Is Abortion Wrong?
Yesterday, Connecticut’s Bristol Press published an op-ed by Alicia Watkins, a District resident-turned-Bristol columnist. The piece, titled “‘Take responsibility’ not effective answer,” detailed why Watkins was against abortion, but supported its legality. Fine. But while Watkins’ piece—targeted at the pro-life set—argued for keeping abortion legal and accessible, it also suggested that women who aren’t opposed to the practice are “wicked,” “evil,” and even “fictional.”
I’m against abortion. But then, I don’t know anyone who considers herself “for” abortion. To my knowledge, I’ve never met a woman who was happy about having one. I suspect these women are fictional, like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny—only, you know, evil.
Yoo-hoo, Alicia. Over here. Me. I’m not against abortion. And the only reason that I wouldn’t say that I’m “for” abortion is because I don’t value any pregnant woman’s choice over another.
If a woman is pregnant, I think she should be able to choose to (a) have the kid and raise it, (b) have the kid and put it up for adoption, or (c) not have the kid. But I think those choices should be more than legal and easily accessible—they should also be stripped of moral judgment.
Abortion is not wrong. And a woman’s personal, emotional reaction to her abortion isn’t wrong either. If a woman feels sad about her abortion, that’s fine. But if she doesn’t, that’s fine, too. The choice is difficult enough without having to feel bad or guilty for opting not to continue a pregnancy. Because for some women, abortion isn’t a moral compromise, a dark personal secret, or payment for past transgressions. It’s a relief. And branding those women as “evil” only increases the difficulty of making that choice.
So here’s a goal for the future of our pro-choice nation: When a woman decides to actually make that choice, try to refrain from assigning any sort of mythical baby-killing troll status to her.
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2:25 pm
*** ACTUAL CONVERSATION TRANSCRIPT ***
DUDE: I don’t think anyone actually LIKES abortion, but…
ME: I like it.
DUDE: *Silent shock*
*** THE END ***
I get the fact that abortion is a big choice. I also hear that it hurts like a son of a bitch, so I’d like to avoid it if at all possible. But I don’t like the pussyfooting around it, the need that some public figures (and progressive individuals) seemingly have to define it as a No Good, Very Bad, Terribly Sad experience before they voice their support of it on legal grounds. Every woman I’ve known who has had an abortion has described the social ramifications (friends or lovers turning away, clinic harassment… one woman went to a “counseling” center that turned out to be an anti-choice place, and they called her every month to tell her how old her “baby” would be if she’d had it) as being far more traumatic than the act itself. Abortion is a good thing to have as an option! It is an OK thing to do! It is a thing you don’t have to do if you don’t want to! I really think that obligatory “abortion is bad” talk really only helps to make abortion a bad experience for the women who pursue it.
2:28 pm
They called her every month to tell her how old her baby would be if she’d had it? I NEED to find the people who staff the phones at that place. Where was this?
2:51 pm
This is a private, personal and often sad choice that people must make. It really disappoints me that there are actually anti-choice women out there who want to limit their daughters and granddaughters liberty to make their own personal decisions about their own bodies.
“If men got pregnant, there would be drive-thru abortion clinics.”
12:48 pm
Cynthia you’re an idiot. Oh no poor victim of a woman you are. Man bashing is uncalled for, and more than a little moronic as misogyny runs both ways (I think the term is like misandry, but no one uses it).
12:48 pm
If women could be standing up the floor would be covered in urine.
11:06 am
Re: the once-a-month callers: they were located in Columbus, OH. I don’t think they’re around any more - I remember going to a very large and very vocal protest against them - but I am absolutely certain they are the people who rented out large U-haulesque trucks, put graphic images of late-term aborted fetuses on them, and drove them around town, frequently in front of the coffee shop at which I worked. Now, that right there is something that will hurt your tips. Also, the Katy Perry “I KISSED A GIRL AND I LIKED IT - THEN I WENT TO HELL” church is located in that town! I really can’t imagine why I moved.
8:03 pm
This goes back to the whole “pro-abortion” myth. Being pro-choice does not mean that you are pro-abortion. I don’t know anyone that thinks we should have more abortions or who would get pregnant just so she could have an abortion or who thinks abortions are SUPER FUN! Being pro-choice you can still want fewer abortions - you just don’t try to reach that goal not by restricting women’s access or taking away their choice - you do it by making abortion unnecessary. (That is, by have safe/affordable access to contraception, etc).
9:26 am
Agreed, Lilith. But I think we have to make sure that when we say, like Obama does, that abortion should be “safe, legal, and rare,” that we really understand what that means for the future of abortion access. Even if contraception is free and everywhere, the need for abortion will never go away. Abortions are performed for a number of reasons, on women who have access to contraception and on those who don’t, on women who were using contraception and on those who weren’t. I am pro-abortion (all that nonsense about loving to exterminate fetuses aside). I’m pro-abortion because I know that in order to really make abortion accessible—to make it free of stigma, close by, and inexpensive, to train enough doctors in the procedure and to let women know that it’s not a terrible, awful, no good very bad thing to do—we can’t just keep saying that we’re glad abortion is legal but we wish there were no abortions. That’s not going to happen, and it’s not particularly helpful. I hope that one day abortion becomes cheap and local and easy so nobody ever has to do it illegally again—even if it’s “legal”. Which is why I question what fighting to make abortion “rare” is really going to do.
12:26 pm
Anyone for abortion is STUPID!
ABORTION IS MURDER!!!!
Its called ADOPTION!
IF YOU DONT WANT A BABY, DONT HAVE SEX!! Simple as that.
Birth control and condoms were made for a reason!!!!!
6:16 pm
to the alexis ; its easy to say its murder when u have radical beliefs, and are a complete virgin, who is completely unaware that sex exists, and its out there, you probably dont live in an area were sadly its the mainestream and normal thing to do( ur bubble must be awesome), by the way just so u know, condoms and birth control are not 100% sweet heart, im sure you knew that. nobody is so puritan to try to avoid sex completely. and if someone made a baby by mistake, dont u think they deserve a second chance, at trying to make things better? you are murdering our society, I hope your kind die off.
8:15 pm
People, listen. Those who believe abortion is right, I am very sorry and hope that you will change your mind. And the people who dont think it is right-stop saying stuff like “people who think abortion is right are STUPID!” and stuff like that. You cannot be so harsh, for it will only make those people angry, and they wont listen. And Alexis, im sorry to say, but birth control is no better than abortion. its the same thing, except a lot of people dont know that. for those people, i will explain. when a woman takes this pill, the lining of the uterus is weakened, and not able to support life. therefore, when the egg and sperm meet(which is when life immediately begins) the uterus cannot support the egg, and the baby dies. this can happen multiple times without the woman knowing. which is bad. and for cindy, im very sorry to tell you this, but no, you cant always have a second chance. it is a womans CHOICE to have sex. no one took that away from them. why should they get to decide if that innocent baby lives or dies? its not up to them, or anyone on earth. so when people say women should have a choice, they do. they dont have to have sex. taking away life=murder, it can never be justified. never. i hope one day people will realize this. abortion being legal only gives young girls a reason to say “sex is ok, if i get pregnant, i can always get rid of the baby.” and arent we trying to get rid of teen sex?
8:21 pm
im adding on to that(sry, i know i have a lot[:) also, why should a baby have to die when they did nothing wrong? its the womans choice to have sex, and they must take responsibility for this. there is no one else to blame. a baby shouldnt have to pay for its mothers mistakes. and by making this legal, i might as well be able to go kill someone without being arrested. because its the same thing.
8:28 pm
plus, we arent labeling these women as “evil murderers”. i know im not, and it is wrong for anyone to say that. we must learn to understand eachother, and to make up for our mistakes. a lot of women see after having an abortion how wrong it is, and they feel horrible. they dont need people telling them how evil they are. just make up for it. dont ever do it again, and prevent others from making the mistake.******* IVE LEARNED TO SEND LOVE TO ALL, SO LEARN ALSO TO LOVE ALL HUMANS, NO MATTER HOW SMALL…PEACE AND LOVE TO EVERYONEE.
1:09 pm
You say “by making this legal, i might as well be able to go kill someone without being arrested,” but then claim you’re not “labeling these women as ‘evil murderers’”? What are you labeling them as—non-evil murderers?
4:18 am
The best thing to do is to carry the baby to term and give him/her up for adoption.
What makes abortion disgusting is how savagely the baby is destroyed.
Abstinence only programs do NOT work, and because of these Lousy programs, many abortions take place because of the fears a teenager has about what her parents will say &/or how they will think of/treat her.
Even those who are adults may have these fears.
Sex is not something to be ashamed of. We are built for it!
So many people are unbelievably naive about contraception!
If only they were properly taught, WITHOUT there being stigmas about it, and If only people would use protection more wisely and be faithful about using it; not just “hoping” that they don’t become pregnant, then maybe the rate of unplanned pregnancies would diminish, as well as the need for abortions in general.
11:04 pm
Like you know everything “ChelleS28″. Your the one who was messing around before you were 18…lieing about everything. Now you think you know something…what a JOKE of life you are. Abortion should have been done on you!
People DO NOT believe this LIAR!
12:51 pm
Dear Unknown,
It is not necessary to insult someone for voicing an opinion. Nevermind telling someone that their existance is a joke. I believe in the proper education in the practice of conterceptions. Sex is an enjoyable act and should be freely looked upon by two concenting individuals.
To everyone else,
Each person is different. We can see this by reading everyones responses. It is the human condition. If a person chooses to use conterceptions to help prevent pregancy, they should should be free to do so. If a person decides that they are to have an abortion. So be it. People make choices everyday. The choice to have an abortion is not a quick and thoughtless decision.
1:13 pm
Continued….
People do not drive by a clinic and decside to stop in - like they would for ice cream. Yes, people do know of the other options avaliable to them. Adoption is a popular one by choice. Some people decside not to go with this route due to unforseen events. Perhaps this woman was raped. Should she have to suffer the next nine months, because a dirty and violent act was done to her? Should she be forced to look into the mirror every day, see her extended belly and have vivid flash backs of a situation she could not escape from? Could you sentance this woman to this after-math of pain? In this situation the argument of God is invalid. Can you honestly tell me that God wanted this child so badly that he did not care what happened to this woman? He organized this conception? No, I think not. God is supposed to be loving and caring to his flock. God has given man the choice. Free choice. If God has given choice why do we shun and discredit those whom descide to use it?
There’s a question posed to the christians and catholics.
Why must we argue? Can we not just agree to disagree. Allow others to make choices for themselves, and support the ones we love. No matter their decision. Remember it is their decision…
3:41 pm
I CANNOT believe that no one responded to this yet:
Mary,
You do not understand how birth control works. Birth control prevents pregnancy by:
1. Stopping ovulation. No egg = no fertilization = no abortion.
2. Inhibiting sperm from crossing the cervix by thickening it. No egg + no sperm = seriously no fertilization = no abortion.
3. Limited evidence indicates that the pill *may* work in some limited instances by preventing implantation. This may, however, just be a side effect of the “hey there’s not supposed to be an egg” hormones. The lining doesn’t prepare because it’s not expecting an egg. Some studies have indicated that this effect is not real, while others have found it “possible but unquantifiable.”
So, the chances of a fertilized egg being expelled due to a weak uterine lining due to birth control are slim to none.
When you don’t understand how something works, it’s best to ask someone who does know, AND who doesn’t have an agenda:
http://www.ccli.org/nfp/contraception/pill.php
Actually, this website does have an agenda, an agenda that goes against my point, and I therefore post it to make a point. They readily admit that ovulation occurs in only 2 to 10% of cycles of a woman on birth control. So, failure of method 1 occurs pretty rarely. But, even with failure of method 1, method 2 ALSO has to fail in order for fertilization to occur. They don’t give any statistics on how much harder it is for sperm to reach an egg due to birth control, but if it’s only 2 to 10% harder, we’re looking at nearly 100% non-abortive stopping of the baby ways. Yes, I am well aware that this is not a case of “total overlap,” and therefore why I say “nearly 100%.” And, quite frankly, decreased sperm motility wouldn’t be mentioned if it weren’t a statistically significant effect. Moving on. The data that is available is that many researchers do not believe that the “weakened uterine lining” plays any role in birth control’s effectiveness (Rivera R, Yacobson I, Grimes D (1999). “The mechanism of action of hormonal contraceptives and intrauterine contraceptive devices”. Am J Obstet Gynecol 181 (5 Pt 1): 1263–9. doi:10.1016/S0002-9378(99)70120-1. PMID 10561657.; ^ Crockett, Susan A.; Donna Harrison, Joe DeCook, and Camilla Hersh (April 1999). Hormone Contraceptives Controversies and Clarifications. American Association of Pro Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.aaplog.org/decook.htm. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.), while even those stating that it DOES play a role in contraception admit that the chances of expelling a fertilized egg are “incalculable” (^ Larimore WL, Stanford JB (2000). “Postfertilization effects of oral contraceptives and their relationship to informed consent” (PDF). Arch Fam Med 9 (2): 126–33. doi:10.1001/archfami.9.2.126. PMID 10693729. http://archfami.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/9/2/126.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.).
Thank you, Mary, for introducing a chance to make a valid scientific point.
4:18 pm
Hmmm…I had a very long, detailed, and researched post on why Mary is wrong about how birth control works, but apparently the system didn’t like it and I’m not typing it all again.
Mary, you are wrong about how birth control works. It’s not having a mini-abortion every month. Even those who advocate for natural family planning admit that ovulation only occurs in 2-10% of cycles while a woman is taking birth control. There is a secondary method of prevention with the pill, making it harder for sperm to cross the cervix. In fact, the likelihood of a fertilized egg being expelled by a woman on birth control are so low that many researchers don’t believe this effect exists and those who do admit that it is rare and the likelihood is unquantifiable.
Look it up, please.
(Information was obtained from academic journals and authoritative, well-cited websites. 10 minutes on Google and the information will be found)
4:37 pm
Mrs D., I have fished your original comment from the depths of my blog’s “spam” filter. Can WordPress not handle the truth?? Thanks for your persistence in the pursuit of science.
5:33 pm
umm, people on this site are mean!
It’s like a cat fight! Girls will just respond with mean words. Jeez! Oh, and abortion is the person’s choice.
That’s all :)
5:35 pm
Hey, me again,
another thought:
I’m thirteen, and I’m way younger than most of the people on this site probably,
and I’m pretty sure I am way more mature than most of these woman. They are bad mouthing each other over something that shouldn’t even be an issue! Hello: but abortion is perfectly okay.
YOU GUYS SOUND LIKE THE DRAMA-STARTERS AT MY MIDDLE SCHOOL! wow….
7:02 pm
RE TO B.F. :
wow, you dont know what uou’re tlking about! you’re only a stupid little kid!! ABORTION IS A SIN LITTLE GIRL! and if you wanna go to hell, keep thinking what you’rethinking…wow, what are they teaching you in *kindergarten*…
GET A LIFE HUN!
7:38 pm
Hey Pardon??? Chelles28s mother disowner her for a reason. She is a lieing little winch!
2:17 am
I think abortion is wrong, end of discussion! So, everyone SHUT THE @#$% UP!