Pro-Choice Movement Free Essay Example

‘The core belief at the center of the pro-choice movement is that a woman’s life is of equal value to a man’s and the ability to make decisions regarding medical care is key to achieving equality.’ (Ziad Munson, Abortion Politics). The stand by pro-choice movement raises many ethical, moral and philosophical questions. An example would be that pro-choice supporters argue that the unborn is not intrinsically valuable because of a lack of ability to reason and self-awareness (Beckwith, 2007). Here it raises the question about mentally retarded adults, does the law allow termination of such persons, based on that argument?

Other perspectives of pro-choice focus on couples who do not want to have a child, considering the implications of an unwanted child.

This is strengthened by the change in lifestyle where women who traditionally were seen as nurturers and caregivers now choose to focus on their careers and other hobbies instead of birthing. Future implications of unwanted children experienced by the children include cases of depression, drug and alcohol abuse, self-mutilation, psychosis, and finally suicide.

This brings the idea that nonsensical pregnancies should be terminated. This idea is supported by both pro-choice and pro-life. Such circumstances agreed upon include girls and women falling pregnant and have tested positive for drugs, and alcohol. These babies may be born with deformities and mental challenges.

The philosophical considerations for a pro-choice supporter answering the three areas of concern posed by (Tooley, Wolf-Devine, Devine, & Jaggar, 2009) above would lead to a philosophy that states that the fetus is not yet a person and does not have a moral value yet.

This sets the pace for the ethical reasoning proposed as presented by (Boonin 2003). For pro-choice supporters, abortion is ethical in particular circumstances including a situation where the father or mother does not want the child. This could spring from the fact that the couple has various reasons including social, emotional and economical. Another circumstance is that the mother could be a drug or alcohol abuser and may not be fit to raise the unborn child. The pro-choice movement also advocates for abortion to be ethical in case one got pregnant through rape or there is a high chance of the mother dying when she gives birth. The fundamental value is that the mother should choose what she wants to do at any stage no matter the circumstance.

The Abortion Divide Liberals are of the pro-choice ideology, propagating freedom to be exercised by the individual. Conservatives for the pro-life ideology believe freedom should be exercised by institutions such as churches and communities. In recent years, to say one is pro-life is a signal that one identifies with the Republican Party; to say one is pro-choice is to identify with the Democratic Party. (Ziad Munson). The public opinion of Americans favors abortion to be legal with restrictions. Not everything is black and white for the majority. Unfortunately, the pro-choice and pro-life movements increasingly have divergent views with no middle ground to be found. These make it difficult for people to differentiate movement beliefs, motivations, and activities from party beliefs, motivations, and activities.

The different beliefs about abortion have spanned to different worldviews around three key areas: gender, sexuality, and identity. These have further sprung to affect beliefs around these areas, which have been explained through feminist and Marxist approaches to map out responsibilities and freedoms to be enjoyed by a woman and man.

From the feminist point of view, the woman must be in control of her body and what she does with it. In the past, women’s bodies have been controlled to the extent of being owned and enslaved for sex by the men in society. The woman did not have rights over her reproduction and sexual health. With the feminist movement, reproduction and sexual health are in the control of the woman. She has a right to access information and services inclined to help her take control of decisions around this as she is her own person with rights.

The Marxist approach to abortion points to the need for the society to evolve to such a place that raising a child is both the responsibility of the father and mother. This stems from the understanding by the Marxist that personality and human value are imparted by the external and economic environment. (Rosalind P. Petchesky, 1986). National institutions have a major part to play in the discussions and influencing policies around abortion. The playfield consists of an independently powerful Supreme Court, strong private medical professionals, weak political party elites, and a decentralized political system where controversies can live on and issues can be raised repeatedly. (Drew Halfmann).

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