A Look at Abortion

A Look at Abortion Abortion has always been a highly debated topic in America, as well as the rest of the world. Anyone faced with the question of abortion has a very difficult decision to make, one that they could regret for the rest of their lives. Abortion has a long history, in which there has always been the arguments of those against abortion and those who say it is the mothers choice. In todays society we simply refer to them as the pro-choice side and the pro-life side. Abortion, throughout history has always been a two-sided argument and will remain this way until the end of time. First, I would like to talk about the long history of abortion. James C. Mohr writes, “Abortion has been practiced in the United States since the founding of the Republic, though both its social character and its demographic impact have varied considerably” (3). Women of the late eighteenth century were often looked down upon for having an abortion, mainly if the pregnancy was conceived out of wedlock. One of the most important pieces of the history of abortion was the 1973 Supreme Court’s case Roe v. Wade. This legalized a woman’s right to have an abortion in the early months of pregnancy without any restrictions. Many women had abortions prior to the Roe v. Wade case, even though it was illegal. Most of these abortions were often performed by someone with little or no medical background. Hyman Rodman writes, “States have passed laws specifying who may perform abortions, what procedures they may use, where abortions may be performed, when they may be done, and under what conditions” (118). These laws were passed to make it more difficult for a woman to get an abortion, therefore resulting in less annual abortions. Next, I will be discussing the pro-life side of the abortion debate. The pro-life side argues that abortion is always the wrong choice under any circumstances. Abortion clinics are often picketed by pro-life activists, bomb threats have been called in, and the

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