Trigger Warning: article mentions instances of sexual assault.
A lot of people call abortion murder, but is that really so cut and dry? There are a bunch of different opinions from scientists, philosophers, and everyday people about when life really starts.
One article called “The Facts and Doubts About Beginning of the Human Life and Personality” says there’s no one solid agreement. Some folks think it starts the second an egg is fertilized, others say its way later. Another study, “The Scientific Consensus on When a Human’s Life Begins,” shows that even though many biologists say life starts at fertilization, most
Americans don’t actually think that. So, its not as simple as some people make it sound.
Then, there’s the government side of things. The Institute for Women’s Policy Research says that when the government restricts women’s reproductive care, it can cause worse health outcomes and problems with their finances. The Center for Reproductive Rights also points out how these laws can hurt women’s freedoms and keep them from being treated equally.
If we go around calling abortion murder, it might lead to even more laws that harm women in the long run. Sure, some people see abortion as murder when they think life starts right away. But since even the experts can’t agree, it seems better to let the person who’s pregnant make that decision.
This issue is a complicated one, and labeling it “murder” doesn’t capture all the factors involved. Sometimes, women do want to keep the baby from trauma, in this instance, sexual assault.
In the article “They Are Girls, Not Mothers” by Ximena Casas, it states that “rape of girls under the age of 14 is common in Latin America, and forced pregnancy and motherhood among these girls is a major public health and human rights problem.” Although this addresses abortion in Latin America, the same applies to the U.S. where the Supreme Court overruled the federal guarantee of access to safe abortions. Sometimes the government doesn’t think about their wives or their daughters. They don’t put themselves in the shoes of their loved ones or what could occur. Therefore, they shouldn’t have a say.
Another Article “ What About Abortion in the Case of Rape?,” it mentions that “by choosing to give birth and raise her baby, the mother may experience painful memories” if she was impregnated due to sexual assault. It may impact the health of the baby and the mother herself. This may lead to the mother lacking in the baby life and impacting the baby’s well being.
In the end, abortion isn’t a black-and-white issue. There is no solid consensus on when life begins, and letting the government take over can do a lot of damage. Maybe we should let women decide for themselves instead of forcing one strict definition on everybody. That way, we respect personal choice and avoid all the problems that come with calling abortion murder.
