According to government-collected data from 2015, the United States recorded a total of 638,169 abortions.
According to Cha's data, there has been a 2% decrease in abortions since 2014. The abortion ratio for 2015 is reported as 11.8 per 1,000 women aged 15-44. Abortion continues to be a controversial and morally debated topic in present-day America, influenced by various factors such as media and changes in legislation. The influence of media platforms like social media, radio, TV, and newspapers is significant among millions of individuals across the country. Twitter is particularly notable as it allows users to share their views on abortion and spread them worldwide.
Online, many people share their political opinions and invite others to comment or agree. On February 25, 2019, The Epoch Times posted an article on abortion. This article became popular on Twitter with the hashtag #abortion, making it visible
...to anyone searching for related content. The article talks about pro-life law firms warning the public about possible consequences if the Democratic-sponsored abortion legislation is passed. According to tweets, this legislation could turn Illinois from the respected 'Land of Lincoln' into the 'Abortion Capital of America.' Governor J.B.
Pritzker has previously promised to transform Illinois into the "most progressive state in the nation for access to reproductive health care" and has communicated this message on social media (Kan). This declaration reaches a diverse range of individuals, providing them with the chance to either endorse or oppose his stance. Instagram serves as another platform where people voice their opinions by posting images from pro-life or pro-choice marches and speeches. Numerous photos labeled with the hashtag abortion usually originate from these demonstrations, showcasing posters containin
propaganda. Furthermore, there are radio and television talk shows that draw in thousands of viewers each day.
There are various talk shows and radio stations available for individuals to choose from based on their preferences, including options that cater to Democrats and Conservatives. Democrats generally support the right to choose while Republicans tend to oppose abortion. The media plays a significant role in shaping discussions about abortion and related topics pertaining to these beliefs. Recently, new laws have also contributed to these conversations. In the 1970s, abortion was not as controversial as it is today. However, debates continue to arise as new legislation is enacted to legalize the termination of pregnancies. For example, New York recently passed a law permitting abortion during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy and beyond if there are risks to the mother or if the fetus is nonviable.
The scope of healthcare practitioners allowed to perform abortions in New York has been expanded under new legislation. This means that licensed or authorized healthcare practitioners, as long as it falls within their practice area according to Title Eight of the Education Law, can now carry out an abortion. The removal of this restriction has made it easier for individuals in New York to access abortion services. In the past, individuals who were 18 years old or older needed consent from their partner or parents, but this requirement is no longer necessary due to the implementation of the new law.
According to Reuters, a law passed in 2019 gives individuals the right to choose whether they want to proceed with pregnancy, give birth, or have an abortion. This law is part of a larger set
of laws being considered in congress. It's important to note that abortions must be performed by licensed physicians in 42 states and must occur in hospitals in 19 states. In addition, 19 states require the involvement of a second physician at a specific stage. Furthermore, 43 states have restrictions on abortion unless the mother's life is at risk and it must be done before a certain point during pregnancy. According to Guttmacher, there are currently 20 states that have laws prohibiting "partial birth" abortions.
Currently, in twenty-seven states, women seeking an abortion typically have to wait around twenty-four hours between receiving counseling and undergoing the procedure. In fourteen of these states, women must schedule two separate appointments and go back home before having the subsequent procedure. Despite New York recently removing this requirement, thirty-seven states still enforce some kind of parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision. Among these states, twenty-six require consent from one or both parents for the procedure to proceed (Guttmacher). As mentioned earlier, Illinois is currently working on passing legislation that would establish it as the most abortion-friendly state. Pro-life advocates are worried about the potential accessibility and ease of obtaining abortions for women if this law is implemented.
Despite the global legal changes, abortion remains morally condemned as it is viewed as a form of murder and taking a life. The issue arises when considering why it is deemed acceptable to terminate the life of someone who has not yet had the chance to experience this world's joys and wonders. Abortion snuffs out a life without granting it any say in its own future. It is unjust to hold the child accountable
for their mother's pregnancy and her inability to provide care for her infant.
Imagine if your mother considered terminating you and there was no way to stop it. Or what if she actually attempted to end your life but you survived, facing any resulting complications or health problems? It is crucial to recognize the emotional burden carried by these survivors, knowing that their own mothers wanted to terminate their lives. Failed abortions have caused many individuals to live with these harsh realities. When an abortion fails, a second D;C or surgery is often performed. In some cases, a "selective reduction" may be done to terminate some of the fetuses in a multiple pregnancy. However, this puts both the remaining fetuses and the mother at risk of miscarriage (Grimes). Sadly, every day people are murdered and countless unborn babies never get the chance to experience the privileges most people take for granted. These unborn babies had no say in their own existence. Ultimately, there is no difference between abortion and murder.
Individuals can avoid the need for abortions by making informed choices and planning ahead. Advocates of reproductive choice often argue that adoption rates justify not forcing women to go through pregnancy only to give their child up for foster care. However, life within the foster care system still offers simple pleasures like outdoor activities and enjoying fresh air, making it better than having no life at all. Adoption procedures in the United States are expensive and time-consuming.
This is a lengthy and complex process that involves multiple steps and requires the involvement of many individuals. According to Spence, the average cost of adoption is $28,000, with about 60%
of adoptions falling between $10,000 and $30,000. However, there are pro-life advocates who have doubts about permitting abortions in cases of rape or incest. They argue that when a woman is raped and becomes pregnant, seeing the child who has both her genes and those of her rapist serves as a constant reminder of her attacker.
The profound impact of a traumatic event, such as rape, is immeasurable. Women who have gone through this ordeal will always bear the weight of their experience. Regardless of whether they have a child with their rapist or not, these women are constantly confronted with reminders of what happened to them. It is impossible to understand the emotions and difficulties faced by these women unless one has personally experienced it. Supporters on both sides (pro-choice and pro-life) cannot judge the choices made by these women because they cannot predict how they would react in the same situation. Trying to empathize with their circumstances is futile because it does not align with their reality. There is no foolproof method for determining if a woman has been raped or if she is falsely alleging it to obtain an abortion.
The government is facing difficulties in implementing a law that allows women to have abortions in cases of rape due to the challenge of providing evidence without a rape kit. The issue of abortion sparks passionate debates and is sensitive for many individuals, who express their opinions through various media outlets with either progressive or conservative viewpoints. New legislations on abortion will significantly shape future generations' approach to this matter. It should be noted that terminating a pregnancy is morally objectionable from all perspectives.
Work
Cited
- Cha, Ariana. 'Number of abortions in U.S. hit historic low in 2015, the most recent year for which data is available.' The Washington Post. 21 Nov. 2018. Feb. 2019 .
- Grimes.
'Chapter 10- When Abortion Fails.' Women’s Health after Abortion: The Medical and Psychological Evidence. 1997. 123-30.
Guttmacher. 'An Overview of Abortion Laws.' Guttmacher Institute. 05 Feb.
2019. 27 Feb. 2019.
Kan, Janita. 'Pro-Life Law Firm Warns Illinois Bill Would Make State 'Abortion Capital of America'.' Www.theepochtimes.com.
25 Feb. 2019. The Epoch Times. 26 Feb. 2019.
2019. 27 Feb. 2019.
Spence, Virginia. 'What Is the Adoption Rate?' Adoption.org.
2018. 27 Feb. 2019.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement on November 19, 2018, which was last updated on February 27th.
2019.