Abortion & Women's Rights
This article talks about the impact the debate concerning abortion has on women’s rights in America. After the Roe vs. Wade decision gave women the constitutional right to abortion in 1973, religious leaders and the conservative right have been trying to change that decision. Republicans change states law when elected to make getting an abortion more and more difficult. First, the article talks about pro-life vs. pro-choice. The simplified Pro-Life argument is that abortion is murder, and by killing a human fetus it is illegal and goes against human rights. The debatable part of the pro-life argument is when are fetuses considered human, which those in favor of pro-life say is at conception. The Pro-Choice argument basically states that women should have the right to control their bodies, otherwise it violates the freedom of personal choice. Some pro-choice supporters consider abortion a civil rights issue, because if women can’t decide to get an abortion then they are not equal to men. The main separation between the two opinions is determining when life starts. With pro-life saying life begins at conception and pro-choice saying life begins at birth, the lack of a definition for “living” creates wiggle room as well as controversy. Quoting the Roe vs. Wade court case, under both the fourteenth or ninth amendment, there is either the “concept of personal liberty and restrictions upon state action” or the “reservation of rights to the people” for women who want an abortion. There are also cases where abortion can’t be restricted if the mother’s health is jeopardized.
This article relates to my thesis, demonstrating that women have rights to abortion without the freedom to use them. The Roe vs. Wade court case even quotes that the Constitution provides women with the choice of having an abortion, but with pro-life supporters trying to make abortion illegal again, it’s going against women’s rights. The fact that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights hasn't specified that life starts at conception also helps prove that restrictions and limitations are being put in place without official cause to. If life started at contraception instead of birth, fetal rights would be compromised. However, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” so pro-life supporters can’t claim abortion is murder if fetuses are even considered human yet (Karakoulaki).
This article relates to my thesis, demonstrating that women have rights to abortion without the freedom to use them. The Roe vs. Wade court case even quotes that the Constitution provides women with the choice of having an abortion, but with pro-life supporters trying to make abortion illegal again, it’s going against women’s rights. The fact that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights hasn't specified that life starts at conception also helps prove that restrictions and limitations are being put in place without official cause to. If life started at contraception instead of birth, fetal rights would be compromised. However, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” so pro-life supporters can’t claim abortion is murder if fetuses are even considered human yet (Karakoulaki).