Research Paper on Roe v. Wade: Upholding Women's Rights to Abortion

Introduction

In the ruling of Roe v. Wade, Justice Harry Blackmun stated that he acknowledged the sensitive nature of the abortion topic even to the physicians (Landmark Supreme Court Cases). Blackman, who was a Republican, understood the complexity of the subject as it involved several viewpoints from different parties, which would help in making an informed ruling (Landmark Supreme Court Cases). The results from the ruling upheld the women's rights to have an abortion legally. To the liberals, the ruling upheld the women's rights to do what is right for their bodies. On the other hand, for the conservatives, the ruling meant that it went against all the oral principles which uphold the right to life and liberty.

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Pro-life supporters can be considered negligent and unaware of the surrounding reality. A good example is a 14-year-old girl having to drop out of school to care for a child. The conservatives may have no idea of the trauma that the child may have to go through raising a child at a young age. In most cases, the child may not be financially stable and mature, even to raise a child. On the other hand, pro-choice people are usually stereotyped as murderers. People perceive that a person who kills another human being growing in the uterus as cruel. However, there are some points of argument as to whether killing a fetus that isn't fully developed is right or wrong. The case Roe v. Wade is arguably the greatest ruling that created two opposing sides: pro-choice and pro-life.

On the one hand, the pro-choice movement maintains that women have the right to have total control of the decisions they make about their bodies (Lopez 515). The primary argument made by the party is that conducting an abortion illegally is very risky to an individual. In the U.S, abortion was not illegal until the mid-nineteenth century, where at the end of the century, virtually every state had made abortion illegal. The consequence was approximately 200,000 abortions being performed every year, starting from 1950 to 1960 ("Technical Issues In Reproductive Health"). The result was 2,700 and above female deaths every year ("Technical Issues In Reproductive Health"). Illegal abortions are a health risk, especially when carried out in an unprofessional manner. Some of the effects of botched procedures include hemorrhaging, infertility, and infections.

The most critical argument from pro-choice activists is that if women were given authority to make decisions about their bodies that some of the botched cases would be reduced (ProCon). They will also be empowered, which would also facilitate equality (ProCon). This means that a woman can decide about her future; whether she can or cannot have children. However, Pro-life advocates argue that abortions can still cause psychological damage to the mother despite it being a safe procedure (ProCon). Studies show that women who undergo abortion end up suffering a mental breakdown or even depression. The result is that women were 154% more likely to commit suicide after aborting the baby (ProCon).

Over the past few years, the pro-life movement has been appealing and arguing against the Roe v. Wade case. The primary argument from the pro-life movement is that life begins at conception, which means that every unborn baby has a right to life (Lopez 513). Various renowned physicians and scientists have also come forward and testified that life begins at conception. According to Dr. LeJeune, the genetic code found in fetuses during fertilizations retains itself within an individual until their death (Kizior). The evidence of the research is dependent on Down syndrome genetic disorder research. A replication of chromosome 21 can lead to a genetic disorder that continues to exist within an individual throughout their life, indicating that life begins at conception (Kizior). Dr. Alfred Bongianni supports Dr. LeJeune, stating that the argument that life does not begin at conception is illogical as a child would be considered not human before hitting puberty. To sum up, the pro-life argument is that abortion is a violation of the basic construct of law, which is the right to life. Therefore, an unborn child is guaranteed a right to life.

The growth of the pro-life and the pro-choice stereotypes after the ruling of Roe v. Wade sparked a heated debate on the choice related to female reproduction. On the one hand, the pro-choice emphasizes on giving women control of their bodies (ProCon). The general notion is that women have the right to do what stands to benefit their lives and the future living conditions of a baby. If a woman is not ready to take care of a baby or feels that the conditions are not suitable to raise a child, then she should have the choice not to have the baby. If she decides to have a baby, she may have to abandon most of her plans, like dropping out of school to provide all the care and attention to the baby.

The pro-choice factors in the idea that not everyone is cut to raise a child or some are not ready to bring a child to the world. This is because raising a child when one is not emotionally and physically capable can have a bad impact on the child, the mother's life, friends, and family. Raising a child requires help from both families and friends, and involving them may be an inconvenience to them because it can limit them from carrying on with their lives. This means that a mother has to put a hold of her life to care for the newborn, which means that she may have a limited chance of continuing her education, graduating, or even pursuing a career. The pro-life takes a moral stance on abortion because their perception is that abortion is murder (Lopez 513). Their main idea is that life begins at conception. However, pro-life advocates can be considered narrow-minded people as they fail to consider other people's situations and opinions. Their ideology is biased to follow a moral construct designed by society rather than focusing on an individual's wants or needs. Consider the case of a homeless woman who brings a child into the world. She may not have the financial capacity to raise the child. In the event the child is not adopted, the chances are that the child will suffer in the cold. The pro-life advocates failed to factor in some of these conditions. The most important thing is that we need to consider all the scenarios. One of the things that must be avoided is being narrow-minded and not factoring other people's opinions and views. The pro-choice stereotype is that they are murderers and have no value for life. On the other hand, pro-life is irresponsible and biased in their opinions. It is evident that everyone has their opinion when it comes to abortion, and therefore, it is necessary to factor in both sides' views and understand what works best for an individual and the society.

Another argument from the pro-choice activists is that abortion allows pregnant women to avoid bringing children with abnormalities into the world (ProCon). In some cases, fetuses may have some physical and genetic abnormalities. Early diagnosis means that doctors can determine some of the diseases that may affect these children. For example, a child may have a chronic illness such as cancer or leukemia. Another would be physical defects such as physical deformation on limbs or other parts of the body. Bringing a child with such a condition to the world would be harsh. According to the pro-choice activists, abortion is a humane way of mitigating the suffering that the child would have (ProCon).

Pro-life activists are, however, against the argument that terminating pregnancies with fetuses that have abnormalities is overt discrimination (ProCon). The argument is that having physical disabilities does not make a person less human. People with Down syndrome can live with their families and participate actively in their educational programs (ProCon).

Both sides make a strong argument. However, I believe in pro-choice activism. I believe that women should have a say and make decisions about their bodies. If a woman is not confident that she has the tools to raise a child, then she should be allowed to have an abortion. People make mistakes, and a woman who happens to be pregnant should not have to suffer from the effects of being pregnant and having no plan. For example, a woman who is pregnant may be forced to drop out of school and have to get a job that may be different from the career she was pursuing. According to statistics, only 40% of teen mothers get to finish school ("Postcard: Teen Pregnancy Affects Graduation Rates"). This means that 60% end up being uneducated and in most instances, unemployed due to their limited credentials. The main argument is that having a baby is a big responsibility for women, and it is a myth that having an abortion is a kind of birth control. It is also not true that women who have abortions are selfish. In retrospect, these women are taking care of the child by not bringing it into a world where they may not have the capacity to take care of them. Having an abortion saves the child from enduring hardships from the mother. For example, a mother may have a low paying job and may not have enough resources to raise the child. As a result, the child may grow up lacking some basic needs, which may also impact their development.

When it comes to babies, there is a lot of time, money, patience, and effort put into place to ensure they develop the way it is intended. Therefore, it is the woman's choice to decide if she is ready to take upon the burden of raising a child (ProCon). The idea is that a body belongs to the person who owns it, and it is irrational to make decisions on their behalf. For example, if the government decides that she should have a baby, she may have to place the baby into adoption. The result is that she may grow up believing that she was irresponsible and was not there for the child. On the other hand, the child may not be happy in the future that the birth mother abandoned them right after birth.

Conclusion

The use of stereotypes should not be factored in, especially when it comes to making major decisions concerning a person's life. No one should be considered a murderer because they believe that they should not have a baby, and no one should be considered narrow-minded because they believe that everyone has a chance to live. Instead, the decision should rest upon the individuals who conceived the baby. Reproduction is a sensitive topic, and no government should have to decide for an individual what is right and what is wrong. People should have the right to make their decisions and should not face criticism for their decisions. No person should be considered evil because they do not want to keep the baby. In the U.S, the reproductive rights of women have evolved to the extent that women have the right to make decisions concerning their bodies and their future. Therefore, it is important to uphold the rights of women making decisions concerning their future; that's why abortion should be legal.

Works Cited

Kizior, Mary. "Dr. Jerome Lejeune, And Down Syndrome Awareness Month." American Life League, 2019, https://www.all.org/dr-jerome-lejeune-and-down-syndrome-awareness-month/.

Lopez, Raquel. "Perspectives on Abortion: Pro-Choice, Pro-Life, and What Lies in between ." European Journal of Social Sciences, vol. 27, no. 4, 2012, pp. 511-517. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/bbdc/b17b6616460d58ecb0efab1e31da8507329a.pdf.

Landmark Supreme Court Cases. "Landmark Supreme Court Cases | Cases - Roe V. Wade". Landmark Supreme Court Cases, 2019, https://www.landmarkcases.org/cases/roe-v-wade.

"Postcard: Teen Pregnancy Affects Graduation Rates." Ncsl.Org, 2019, http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/teen-pregnancy-affects-graduation-rates-postcard.aspx.

ProCon. "Abortion - Pros & Cons - Procon.Org". Abortion, 2019, https://abortio...