...| Abortion | A Social Problem | | Raven Sutton | 8/1/2012 | | Abortion Abortion is a social problem. The important ways of looking at the issue of abortion are most easily categorized into five major points, legal precedence, birth control issues, human rights, religion and when life begins. In all of these categories there are issues with abortion that people that based on both empirical and moral claims, a wide spectrum of views supporting either more or less legal restriction on abortions has emerged in America. Advocacy groups define the issue through its constitutionality and its moral views represented by their constituents, but politicians define the issue by party lines, generally with liberals as “pro-choice” and conservatives as “pro-life.” The media defines the issue morally, presenting to the nation the views of various “pro-life” and “pro-choice” organizations with little empirical evidence from both sides. Ever since the landmark Roe v. Wade, abortion law has continued to protect the woman’s right to choose. Supreme Court cases have placed the woman’s right to choose under the right to privacy and therefore they have considered it protected by the US constitution. Also, when Norma McCorvey (also known as Jane Roe) tried to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision in her 2005 Supreme Court Case, McCorvey v. Hill (2005), the Supreme Court denied the case thus supporting the statute that Roe v. Wade had created. The precedent set in Roe v. Wade has...
Words: 1084 - Pages: 5
...Justin Humphrey an Oklahoman State Representative, proposed a bill that will allow men to give written consent on a woman’s choice to have an abortion. It’s believed the bill will pass and add the state of Oklahoma to the list of states that want to ban abortion. The article, Oklahoma Lawmaker Wants Men to Approve Abortion, Calls Women ‘Host’, highlighted the main goal of the proposed bill and used quotes from the bill’s writer on his position about the abortion issue in the United States. The author of the article Jenavieve Hatch did not take a direct stance about her opinion of the proposed bill, however, she did allude to the theory of ethics of a person when she titled the article “Oklahoma Lawmaker Wants Men to Approve Abortion, Calls Women ‘Host’ ”....
Words: 660 - Pages: 3
...Background Information Abortion is the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced. The term abortion most commonly refers to the induced abortion of a human pregnancy. Induced abortion has long history, and can be traced back to civilizations as varied as China under Shennong, Ancient Egypt with its Ebers Papyrus and the Roman Empire in the time of Juvenal. There is evidence to suggest that pregnancies were terminated through a number of methods, including the administration of abortifacient herbs, the use of sharpened implements, the application of abdominal pressure, and other techniques. Introduction The ethics of abortion is a highly controversial issue that had been going continually argued over for the past few years and probably many years to come. Usually, debates about abortion focus on politics and the law: should abortion be outlawed and treated like the murder of a human person, or remain a legal choice available to all women? Behind the debates are more fundamental ethical questions which aren’t always given the specific attention they deserve. Some believe that the law shouldn’t legislate morality, but all good law is based upon moral values. A failure to openly discuss those values can obscure important discussions. The labels “Pro-life” and “Pro-choice” imply that...
Words: 2642 - Pages: 11
...Abortion Introduction The abortion debate deals with the rights and wrongs of deliberately ending a pregnancy before normal childbirth, killing the foetus in the process. Abortion is a very painful topic for women and men who find themselves facing the moral dilemma of whether or not to terminate a pregnancy. It's one of the most polarising moral issues - most people are on one side or the other, very few are undecided. The primary questions The moral debate about abortion deals with two separate questions: 1. Is abortion morally wrong? 2. Should abortion be legal or illegal? Women's rights arguments in favour of abortion Here are some of the women's rights arguments in favour of abortion: • women have a moral right to decide what to do with their bodies • the right to abortion is vital for gender equality • the right to abortion is vital for individual women to achieve their full potential • banning abortion puts women at risk by forcing them to use illegal abortionists • the right to abortion should be part of a portfolio ofpregnancy rights that enables women to make a truly free choice whether to end a pregnancy This argument reminds us that even in the abortion debate, we should regard the woman as a person and not just as a container for the foetus. We should therefore give great consideration to her rights and needs as well as those of the unborn. Women's rights arguments against abortion Not all who support women's...
Words: 2366 - Pages: 10
...life, this portrayal showed “independence” as a downfall in their lives as they struggled to get a stable job and shelter over their heads. Throughout the history of the U.S. as well as in the world, women had to fight to earn their right more than men had to. Whether it was being paid equal to men, or holding job positions that they deserved more than men, who were competing for the same job position. Another place that has been a struggle for women is the right of abortion. The very first step toward the right to abortion was when “women who choose to terminate unwanted pregnancies, the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade (1973) had seemed to settle the question” (Brinkley, p.807). An era began, where abortion became one of the top surgical procedures that were being performed. But as time went by the question of “right-to-life” or “pro-life” raised which led to massive debates and protest to the idea of abortion. This soon led to the idea of “pro-choose”, which presented “abortion itself as every woman's right to choose whether and when to bear a child” (Brinkley, p.808). This led to abortion being legal in the U.S., but with the constraints placed by states it can be restricted at various degrees. Just like the right to abortion has been a platform of argument, struggle of asking Milwaukee’s resident to pay rent which accounts for more than half of their “income”. Most of the income of these families came from welfare, which was reduced by Clinton, leading to 22,000 families...
Words: 1920 - Pages: 8
...By definition, "abortion" refers to any premature expulsion of a human fetus, whether naturally spontaneous, as in a miscarriage, or artificially induced, as in a surgical or chemical abortion. Abortion has been a controversial issue dating back long before the United States Supreme Court’s 7-1 decision on the case of Roe versus Wade. As a result of the case, it was decided that the procedure was a fundamental right. Since then abortion has continued to be a subject that draws fluctuating heated emotions from society. The social predictors of abortion attitudes are greatly influenced by varying religious beliefs, demographics, and political views. Generally, the debate over abortion consists of two stances, pro-choice or pro-life. Those who distinguish themselves as a proponent for the pro-choice attitude towards abortion believe that the procedure is a right that should not be limited by the government or a religious entity. They believe that if women do not have legal access to abortions, these women will resort to unsafe options to eliminate their unwanted pregnancy. Individuals who distinguish themselves as a proponent for the pro-life attitude towards abortion believe that life occurs at the time of conception. Therefore abortion is the immoral killing of an innocent human being. As previously mentioned, this debate stems back to the infamous case of Roe versus Wade. This case originated in Dallas, Texas in 1969 when “Roe”, the legal pseudonym for Norma Leah McCorvey...
Words: 2718 - Pages: 11
...Abortion in America is a controversial issue in which both sides have valid arguments at face value. The pro-choice side has many arguments to support it belief in keeping abortion legal. Many of these are faulty, and argue points irrelevent to the issue as I will attempt to illustrate, thereby eliminating the main pro-choice arguments. The pro-life position has somewhat different ideas. The most popular of these is: The unborn entity is fully human from the moment of conception. Abortion results in the intentional death of the unborn entity. Therefore, abortion can be defined the intentional killing of a human being. This killing is in most cases unjustified, since the unborn human being has a full right to life. If, however, there is a high probability that a woman's pregnancy will result in her death (such as tubal pregnancy, for example), then abortion is justified. For it is a greater good that one human should live (the mother) rather than two die (the mother and her child). Or, in such cases the intent is not to kill the unborn but to save the life of the mother. With the exception of such cases, abortion is an act in which an innocent human being is intentionally killed; therefore, abortion should be made illegal, as are all other such acts of killing. One argument made by people in favor of abortion is an appeal to pity. When one fallaciously argues by appealing to pity, one is arguing that certain actions should be permitted or tolerated out of pity...
Words: 1057 - Pages: 5
...Howard Zinn was a well known author, historian and a civil rights activist back in 60s. One of Zinn's famous books were “A People's History in The United States”, which talked about history. In chapter 19 of his book, he talks about the radical movements that were started by oppressed groups in the 1960s and 1970s. One of these groups was the women’s movement. Women were suppressed by men in terms of being treated unfairly and being incompetent in the work space. Women had to go out and take actions themselves to get rights such as legalized abortion and fight against sex discrimination. One of the actions taken by women was the right to abort. Before the 1970s, there was about a million abortions performed, where only ten thousand of these...
Words: 532 - Pages: 3
...the 20th century. This film highlights the different roles between men and women and the treatment they endured. During this era, women had very few rights and were viewed as the property of the household. This film takes place in 1950 following the end of WW2. During this time women were slowly gaining their position in society. However, when this war came to an end the men came back and took over. This caused women to move back into their social role of the household. This film demonstrates a loving couple that had the perfect life. However, as this film moves forth it illustrates the downfall of the relationship and how social aspects furthered...
Words: 1042 - Pages: 5
...Ethics 12/13/08 My position on the position of abortion is that there should not be any abortions in the United States. I plan to live my life by the Christian based way of life. I was raised a Christian and I enjoy the ideals that I live by. I have never had to question my beliefs. I feel strongly about my beliefs on abortion and I have never wavered. The Christian view on abortion is simple. Life is a precious gift from god and we should and do not have the right to take that away. My position on abortion comes from my upbringing and the views of the bible. It is clear that our bodies are temples for God and we should not be vacuuming out life just because we are not ready or we have decided it would not be the right time. There is a chance for us to have that decision. That is before we engage in that sexual act. In the Christian view we should not be having sexual intercourse unless we are married anyway. If this was the case then there is never a need for an abortion. If we follow an ethical life and are not promiscuous then there is no reason to even consider abortions. So, here we have the chance to preemptively avoid the thought of wanting an abortion. If we do not put ourselves in those situations then we will not have to consider ending the life of unborn children. So, we can avoid the situation ourselves, but sometimes there are extreme situations. Some people say in situations of rape, or accidents that we should be allowed to have abortions. Well, I do not agree...
Words: 837 - Pages: 4
...The Black and White of Abortion Abortion is arguably the most controversial issue that exists today. Abortion is a religious matter, questioning the humanity of a fetus and if one has the right to kill it. This issue also causes disagreement between men and women, and whether women have the right to bodily autonomy. Furthermore, abortion questions which right is stronger, the right to bodily autonomy or the right to life. Mary Anne Warren and Judith Jarvis Thomson have similar stances on the issue, although both claim to be pro-choice. Thomson, through the famous violinist example, argues women have the right to bodily autonomy, which is stronger than a fetus’s right to life. Warren, on the other hand, states fetuses are not persons because they do not attribute the five-personhood traits. In this paper I will agree and disagree with both philosophers, to a certain extent. Two central issues surround abortion. First, is it permissible to kill a potential human being? Most Christians believe that at the moment of conception, a human life is created. Other people believe a fetus is not a person until after the period of time when it becomes illegal to have an abortion, typically after five months. Judith Jarvis Thomson is pro-choice. She believes the woman’s right to bodily autonomy is stronger than a fetus’s right to life, and proves so through the famous violinist example. She believes a person does not have a moral obligation to stay connected to the famous violinist...
Words: 1160 - Pages: 5
...A House Divided: Abortion and Slavery in America It is routinely remarked by both intellectuals and pseudo-intellectuals that “those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it.” It is definitely true that one of the history profession’s greatest tasks is to explain to the current generation how people in the past dealt with their problems, the good and the bad. It is to be hoped that by doing so we might (re)learn some lesson or at least will avoid the same pitfalls our ancestors discovered the hard way. One area in which a number of strong comparisons may be made might surprise us. A number of historical similarities present themselves between the arguments antebellum slaveholders used to support slavery and those used to support the modern abortion rights movement. At its most basic level, African chattel slavery involved one section of the population declaring other portions of that same population non-persons in order to protect the dominant side’s perceived rights and to reap economic gain, public benefit, and convenience. In doing so, the slaveholders claimed as a civil right the ability to perpetrate a moral wrong on someone who was not in a position to complain. This, of course, is nothing more or less than the essence of the “Pro Choice” movement. Arguments in favor of abortion and slavery are nearly identical, revolving around several similar premises: 4.Each person’s “right” to choose to do what he or she would with a life that had been...
Words: 1163 - Pages: 5
...Women in pre-revolution Russia The idea of feminism first appeared in Russia in the 18th century. Influenced by the enlightenment in Western Europe, Russian intellectuals and aristocrats took a positive stand on the independence of women and gender equality. During the 19th century a lot of laws that stopped women from getting a higher education and being independent started to disappear. The group of Russian writers who used feminist themes in their books started to expand. At the beginning of the 20th century female factory workers formed unions to stand up for their rights, which had been forgotten by male factory workers and owners alike. In February 1905, Mariia Chekhova founded the Women’s Equal Rights Union. Together with thirty...
Words: 660 - Pages: 3
...i Abortion Controversy: Conflicting Beliefs and Values In American Society By: Joseph B. Tamney, Stephen D. Johnson, and Ronald Burton Submitted By: Thomala J. Hollingsworth Sociology 100 Professor: Gwendolyn Royal-Smith February 26, 2013 ii Abstract This study examines the ideological and structured basis for attitudes and political action relating to abortion. A sample from “Middletown” in fall of 1989 showed that most people believed that abortion begins at conception, a belief in privacy rights, and religion. Social traditionalism also played an important role in a pro-life stand, which is only influential for conservative Protestants and not for Catholics. Catholics believe in abstinence and refraining from taking anyone’s life as it relates to abortion. The political action, the data showed that the pro-life movement was more important in 1989 than the pro-choice movement. Party identification was not used for abortion as a political litmus test. However, attending pro-life churches did increase the likelihood of using abortion for voting decisions. I am interested in this particular article because the subject of legalized abortion or the lack thereof, hits home for me. I feel that women everywhere should have the right to say what happens to their bodies, which is in the United States, even in other countries where women are not allowed to have freedom of speech and treated unequally. Legalized Abortion I Women...
Words: 1510 - Pages: 7
...breathing at this very moment. Everyone is alive because God wanted to create them! The Bible says, “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.” Abortion is the termination of pregnancy before birth, resulting in, or accompanied by, the death of the fetus. It has become one of the most widely debated ethical issues of our time. Considering what is ethical and what is legal in terms of abortion becomes very complex. The ethical concerns that revolve around the abortion issue are those that encompass a great many ideals – both religious and personal – that have to do with an individual’s concept of right and wrong. To some, the ethical implications mean allowing the woman her right to choose; to others, it is no different than murder. Do you consider something with a beating heart a living creature? Likely, before a woman even has knowledge of being pregnant, at five weeks, a baby’s heart is already formed and beating. Therefore that would make abortion a form of murder. Murder is classified as taking another human life. The baby that is growing inside of a woman is dependent on her, so when the mother makes the choice to end the baby’s life, she is making the choice to murder another human. Our federal government must take a stand against the murder of innocent humans. Allowing abortions, including partial birth abortions is a step in the wrong direction....
Words: 1617 - Pages: 7
