Policy Debates and Gender Roles. Abortion in the United States - A reference handbook is a trustworthy source composed of extracts from major Supreme Court cases, legislative bills and laws passed by Congress, as well as historical documents as its primary sources. Contains not only one-sided views, but…

    • 265 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Abortion is an extremely complex and highly debated public issue that has consumed much of the American social and political arena in the late twentieth century. People on both sides of the debate present strong arguments that establish valid points. Society clearly states that child abuse and the murder of one's child is illegal, but does allow abortion. Regardless of whether it is right or wrong, the fine line that exists between abortion and murder will be discussed and debated for decades to come.…

    • 1629 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Roe Vs Wade Research Paper

    • 1878 Words
    • 8 Pages

    This paper will state the medical definition of abortion. Summarize the famous court case Roe vs. Wade and the impact that had on The United States. This paper will also discuss the present abortion debate, the states that have chosen to ban abortion, and the affect this will have on individuals. The last part of the paper will be my opinion on the current abortion ban.…

    • 1878 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Abortion, a medical practice that results in termination of a human pregnancy, dates back to ancient Egypt and is recorded in the Ebers Papyrus, a medical text from the time of 1550 BCE (“When Did Abortion…”, par. 2). Abortion is a hot topic that is currently sweeping the US and has been for many years now. There are two stances citizens tend to take on the issue of abortion: pro-choice and pro-life. Many people do not advocate strongly for either; they lie somewhere in the middle gray area. Both people who are pro-choice and pro-life have coherent grounds for believing in such. It is logical to base such reasoning on evidence to prove their claims. The people who are pro-choice have several reasons to support their stance, although those who…

    • 1819 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The decision to legalize abortion in some states has changed over the years. In Evangelical Ethics, John Jefferson Davis presents the theme of Abortion. Davis says, “Until 1967 abortion was illegal in most states except in cases where the mother’s health was threatened. Between 1967 and 1969, eleven states extended the conditions for ‘therapeutic’…

    • 1661 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Phi 103 Abortion

    • 2332 Words
    • 10 Pages

    The history of modern day abortions can be dated back to the 19th century in both Europe and in the Americas. Luker (1984) writes that in the United States and Europe saw great medical advances in the fields of general surgery, sterilization,…

    • 2332 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    In industrialized world, abortion is not a criminal offence until a series of law against abortion were passed during the nineteenth century. The proponent prohibition of abortion globally has stressed the medical dangers of abortion. Moreover, it is also argued that fetuses are human beings. Deliberate abortion is therefore considered a form of homicide crime (……..). In popular rhetoric in the USA, abortion issue is considered as a purely women’s right that helps them in maintaining their bodies. Therefore, if women possess the moral right to abort their unwanted pregnancies, the law should not prohibit them from practicing the act of abortion. However, the arguments for this right cannot entirely solve the moral issue of abortion. It is one thing to have a right and another to morally justify when exercising that right. Since fetuses are considered to have equal rights to life like any other person, women’s right to abortion should therefore be exercised only on extreme…

    • 989 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Abortion is a term used for the termination of the pregnancy by removing of the embryo or the fetus from the uterus of a woman. The abortion takes place in two ways. It can be induced abortion or it can be spontaneous abortion. In the induced abortion, the pregnancy is aborted intentionally, but the spontaneous abortion take place of its own due to some natural or accidental reasons. But whatever be the reason, the word abortion is always a burning issue in the society and politics. In the United States, abortions were legalized after the case Roe v. Wade, 1973 ruled that laws banning abortion were unconstitutional. Since then, groups supporting the right to abortion (“pro choice”) and groups against abortion (“pro life”) have continued to have ideological battles over which argument should be the law of the land. However, a woman is best capable of deciding whether or not she is able and willing to care for a child. Thus, she should similarly be able to decide whether or not she wishes to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.…

    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Abortion is a constitutional issue that questions whether it is ethically acceptable or a violation of the Constitution. It is a constant debate that revolves around moral, religious, and political values and effects several groups including pro-life supporters, pro-choice supporters, the state government, the federal government, courts, mothers, fathers, and most importantly, the child inside the womb. For one reason or another, these groups have their reasons and this essay will explore those arguments and their ethical value, while citing many of the conflicts that have arose in the United States over this highly controversial, constitutional topic. I believe that abortion should be outlawed in the United States with the exception of rape cases and other severe situations.…

    • 2155 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Abortion Policy Paper

    • 981 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Abortion dates back to the ancient times, when the first settlers arrived and was legal. In the 1800’s states began to make abortion illegal. In that time period, abortion was considered extremely risky. At that time hospitals and antiseptics was not common. Between 1967 and 1973, one-third of the state’s liberalized or repealed their criminal abortion laws. However, on January 22, 1973 the court case Roe v. Wade made abortion legal and changed the public health policy.…

    • 981 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Pro Choice

    • 1171 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Cagan 1 Erica Cagan ENC1103.036/Prof. Bieze December 2, 2011 Word Count: 1147 Her Choice If a woman doesn’t have control over her own body, than does she have any control at all? Abortion has fostered one of the most controversial, contentious and ethical debates in the United States. People divide themselves into two groups: pro-life and pro-choice. Pro-life argues that abortion is murder, and the mother has no right to take the life of a potential child. Prochoice “ refers to the political and ethical view that a woman should have complete right over her fertility and that she should have the freedom to decide whether she wants to continue or terminate her pregnancy” (Bose). In 1973, the Supreme Court made it possible for woman to obtain a legal abortion from well-trained medical surgeons which was a giant step forward for women’s rights (Pomeroy). Undertaking an abortion is a woman’s choice and any proposal to take away this autonomy not only violates a woman’s civil rights but would also cause many more problems in regards to a woman’s health. A woman’s autonomy is the one thing no one should be able to take away from her. Abortion is an extremely private matter that the government has no right to interfere in. If the civil rights of a person entitles him or her to not have unwanted infringements by the government and the government tells a woman that she cannot have an abortion, then is this not a violation of civil rights? Without abortion, woman would be condemned into pregnancy which “forces them into submissive roles in society” (Pomeroy). Pregnancy denounces women to “second class citizenship, since in our society, mothers are second class citizens. Once a woman becomes a…

    • 1171 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Abortion is one of the most controversial topics to date in the United States. Because of the complexity and issues involved, there are those individuals who are for abortion, and those who are against. There is neutrality that extends between the two, with those who are one the fence depending on circumstantial situations. In this paper our group of four peers debate the topic, and base a conclusion on weather women in the United States should have the right to abortion, based on the arguments themselves.…

    • 1912 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The history of abortions in the United States is complicated and has been going on for more than 200 years. The debate on whether abortions should be legal divides Americans to this day. Abortions has been illegal since the 1800’s, although, women would have the procedure without legal rights to do so. On January 22, 1973, the US Supreme Court declared it was a fundamental right after the Roe vs. Wade case. Many states have changed the rules on abortions but as of today women have the right to get abortions in all 50 states. The legalization give women the right to remain in control of their body.…

    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Abortion

    • 2144 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Abortion is a huge and serious problem in America today and has been since the 1970s. Abortion is an evil practice that consists mainly of the taking of an unwanted pregnancy and the killing of a beautiful creation of God for no reason except that it is an unwanted gift.…

    • 2144 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics