Pro-Life Nation
This article talks about El Salvador, and compares their abortion laws to those of the United States. In El Salvador, it’s a serious crime for everyone involved in the abortion, including the woman who had the abortion. If caught, the mother who had the abortion can serve prison time from 30 to 50 years, if charged with aggravated homicide. In comparison to El Salvador, more than a dozen countries have liberalized their abortion laws recently, and in some countries, like the U.S. or Russia, there have been more movements toward criminalizing and restricting certain types of abortions. Around 2006, South Dakota governor signed the most restrictive abortion bill since 1973, when Roe vs. Wade made prohibiting abortion unconstitutional. The new South Dakota law forbids abortion, even in cases of rape or incest. The law only permits abortion if the mother’s health is at risk. Mississippi Legislature also passed around a similar, though less restrictive, bill. In El Salvador, even abortion in case of rape, incest, fetal malformation, or life of the mother doesn't apply. Abortion is forbidden in every possible circumstance, with no exception.
The story of one woman from El Salvador further explains how strict abortion laws are, and how serious doctors, police, and judges take the crime of abortion. Doctors are required to turn women in, which goes against doctor-patient confidentiality. Judges have the authority to authorize vaginal searches as a form of evidence. Her abortion was a “back-alley” abortion, which in the U.S. is considered more of a metaphorical term. There is a stark contrast between women’s rights concerning abortion in the U.S. compared to women in El Salvador, and the woman’s story really highlights that. In 2006, the head of Human Life International, based in Virginia, believes El Salvador is an inspiration and a learning experience for Americans. The South Carolina Republican representative Jim DeMint agrees abortion should be outlawed, but not necessarily prosecute the mothers, as well. In El Salvador, a woman can be arrested for something that is perfectly legal in the United States, because that is how strict they are when it comes to abortion.
My thesis states that part of the American experience is having rights without the freedom to use them. While most of the article discussed El Salvador, it also ties into the American experience. Women in America may very soon be subjected to vaginal searches and put in prison for having an abortion if Pro-Life groups win and make abortion illegal. But passage of such laws would infringe on women’s rights of privacy, and already women in El Salvador are suffering the consequences of not having these rights. Women have rights to abortion now, but if more and more restrictions are put in place, like the South Carolina representative wanted, abortion might become illegal one day. Some places have liberal stances on abortion, others have made it illegal, and the U.S. is still between the two sides. While America’s stance on abortion is not as strict as El Salvador, if more restrictions and bans are put in place, the abortion rights women have now would be as severely limited as El Salvador.
The story of one woman from El Salvador further explains how strict abortion laws are, and how serious doctors, police, and judges take the crime of abortion. Doctors are required to turn women in, which goes against doctor-patient confidentiality. Judges have the authority to authorize vaginal searches as a form of evidence. Her abortion was a “back-alley” abortion, which in the U.S. is considered more of a metaphorical term. There is a stark contrast between women’s rights concerning abortion in the U.S. compared to women in El Salvador, and the woman’s story really highlights that. In 2006, the head of Human Life International, based in Virginia, believes El Salvador is an inspiration and a learning experience for Americans. The South Carolina Republican representative Jim DeMint agrees abortion should be outlawed, but not necessarily prosecute the mothers, as well. In El Salvador, a woman can be arrested for something that is perfectly legal in the United States, because that is how strict they are when it comes to abortion.
My thesis states that part of the American experience is having rights without the freedom to use them. While most of the article discussed El Salvador, it also ties into the American experience. Women in America may very soon be subjected to vaginal searches and put in prison for having an abortion if Pro-Life groups win and make abortion illegal. But passage of such laws would infringe on women’s rights of privacy, and already women in El Salvador are suffering the consequences of not having these rights. Women have rights to abortion now, but if more and more restrictions are put in place, like the South Carolina representative wanted, abortion might become illegal one day. Some places have liberal stances on abortion, others have made it illegal, and the U.S. is still between the two sides. While America’s stance on abortion is not as strict as El Salvador, if more restrictions and bans are put in place, the abortion rights women have now would be as severely limited as El Salvador.