A 20-week old fetus.
By C. Dyer, contributing writer
Note: This article is in response to a piece written by J.Says, entitled "Women's Rights: More Than Just Abortion."
According to many early feminists, abortion reflects not female empowerment, but a society in which being male is still the ideal. Rather than appreciating things that are uniquely female and powerful, like the ability to bear a child, society asserts that women must become like men in form and function to receive respect. Men still find social advancement easier than women who want to be mothers. This reality was reflected in President Obama's statement that Roe v. Wade allowed "our daughters [to] have the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams." Abortion has done no more to resolve the problems of sexism than heavy makeup does to resolve racism. Financial success is still revered more than motherhood, as though moving up in the corporate world were more important than shaping the next generation.
"When we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading for women to treat their children as property, to be disposed of as they see fit."-feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1873)
The concept of children as property is an ancient idea we never fully abandoned. Child abuse first gained national attention in the late 1800's. The ownership of one's children was considered so personal and private, there wasn't even an institution for the prevention of child abuse. In fact, the first prosecuted child abuse case in the U.S. was brought by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In many ways, we continue this tradition today. Many liberal Democrats would consider it cruel to shoot a cat or dog that inconveniences them, but would accept a woman's right to abort for the same reason.
Two of the major questions in the abortion argument are "when does life begin to matter?" and "how far do abortion rights extend?" Catholics and other religious groups might contend that value begins at conception. Some atheists and pro-choice advocates believe it matters when the entity develops a self-concept. Both ideas are difficult to prove. Because of this, scientists choose different measures. Recently, many states have outlawed abortions occurring after 22 weeks because of ample scientific evidence that a fetus of that age can feel and react to pain. Even the federal government was willing to recognize some limits on abortion by upholding a partial-birth abortion ban. Most people, regardless of political affiliation, would concede that abortions past the point of viability are unethical. A layer of tissue is the only difference between an infant born a month early and an 8 month old fetus. To allow the abortion of an 8 month fetus would make opposition to infanticide seem hypocritical. The question of viability has been used by some to extend the abortion argument to young infants. There was a recent article in the Journal of Medical Ethics entitled "After-birth abortion: why should the baby live?" The authors received death-threats for their publication, but it raises some valid points. It argues that parents should have the option to "abort" their infant if they discover disabilities that medical exams didn't show. Many of the arguments for or against adoption in such a case would still hold true.
Note: This article is in response to a piece written by J.Says, entitled "Women's Rights: More Than Just Abortion."
According to many early feminists, abortion reflects not female empowerment, but a society in which being male is still the ideal. Rather than appreciating things that are uniquely female and powerful, like the ability to bear a child, society asserts that women must become like men in form and function to receive respect. Men still find social advancement easier than women who want to be mothers. This reality was reflected in President Obama's statement that Roe v. Wade allowed "our daughters [to] have the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams." Abortion has done no more to resolve the problems of sexism than heavy makeup does to resolve racism. Financial success is still revered more than motherhood, as though moving up in the corporate world were more important than shaping the next generation.
"When we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading for women to treat their children as property, to be disposed of as they see fit."-feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1873)
The concept of children as property is an ancient idea we never fully abandoned. Child abuse first gained national attention in the late 1800's. The ownership of one's children was considered so personal and private, there wasn't even an institution for the prevention of child abuse. In fact, the first prosecuted child abuse case in the U.S. was brought by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In many ways, we continue this tradition today. Many liberal Democrats would consider it cruel to shoot a cat or dog that inconveniences them, but would accept a woman's right to abort for the same reason.
Two of the major questions in the abortion argument are "when does life begin to matter?" and "how far do abortion rights extend?" Catholics and other religious groups might contend that value begins at conception. Some atheists and pro-choice advocates believe it matters when the entity develops a self-concept. Both ideas are difficult to prove. Because of this, scientists choose different measures. Recently, many states have outlawed abortions occurring after 22 weeks because of ample scientific evidence that a fetus of that age can feel and react to pain. Even the federal government was willing to recognize some limits on abortion by upholding a partial-birth abortion ban. Most people, regardless of political affiliation, would concede that abortions past the point of viability are unethical. A layer of tissue is the only difference between an infant born a month early and an 8 month old fetus. To allow the abortion of an 8 month fetus would make opposition to infanticide seem hypocritical. The question of viability has been used by some to extend the abortion argument to young infants. There was a recent article in the Journal of Medical Ethics entitled "After-birth abortion: why should the baby live?" The authors received death-threats for their publication, but it raises some valid points. It argues that parents should have the option to "abort" their infant if they discover disabilities that medical exams didn't show. Many of the arguments for or against adoption in such a case would still hold true.
The question at the front of my mind in any abortion discussion is "why not adoption?" In either case, the woman must undergo a surgical procedure and will likely experience feelings of loss. The difference is that adoption gives one's offspring the chance to have a home and a family. Reasons I have heard against adoption include disabilities and the trauma of the foster care system. Abortions due to disability are based in the idea that we can determine whether another person's life is worth living. Unfortunately, this applies just as easily to an adult with dementia or cerebral palsy as it does to a fetus with Down Syndrome. Adoption is not the same as it was when abortion was legalized. Since that time, the Adoption and Safe Families Act has made adoptions faster and Title IV-E of the Social Security Act has required adoption precedence be given to qualifying relatives. Both these measures have made adoption and foster care less painful. There is also no shortage of parents willing to adopt. Most potential adoptive families are placed on lengthy waiting lists or choose to adopt internationally because so few available infants are born in the U.S.
A big part of government is the concept of give and take. For each protective measure, we give up some of our rights. For example, the 9/11 attacks were followed by greater security at the airports in the hopes of saving lives and preventing future hijackings. Many pro-choice advocates feared the Unborn Victims of Violence Act would affect the legality of abortion. While it provides legal protection for the fetus of a woman who intends to give birth, it highlights a potential moral dilemma for those who exercise their right to abort. If the law considers it murder for a man with a knife to stab a pregnant woman's stomach, wouldn't it be considered murder to abort one's own fetus? Strangely, the government has yet to resolve this duplicity. Twelve states consider a child born drug addicted to be an instance of child abuse. However, until a child is born, it makes no sense to hold the mother responsible for her actions under our current laws. A mother is no more evil for drinking heavily during her pregnancy than for aborting or attempting to abort. Both activities involve her own body and may permanently affect the child's life if they survive. Protecting the lives of the unborn may involve limiting the right to abort during the third trimester, or restricting abortion to the reasons for which it was originally promoted: rape and medical necessity.
Interestingly, abortion also has an economic impact. According to the Social Security Administration, Social Security benefits will decrease by 25% by 2035. The reason given isn't that the population is living significantly longer, but that the birth rate has dropped from "three to two children per woman". It is sadly ironic that many who chose abortion because of the threat of poverty may face poverty in old-age because of the low birth-rate. According to BBC News, pregnancy rates have decreased so much in Europe that many countries are becoming fearful. Italy, France, and Poland currently offer cash incentives for women who choose to give birth. Despite a birth rate of 1.23 per woman, first-trimester abortion is still legal in Italy. The birth rate there is too low to even replace the current population as they grow old and die. If the U.S. continues to have high rates of abortion, we may see many of the same problems these European countries are facing.
I hope this post encourages some civil discussion. A topic that raises so many questions deserves thoughtful consideration. If you are having trouble finding any of the sources I referenced, let me know and I will provide links in the comments section.
A big part of government is the concept of give and take. For each protective measure, we give up some of our rights. For example, the 9/11 attacks were followed by greater security at the airports in the hopes of saving lives and preventing future hijackings. Many pro-choice advocates feared the Unborn Victims of Violence Act would affect the legality of abortion. While it provides legal protection for the fetus of a woman who intends to give birth, it highlights a potential moral dilemma for those who exercise their right to abort. If the law considers it murder for a man with a knife to stab a pregnant woman's stomach, wouldn't it be considered murder to abort one's own fetus? Strangely, the government has yet to resolve this duplicity. Twelve states consider a child born drug addicted to be an instance of child abuse. However, until a child is born, it makes no sense to hold the mother responsible for her actions under our current laws. A mother is no more evil for drinking heavily during her pregnancy than for aborting or attempting to abort. Both activities involve her own body and may permanently affect the child's life if they survive. Protecting the lives of the unborn may involve limiting the right to abort during the third trimester, or restricting abortion to the reasons for which it was originally promoted: rape and medical necessity.
Interestingly, abortion also has an economic impact. According to the Social Security Administration, Social Security benefits will decrease by 25% by 2035. The reason given isn't that the population is living significantly longer, but that the birth rate has dropped from "three to two children per woman". It is sadly ironic that many who chose abortion because of the threat of poverty may face poverty in old-age because of the low birth-rate. According to BBC News, pregnancy rates have decreased so much in Europe that many countries are becoming fearful. Italy, France, and Poland currently offer cash incentives for women who choose to give birth. Despite a birth rate of 1.23 per woman, first-trimester abortion is still legal in Italy. The birth rate there is too low to even replace the current population as they grow old and die. If the U.S. continues to have high rates of abortion, we may see many of the same problems these European countries are facing.
I hope this post encourages some civil discussion. A topic that raises so many questions deserves thoughtful consideration. If you are having trouble finding any of the sources I referenced, let me know and I will provide links in the comments section.
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