FREE ESSAY ON LEGALITY OF ABORTION

LEGALITY OF ABORTION

Legality of Abortion 
Abortion must be a legal and attainable procedure for women throughout the United States.
Abortion is a subject
which easily fits into the themes of CORE 1. Abortion pertains to many issues which are
involved in CORE 1.
CORE 1 analyzes civil rights as well as equal treatment for women in America. Abortion
challenges the civil
rights of the mother and the fetus which she bears. To deny abortion is denying the
mother certain civil rights, but
if the fetus is considered a person, then the rights of the fetus are being denied by
allowing abortion to be legal.
Abortion has been an element of human life for centuries. It dates back to BC times.
Ancient abortions usually
consisted of mildly poisoning a pregnant mother. The poison was hoped to be just strong
enough to kill the fetus,
yet mild enough to keep the woman alive. Also, sometimes women would receive physical
blows to their
abdomen an effort to kill the fetus. Since both of these methods were very dangerous for
women, infanticide was
a much more popular form of abortion. Infanticide is grossly just the killing of the baby
directly after birth (3
Gilbert). J. Gilbert, the author of an informative Texas state web-page, states that some
time after 1750, a new
procedure was introduced to abortion. The new procedure consisted of probing objects
through the cervix and
into the uterus of the women to accomplish the abortion (4 Gilbert). Laurence Tribe,
author of Abortion: The
Clash of Absolutes, states that the court case Roe v. Wade revolutionized the legality of
abortion. The case set
boundaries and regulations illustrating how much power the mother and state possess in
deciding whether to
abort a pregnancy (12 Tribe). During the past twenty-five years abortion has become one
of the most debated
controversies in the Unite States' history. The issues surrounding abortion strike
questions based on ethics,
morals, emotions, and law. There are many alternative perspectives from which people can
approach the legality
and morality of abortion. But basically there are pro-life people and pro-choice people.
People who are
pro-choice believe that women hold the right to abort a pregnancy, but people who are
pro-life believe that
abortion is wrong and unjust to the fetus. When pondering issues surrounding abortion,
many questions come to
mind. Is a fetus a human being? Is abortion physically and mentally safe for women? And
finally, should abortion
be legal? It is only after exploring these questions can a person justify their position
on abortion. A major
question which strikes at the heart of abortion legality and morality is: When is an
embryo considered a life or
human being? Many people argue that life begins at the point of conception. Bonnie
Steinbock, an author who
considers herself an expert on fetuses and their legal rights, says, Conception is the
joining of the male and
female sex cells which have twenty-three chromosomes each. The process of conception
takes twelve hours, at
which time the egg is completely fertilized and becomes known as a zygote. Distinct and
unique characteristics of
a person are determined at the time of conception. After the time of conception, until
death, nothing will be
added or removed from the genetic make-up of an individual (200 Steinbock). In other
words, everything
physically and chemically is determined shortly after the point of conception. Being
alive means that an object
grows, develops, and matures. A zygote, from the time of conception grows, develops parts
of its body, and
replaces its own dying cells. The heart of the zygote begins beating just eighteen days
after conception (198
Steinbock). This is often well before the mother even realizes that she is pregnant.
After three months, all of the
fetus's organs are formed and all of the bodily systems are working. The fetus can swim,
grasp a pointer, move
freely in the womb, and excrete urine. If a doctor injects a sweet solution into the
fluid surrounding the fetus, the
fetus will swallow it because it likes the taste. If a bitter solution is injected, the
fetus will realize the taste and quit
swallowing (196 Steinbock). The previous examples are evidence enough that life begins at
conception, or at the
time the fetus's heart begins to beat. Others believe that the life of the fetus is just
merely the life of the woman
until the fetus is born. Those people who believe that life does not start until birth
believe that, without the
life-style and habits of the mother, the fetus would not survive. In 1973, the US Supreme
Court ruled over a case
called Roe v. Wade. This case described the legality of a fetus and the conditions which
apply to the mothers
rights as well. The ruling stated that the fetus is merely a living appendage of the
mother until the completion of
the second trimester. But once the third trimester begins, the fetus gains civil rights
which guarantee life, liberty,
and property. A woman can only abort a fetus in the third trimester if it poses a direct
threat to the health and
well being of the woman (189 Tribe). In conclusion, the Roe v. Wade case developed the
needed boundaries to
determine the legal rights of the mother and fetus. Is abortion physically and mentally
safe for the mother? Do the
advantages of abortion outweigh the disadvantages? Ft. John L. Grady, medical examiner
for the Florida State
Attorney's office, says, I believe it can be stated with certainty that abortion causes
more deep-seated guilt,
depression, and mental illness then it ever cures (38 Novak). Grady is drawing upon his
years of experience as
a medical examiner and concludes that when a woman aborts a fetus, she is causing more
pain and problems
mentally and socially than if she bears the child. This mental anguish and guilt may be
only half of the problem
women face though. Women who receive abortions also may have physical problems as well.
Women who have
an abortion in the third trimester are at a greater risk of becoming sterile than women
who bear their child (157
Steinbock). Women realize these consequences, but they still believe that an abortion's
advantages outweigh its
disadvantages. These women may face years of depression, guilt, and physical damage, but
they still freely
choose to abort their pregnancy. Should abortion be legal? According to the Supreme
Court's ruling in 1973 on
the Roe v. Wade case, abortion must be legal (82 Tribe). If the fetus is considered an
appendage to the woman
who bears it, the fourteenth amendment must hold true for women. Thus, women are given
the right to receive an
abortion (82 Tribe). The amendment states that, No person or state may deprive a person
of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of the law (475 US Constitution). This states that the
woman cannot be denied
an abortion because it would violate her life and property. The state cannot interfere
with the private lives of US
citizens (475 US Constitution). Denying women the right to choose an abortion, is denying
rights and is
discriminating against women. There are many reasons for which women desire to have an
abortion.
Contraceptives sometimes fail. Women are periodically raped and impregnated by corrupt
and deranged men.
Demented fathers may also rape their daughters which is called incest. For these reasons
alone abortion must be
legal. These unfair and undesirable pregnancies can prevent women from keeping jobs,
feeding their families, and
from creating a favorable life-style for themselves. Pregnancy and child birth may
determine and greatly influence
whether or not a woman can begin or finish her education leading to a successful and
gratifying career. In
conclusion, abortion must be legal because women should not have to sacrifice their lives
at the hand of a failed
contraceptive or a terrible rape. Women should not be forced to submit themselves to a
life of hardships because
of an unwanted pregnancy. To do so would be discrimination. But, there are still other
people who believe that
abortion should be illegal. Some people say that abortion should not be legal because it
is murder. Some people
interpret the fourteenth amendment differently. They believe that the life and liberty is
being denied from the fetus.
Although the law has set boundaries on when a fetus should be considered a citizen, there
are people who
believe that life starts before birth no matter what the law states. I am sure these
people wonder why the fetus
doesn't have rights as well as the mother. Abortion author Faye Ginsberg states that,
never in the history of the
United States has the state granted one citizen the right to have another killed to solve
one's problems (156
Ginsberg). But, people who consider a fetus to be a life must also believe that
Constitutional rights are being
denied from the fetus. Abortion, to people who that believe a fetus is a citizen, seems
as though a human life is
being terminated because someone else justifies the cause with reasons of their own. How
can the legality of
abortion ever be determined if one cannot determine whether or not a fetus is considered
a human being? Since
every person has individual beliefs and thoughts on the livelihood of the fetus, the
legality of abortion must be
determined on the circumstances of the pregnancy as well one's belief to what a fetus
really is. In order to
intelligently formulate a stance on abortion, one must come to conclusions and formulate
answers on some
aspects of abortion. Is a fetus a human being? Yes, a fetus is indeed a human being
livening in the womb of its
mother. Upon conception, the fetus is uniquely distinct and different than any other
human being (200
Steinbock). The fetus is like a snowflake; there are no two alike. Very shortly after
conception the fetus takes on
very human characteristics. The fetus thinks, moves, dreams, and feels pain just like you
and I. Yes, the fetus can
feel pain; it can feel itself being murdered by the abortion (200 Steinbock). Another
important question one must
answer is: Who's life is the fetus's? Is the fetus merely a living appendage of the
woman, or is the woman an
incubator for a life of an independent human being? This question can in no way be
answered by practical means.
It can only be determined on a personal and moral level. The court case of Roe v. Wade in
1973 set up legal
regulations and standards for which abortion cases can be approached. Although case does
not determine when
the fetus is considered a human, but it outlines a basis for when a fetus can be legally
considered a citizen. The
case determined that for the first two trimesters of a pregnancy the woman has a right to
abort the fetus for her
won personal reasons, but she must go to a certified clinic. Fetuses in the third
trimester, according to law, are
considered to have undeniable Constitutional rights as well as the mother. But, a woman
may abort a fetus in the
third trimester if she is in personal danger due to the fetus (188 Tribe). In conclusion,
there are two angles to
approach determining whether a fetus is a citizen or not. The law's method of declaring
the citizenship of the fetus
is controversial to many people. These people are pro-life and most believe that the
fetus is a life upon
conception. Is abortion physically safe for women? Abortion is often times physically
safe for women. According
to Laurence H. Tribe's, Abortion, The Clash of Absolutes, abortions in the first
trimester are actually physically
safer for a woman than going through with the pregnancy and having a child. Tribe's book
also says, Within only
a few year of the Roe v. Wade case, the death rate for women undergoing legal abortions
was ten times lower
than that for women who had illegal abortions and five items lower than that for women
who went through with
child birth (208 Tribe). This statistic proves that with abortions being legal, women are
at a lesser risk of injury
through abortion. Although the physical effects of abortion are not very detrimental, the
mental effects of abortion
in women can be devastating. According to The Eagle and Cross, a pro-life organization
which supports
freedom, women often suffer extreme depression due to the guilt of having an abortion (4
The Eagle and Cross).
Having a child may effect the rest of a woman's life, but aborting a child may also have
an effect on the woman's
life as well. Women must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of having an abortion and
choose the less
severe and personally harmful of the two alternatives. Should abortion be legal? Abortion
should definitely be
legal. Women should not let a fertilized egg dictate the way in which they spend the rest
of their lives. A
pregnancy should not be able to have the power to radically alter the social and
professional life of a woman. If a
woman cannot choose an abortion she must take a leave of absence from her daily life in
order to have a child
and take care of it. For many women this may mean quitting school or leaving their
career. These women would
be forced to a disadvantage in society because they were denied control of their bodies.
Since having and caring
for a child is an expensive procedure, poor women may be forced into welfare. This not
only burdens and
embarrasses the mother, but it also forces the rest of society to support a child which
was not wanted by the
mother in the first place. Also, the social life of a woman who bears a child is greatly
altered. Women who do not
give their children up for adoption must constantly care and provide for their children
which greatly effects the
social life of the mother. Women who are forced into having an unwanted child are forced
to a disadvantage if
abortions are not legal. If abortions were illegal many women would suffer. Instead of
bearing unwanted children,
many women would turn to illegal and underground abortions. These underground abortions
are often times
unsafe, and unsanitary, causing women to submit themselves to many life-threatening
dangers. Since abortions
were deemed legal through the Roe v. Wade case, the death rate for women undergoing legal
abortions were ten
times lower then that for women who had illegal abortions (232 Tribe). Legal abortions
are in sanitary and
government regulated clinics. At the clinics there is a focus on the safety and
well-being of the mother. If a
woman is forced into having a child rather than having an abortion, would she be a good
mother? Why should a
woman be forced into having a child that she does not want? If abortions were illegal,
laws would force unfit
mothers into bearing undesirable children. Forcing birth would not benefit either the
mother or the child. The goal
of parents is to offer their children the best possible chances for success in their
children's lives. Children who
come from mothers who were denied an abortion are not likely to be given chances of
success from their
mothers. Thus, denying abortions, may cause a negative and undesirable childhood for
children everywhere.
Answering the question about the legality of abortion is a losing cause. There are too
many instances where
questions cannot be answered due to diverse moral beliefs. Yes, of course abortion should
be legal, but society
is focusing on the wrong concept. Birth control may be the root of all abortion problems
and it should be
addressed more so than abortion. If issues concerning birth control are addressed on a
more aggressive level, the
frequency of abortions would decline greatly. Thus with more and better uses of birth
control, the number of
incidental pregnancies would plummet. In ending, abortion must be legal. Women should not
be forced to let a
rape or an incidental pregnancy dictate the rest of their lives. Denying abortions
unjustly sets women at a
disadvantage in life. Denying women the right to abort their pregnancies would cause wide
spread use of under
ground abortions which poses threats to the health and well-being of women who seek
abortions. Next, unfit
mothers and uncaring mothers should not be forced into having a child which they do not
desire. Finally, when
addressing abortion, a greater concentration on birth control must be addressed as well.
There are pro-life
people and there are pro-choice people, but nobody is pro-abortion. Nobody wants to end
the miracle of life,
but to ensure the safety and Constitutional rights of women, abortion must be legal.
Legality of Abortion 
Abortion must be a legal and attainable procedure for women throughout the United States.
Abortion is a subject
which easily fits into the themes of CORE 1. Abortion pertains to many issues which are
involved in CORE 1.
CORE 1 analyzes civil rights as well as equal treatment for women in America. Abortion
challenges the civil
rights of the mother and the fetus which she bears. To deny abortion is denying the
mother certain civil rights, but
if the fetus is considered a person, then the rights of the fetus are being denied by
allowing abortion to be legal.
Abortion has been an element of human life for centuries. It dates back to BC times.
Ancient abortions usually
consisted of mildly poisoning a pregnant mother. The poison was hoped to be just strong
enough to kill the fetus,
yet mild enough to keep the woman alive. Also, sometimes women would receive physical
blows to their
abdomen an effort to kill the fetus. Since both of these methods were very dangerous for
women, infanticide was
a much more popular form of abortion. Infanticide is grossly just the killing of the baby
directly after birth (3
Gilbert). J. Gilbert, the author of an informative Texas state web-page, states that some
time after 1750, a new
procedure was introduced to abortion. The new procedure consisted of probing objects
through the cervix and
into the uterus of the women to accomplish the abortion (4 Gilbert). Laurence Tribe,
author of Abortion: The
Clash of Absolutes, states that the court case Roe v. Wade revolutionized the legality of
abortion. The case set
boundaries and regulations illustrating how much power the mother and state possess in
deciding whether to
abort a pregnancy (12 Tribe). During the past twenty-five years abortion has become one
of the most debated
controversies in the Unite States' history. The issues surrounding abortion strike
questions based on ethics,
morals, emotions, and law. There are many alternative perspectives from which people can
approach the legality
and morality of abortion. But basically there are pro-life people and pro-choice people.
People who are
pro-choice believe that women hold the right to abort a pregnancy, but people who are
pro-life believe that
abortion is wrong and unjust to the fetus. When pondering issues surrounding abortion,
many questions come to
mind. Is a fetus a human being? Is abortion physically and mentally safe for women? And
finally, should abortion
be legal? It is only after exploring these questions can a person justify their position
on abortion. A major
question which strikes at the heart of abortion legality and morality is: When is an
embryo considered a life or
human being? Many people argue that life begins at the point of conception. Bonnie
Steinbock, an author who
considers herself an expert on fetuses and their legal rights, says, Conception is the
joining of the male and
female sex cells which have twenty-three chromosomes each. The process of conception
takes twelve hours, at
which time the egg is completely fertilized and becomes known as a zygote. Distinct and
unique characteristics of
a person are determined at the time of conception. After the time of conception, until
death, nothing will be
added or removed from the genetic make-up of an individual (200 Steinbock). In other
words, everything
physically and chemically is determined shortly after the point of conception. Being
alive means that an object
grows, develops, and matures. A zygote, from the time of conception grows, develops parts
of its body, and
replaces its own dying cells. The heart of the zygote begins beating just eighteen days
after conception (198
Steinbock). This is often well before the mother even realizes that she is pregnant.
After three months, all of the
fetus's organs are formed and all of the bodily systems are working. The fetus can swim,
grasp a pointer, move
freely in the womb, and excrete urine. If a doctor injects a sweet solution into the
fluid surrounding the fetus, the
fetus will swallow it because it likes the taste. If a bitter solution is injected, the
fetus will realize the taste and quit
swallowing (196 Steinbock). The previous examples are evidence enough that life begins at
conception, or at the
time the fetus's heart begins to beat. Others believe that the life of the fetus is just
merely the life of the woman
until the fetus is born. Those people who believe that life does not start until birth
believe that, without the
life-style and habits of the mother, the fetus would not survive. In 1973, the US Supreme
Court ruled over a case
called Roe v. Wade. This case described the legality of a fetus and the conditions which
apply to the mothers
rights as well. The ruling stated that the fetus is merely a living appendage of the
mother until the completion of
the second trimester. But once the third trimester begins, the fetus gains civil rights
which guarantee life, liberty,
and property. A woman can only abort a fetus in the third trimester if it poses a direct
threat to the health and
well being of the woman (189 Tribe). In conclusion, the Roe v. Wade case developed the
needed boundaries to
determine the legal rights of the mother and fetus. Is abortion physically and mentally
safe for the mother? Do the
advantages of abortion outweigh the disadvantages? Ft. John L. Grady, medical examiner
for the Florida State
Attorney's office, says, I believe it can be stated with certainty that abortion causes
more deep-seated guilt,
depression, and mental illness then it ever cures (38 Novak). Grady is drawing upon his
years of experience as
a medical examiner and concludes that when a woman aborts a fetus, she is causing more
pain and problems
mentally and socially than if she bears the child. This mental anguish and guilt may be
only half of the problem
women face though. Women who receive abortions also may have physical problems as well.
Women who have
an abortion in the third trimester are at a greater risk of becoming sterile than women
who bear their child (157
Steinbock). Women realize these consequences, but they still believe that an abortion's
advantages outweigh its
disadvantages. These women may face years of depression, guilt, and physical damage, but
they still freely
choose to abort their pregnancy. Should abortion be legal? According to the Supreme
Court's ruling in 1973 on
the Roe v. Wade case, abortion must be legal (82 Tribe). If the fetus is considered an
appendage to the woman
who bears it, the fourteenth amendment must hold true for women. Thus, women are given
the right to receive an
abortion (82 Tribe). The amendment states that, No person or state may deprive a person
of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of the law (475 US Constitution). This states that the
woman cannot be denied
an abortion because it would violate her life and property. The state cannot interfere
with the private lives of US
citizens (475 US Constitution). Denying women the right to choose an abortion, is denying
rights and is
discriminating against women. There are many reasons for which women desire to have an
abortion.
Contraceptives sometimes fail. Women are periodically raped and impregnated by corrupt
and deranged men.
Demented fathers may also rape their daughters which is called incest. For these reasons
alone abortion must be
legal. These unfair and undesirable pregnancies can prevent women from keeping jobs,
feeding their families, and
from creating a favorable life-style for themselves. Pregnancy and child birth may
determine and greatly influence
whether or not a woman can begin or finish her education leading to a successful and
gratifying career. In
conclusion, abortion must be legal because women should not have to sacrifice their lives
at the hand of a failed
contraceptive or a terrible rape. Women should not be forced to submit themselves to a
life of hardships because
of an unwanted pregnancy. To do so would be discrimination. But, there are still other
people who believe that
abortion should be illegal. Some people say that abortion should not be legal because it
is murder. Some people
interpret the fourteenth amendment differently. They believe that the life and liberty is
being denied from the fetus.
Although the law has set boundaries on when a fetus should be considered a citizen, there
are people who
believe that life starts before birth no matter what the law states. I am sure these
people wonder why the fetus
doesn't have rights as well as the mother. Abortion author Faye Ginsberg states that,
never in the history of the
United States has the state granted one citizen the right to have another killed to solve
one's problems (156
Ginsberg). But, people who consider a fetus to be a life must also believe that
Constitutional rights are being
denied from the fetus. Abortion, to people who that believe a fetus is a citizen, seems
as though a human life is
being terminated because someone else justifies the cause with reasons of their own. How
can the legality of
abortion ever be determined if one cannot determine whether or not a fetus is considered
a human being? Since
every person has individual beliefs and thoughts on the livelihood of the fetus, the
legality of abortion must be
determined on the circumstances of the pregnancy as well one's belief to what a fetus
really is. In order to
intelligently formulate a stance on abortion, one must come to conclusions and formulate
answers on some
aspects of abortion. Is a fetus a human being? Yes, a fetus is indeed a human being
livening in the womb of its
mother. Upon conception, the fetus is uniquely distinct and different than any other
human being (200
Steinbock). The fetus is like a snowflake; there are no two alike. Very shortly after
conception the fetus takes on
very human characteristics. The fetus thinks, moves, dreams, and feels pain just like you
and I. Yes, the fetus can
feel pain; it can feel itself being murdered by the abortion (200 Steinbock). Another
important question one must
answer is: Who's life is the fetus's? Is the fetus merely a living appendage of the
woman, or is the woman an
incubator for a life of an independent human being? This question can in no way be
answered by practical means.
It can only be determined on a personal and moral level. The court case of Roe v. Wade in
1973 set up legal
regulations and standards for which abortion cases can be approached. Although case does
not determine when
the fetus is considered a human, but it outlines a basis for when a fetus can be legally
considered a citizen. The
case determined that for the first two trimesters of a pregnancy the woman has a right to
abort the fetus for her
won personal reasons, but she must go to a certified clinic. Fetuses in the third
trimester, according to law, are
considered to have undeniable Constitutional rights as well as the mother. But, a woman
may abort a fetus in the
third trimester if she is in personal danger due to the fetus (188 Tribe). In conclusion,
there are two angles to
approach determining whether a fetus is a citizen or not. The law's method of declaring
the citizenship of the fetus
is controversial to many people. These people are pro-life and most believe that the
fetus is a life upon
conception. Is abortion physically safe for women? Abortion is often times physically
safe for women. According
to Laurence H. Tribe's, Abortion, The Clash of Absolutes, abortions in the first
trimester are actually physically
safer for a woman than going through with the pregnancy and having a child. Tribe's book
also says, Within only
a few year of the Roe v. Wade case, the death rate for women undergoing legal abortions
was ten times lower
than that for women who had illegal abortions and five items lower than that for women
who went throu
Bibliography
Legality of Abortion 
Abortion must be a legal and attainable procedure for women throughout the United States.
Abortion is a subject
which easily fits into the themes of CORE 1. Abortion pertains to many issues which are
involved in CORE 1.
CORE 1 analyzes civil rights as well as equal treatment for women in America. Abortion
challenges the civil
rights of the mother and the fetus which she bears. To deny abortion is denying the
mother certain civil rights, but
if the fetus is considered a person, then the rights of the fetus are being denied by
allowing abortion to be legal.
Abortion has been an element of human life for centuries. It dates back to BC times.
Ancient abortions usually
consisted of mildly poisoning a pregnant mother. The poison was hoped to be just strong
enough to kill the fetus,
yet mild enough to keep the woman alive. Also, sometimes women would receive physical
blows to their
abdomen an effort to kill the fetus. Since both of these methods were very dangerous for
women, infanticide was
a much more popular form of abortion. Infanticide is grossly just the killing of the baby
directly after birth (3
Gilbert). J. Gilbert, the author of an informative Texas state web-page, states that some
time after 1750, a new
procedure was introduced to abortion. The new procedure consisted of probing objects
through the cervix and
into the uterus of the women to accomplish the abortion (4 Gilbert). Laurence Tribe,
author of Abortion: The
Clash of Absolutes, states that the court case Roe v. Wade revolutionized the legality of
abortion. The case set
boundaries and regulations illustrating how much power the mother and state possess in
deciding whether to
abort a pregnancy (12 Tribe). During the past twenty-five years abortion has become one
of the most debated
controversies in the Unite States' history. The issues surrounding abortion strike
questions based on ethics,
morals, emotions, and law. There are many alternative perspectives from which people can
approach the legality
and morality of abortion. But basically there are pro-life people and pro-choice people.
People who are
pro-choice believe that women hold the right to abort a pregnancy, but people who are
pro-life believe that
abortion is wrong and unjust to the fetus. When pondering issues surrounding abortion,
many questions come to
mind. Is a fetus a human being? Is abortion physically and mentally safe for women? And
finally, should abortion
be legal? It is only after exploring these questions can a person justify their position
on abortion. A major
question which strikes at the heart of abortion legality and morality is: When is an
embryo considered a life or
human being? Many people argue that life begins at the point of conception. Bonnie
Steinbock, an author who
considers herself an expert on fetuses and their legal rights, says, Conception is the
joining of the male and
female sex cells which have twenty-three chromosomes each. The process of conception
takes twelve hours, at
which time the egg is completely fertilized and becomes known as a zygote. Distinct and
unique characteristics of
a person are determined at the time of conception. After the time of conception, until
death, nothing will be
added or removed from the genetic make-up of an individual (200 Steinbock). In other
words, everything
physically and chemically is determined shortly after the point of conception. Being
alive means that an object
grows, develops, and matures. A zygote, from the time of conception grows, develops parts
of its body, and
replaces its own dying cells. The heart of the zygote begins beating just eighteen days
after conception (198
Steinbock). This is often well before the mother even realizes that she is pregnant.
After three months, all of the
fetus's organs are formed and all of the bodily systems are working. The fetus can swim,
grasp a pointer, move
freely in the womb, and excrete urine. If a doctor injects a sweet solution into the
fluid surrounding the fetus, the
fetus will swallow it because it likes the taste. If a bitter solution is injected, the
fetus will realize the taste and quit
swallowing (196 Steinbock). The previous examples are evidence enough that life begins at
conception, or at the
time the fetus's heart begins to beat. Others believe that the life of the fetus is just
merely the life of the woman
until the fetus is born. Those people who believe that life does not start until birth
believe that, without the
life-style and habits of the mother, the fetus would not survive. In 1973, the US Supreme
Court ruled over a case
called Roe v. Wade. This case described the legality of a fetus and the conditions which
apply to the mothers
rights as well. The ruling stated that the fetus is merely a living appendage of the
mother until the completion of
the second trimester. But once the third trimester begins, the fetus gains civil rights
which guarantee life, liberty,
and property. A woman can only abort a fetus in the third trimester if it poses a direct
threat to the health and
well being of the woman (189 Tribe). In conclusion, the Roe v. Wade case developed the
needed boundaries to
determine the legal rights of the mother and fetus. Is abortion physically and mentally
safe for the mother? Do the
advantages of abortion outweigh the disadvantages? Ft. John L. Grady, medical examiner
for the Florida State
Attorney's office, says, I believe it can be stated with certainty that abortion causes
more deep-seated guilt,
depression, and mental illness then it ever cures (38 Novak). Grady is drawing upon his
years of experience as
a medical examiner and concludes that when a woman aborts a fetus, she is causing more
pain and problems
mentally and socially than if she bears the child. This mental anguish and guilt may be
only half of the problem
women face though. Women who receive abortions also may have physical problems as well.
Women who have
an abortion in the third trimester are at a greater risk of becoming sterile than women
who bear their child (157
Steinbock). Women realize these consequences, but they still believe that an abortion's
advantages outweigh its
disadvantages. These women may face years of depression, guilt, and physical damage, but
they still freely
choose to abort their pregnancy. Should abortion be legal? According to the Supreme
Court's ruling in 1973 on
the Roe v. Wade case, abortion must be legal (82 Tribe). If the fetus is considered an
appendage to the woman
who bears it, the fourteenth amendment must hold true for women. Thus, women are given
the right to receive an
abortion (82 Tribe). The amendment states that, No person or state may deprive a person
of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of the law (475 US Constitution). This states that the
woman cannot be denied
an abortion because it would violate her life and property. The state cannot interfere
with the private lives of US
citizens (475 US Constitution). Denying women the right to choose an abortion, is denying
rights and is
discriminating against women. There are many reasons for which women desire to have an
abortion.
Contraceptives sometimes fail. Women are periodically raped and impregnated by corrupt
and deranged men.
Demented fathers may also rape their daughters which is called incest. For these reasons
alone abortion must be
legal. These unfair and undesirable pregnancies can prevent women from keeping jobs,
feeding their families, and
from creating a favorable life-style for themselves. Pregnancy and child birth may
determine and greatly influence
whether or not a woman can begin or finish her education leading to a successful and
gratifying career. In
conclusion, abortion must be legal because women should not have to sacrifice their lives
at the hand of a failed
contraceptive or a terrible rape. Women should not be forced to submit themselves to a
life of hardships because
of an unwanted pregnancy. To do so would be discrimination. But, there are still other
people who believe that
abortion should be illegal. Some people say that abortion should not be legal because it
is murder. Some people
interpret the fourteenth amendment differently. They believe that the life and liberty is
being denied from the fetus.
Although the law has set boundaries on when a fetus should be considered a citizen, there
are people who
believe that life starts before birth no matter what the law states. I am sure these
people wonder why the fetus
doesn't have rights as well as the mother. Abortion author Faye Ginsberg states that,
never in the history of the
United States has the state granted one citizen the right to have another killed to solve
one's problems (156
Ginsberg). But, people who consider a fetus to be a life must also believe that
Constitutional rights are being
denied from the fetus. Abortion, to people who that believe a fetus is a citizen, seems
as though a human life is
being terminated because someone else justifies the cause with reasons of their own. How
can the legality of
abortion ever be determined if one cannot determine whether or not a fetus is considered
a human being? Since
every person has individual beliefs and thoughts on the livelihood of the fetus, the
legality of abortion must be
determined on the circumstances of the pregnancy as well one's belief to what a fetus
really is. In order to
intelligently formulate a stance on abortion, one must come to conclusions and formulate
answers on some
aspects of abortion. Is a fetus a human being? Yes, a fetus is indeed a human being
livening in the womb of its
mother. Upon conception, the fetus is uniquely distinct and different than any other
human being (200
Steinbock). The fetus is like a snowflake; there are no two alike. Very shortly after
conception the fetus takes on
very human characteristics. The fetus thinks, moves, dreams, and feels pain just like you
and I. Yes, the fetus can
feel pain; it can feel itself being murdered by the abortion (200 Steinbock). Another
important question one must
answer is: Who's life is the fetus's? Is the fetus merely a living appendage of the
woman, or is the woman an
incubator for a life of an independent human being? This question can in no way be
answered by practical means.
It can only be determined on a personal and moral level. The court case of Roe v. Wade in
1973 set up legal
regulations and standards for which abortion cases can be approached. Although case does
not determine when
the fetus is considered a human, but it outlines a basis for when a fetus can be legally
considered a citizen. The
case determined that for the first two trimesters of a pregnancy the woman has a right to
abort the fetus for her
won personal reasons, but she must go to a certified clinic. Fetuses in the third
trimester, according to law, are
considered to have undeniable Constitutional rights as well as the mother. But, a woman
may abort a fetus in the
third trimester if she is in personal danger due to the fetus (188 Tribe). In conclusion,
there are two angles to
approach determining whether a fetus is a citizen or not. The law's method of declaring
the citizenship of the fetus
is controversial to many people. These people are pro-life and most believe that the
fetus is a life upon
conception. Is abortion physically safe for women? Abortion is often times physically
safe for women. According
to Laurence H. Tribe's, Abortion, The Clash of Absolutes, abortions in the first
trimester are actually physically
safer for a woman than going through with the pregnancy and having a child. Tribe's book
also says, Within only
a few year of the Roe v. Wade case, the death rate for women undergoing legal abortions
was ten times lower
than that for women who had illegal abortions and five items lower than that for women
who went through with
child birth (208 Tribe). This statistic proves that with abortions being legal, women are
at a lesser risk of injury
through abortion. Although the physical effects of abortion are not very detrimental, the
mental effects of abortion
in women can be devastating. According to The Eagle and Cross, a pro-life organization
which supports
freedom, women often suffer extreme depression due to the guilt of having an abortion (4
The Eagle and Cross).
Having a child may effect the rest of a woman's life, but aborting a child may also have
an effect on the woman's
life as well. Women must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of having an abortion and
choose the less
severe and personally harmful of the two alternatives. Should abortion be legal? Abortion
should definitely be
legal. Women should not let a fertilized egg dictate the way in which they spend the rest
of their lives. A
pregnancy should not be able to have the power to radically alter the social and
professional life of a woman. If a
woman cannot choose an abortion she must take a leave of absence from her daily life in
order to have a child
and take care of it. For many women this may mean quitting school or leaving their
career. These women would
be forced to a disadvantage in society because they were denied control of their bodies.
Since having and caring
for a child is an expensive procedure, poor women may be forced into welfare. This not
only burdens and
embarrasses the mother, but it also forces the rest of society to support a child which
was not wanted by the
mother in the first place. Also, the social life of a woman who bears a child is greatly
altered. Women who do not
give their children up for adoption must constantly care and provide for their children
which greatly effects the
social life of the mother. Women who are forced into having an unwanted child are forced
to a disadvantage if
abortions are not legal. If abortions were illegal many women would suffer. Instead of
bearing unwanted children,
many women would turn to illegal and underground abortions. These underground abortions
are often times
unsafe, and unsanitary, causing women to submit themselves to many life-threatening
dangers. Since abortions
were deemed legal through the Roe v. Wade case, the death rate for women undergoing legal
abortions were ten
times lower then that for women who had illegal abortions (232 Tribe). Legal abortions
are in sanitary and
government regulated clinics. At the clinics there is a focus on the safety and
well-being of the mother. If a
woman is forced into having a child rather than having an abortion, would she be a good
mother? Why should a
woman be forced into having a child that she does not want? If abortions were illegal,
laws would force unfit
mothers into bearing undesirable children. Forcing birth would not benefit either the
mother or the child. The goal
of parents is to offer their children the best possible chances for success in their
children's lives. Children who
come from mothers who were denied an abortion are not likely to be given chances of
success from their
mothers. Thus, denying abortions, may cause a negative and undesirable childhood for
children everywhere.
Answering the question about the legality of abortion is a losing cause. There are too
many instances where
questions cannot be answered due to diverse moral beliefs. Yes, of course abortion should
be legal, but society
is focusing on the wrong concept. Birth control may be the root of all abortion problems
and it should be
addressed more so than abortion. If issues concerning birth control are addressed on a
more aggressive level, the
frequency of abortions would decline greatly. Thus with more and better uses of birth
control, the number of
incidental pregnancies would plummet. In ending, abortion must be legal. Women should not
be forced to let a
rape or an incidental pregnancy dictate the rest of their lives. Denying abortions
unjustly sets women at a
disadvantage in life. Denying women the right to abort their pregnancies would cause wide
spread use of under
ground abortions which poses threats to the health and well-being of women who seek
abortions. Next, unfit
mothers and uncaring mothers should not be forced into having a child which they do not
desire. Finally, when
addressing abortion, a greater concentration on birth control must be addressed as well.
There are pro-life
people and there are pro-choice people, but nobody is pro-abortion. Nobody wants to end
the miracle of life,
but to ensure the safety and Constitutional rights of women, abortion must be legal.