Category: Abortion

Western and Non-Western Views on Abortion

Understanding Abortion: Western and Non-Western Perspectives

What is abortion? Abortion is when a pregnancy is ended so that it doesn’t result in the birth of a child. It is when the embryo or fetus is removed before it is able to survive outside the uterus. There is also an abortion that occurs unplanned, which is called a miscarriage. It’s very interesting to me how people who were brought up in different cultures view societal issues around the world. People have different views. Different cultures often value different things.

When we, as humans, are able to understand this difference, we are more likely to create a healthy learning environment. Western cultures value things very differently compared to the Non-Western cultures in our society. Western cultures tend to be more materialistic compared to non-western cultures. Non-western cultures have more family values. According to a study, most abortions occur in developing countries compared to developed countries. In the study, the highest amount of abortions per year was from Asian nations, and the lowest number of abortions came from Oceania and North America.

The History of Abortion

Abortion has existed since ancient times, with physical abortifacients(a drug that causes abortion) being seen amongst a large variety of people and in most written references. When it does happen, it is implied in concerns about male property rights, the process of social order, and the obligation to make suitable citizens for the government and state.

The harshest punishments were mostly reserved for the woman who obtained an abortion against her husband’s wishes and for slaves who created abortions for a woman of high status. Old texts often contained serious criticism of abortion, recommending punishment but rarely implementing non-religious punishment. As a consequence of general law in England and the United States, abortion was prohibited anytime after quickening—which is when the movements of the fetus are first felt by the mother of the child.

Factors Influencing Abortion Decisions

Abortion has been a controversial topic in ethics and society that has been seeking to find a fulfilling solution. Although Abortion is a topic that is widely accepted today, there still exists controversy about the topic due to different ethical views. When it comes to a highly controversial issue like this one, there are usually some prejudices. This usually involves faith, ethics, income, age, and communities. All of these influence the decisions concerning abortion. Religion plays a huge role, as it is what people turn to when they are in troubled times. If their religion is against abortion, it is more likely for them to follow that rule.

Ethics is also a guide for people; abortion might be unethical to some people because fetuses are still human. Income also plays a significant role in abortion. People who are poor are usually not able to even keep themselves alive, so they would support those who want to keep abortion legal. As a matter of fact, 42% of females who get abortions “take incomes below 100 percent of the national poverty point” (“Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States”). In contrast, they might not agree because they already have adequate needs of financial assistance to keep a child.

Cultural Differences: Abortion in Western and Non-Western Settings

Abortion in Western Cultures and Non-Western Cultures In Western cultures, the concern of abortion is the right of the female to decide. To select the power of her body, to decide when life begins and when it’s more important for the woman to decide her own fate. In non-western cultures, it’s not the same. One of the non-Western cultures would be in Turkey.

In Turkey, abortion was legalized in 1983. It is currently allowed until the 10th week after the child is conceived. The number is able to increase if the woman is not physically healthy or if the pregnancy was a result of rape. In the article I read from the author written by Ozlem Hangul, she states that one of her friends in Istanbul told her that her legal abortion request was denied by all of the four state hospitals she went to, and she was treated badly, and the doctors made her feel very guilty.

Her friend contacted thirty-seven hospitals, and “Only three hospitals out of the 37 agreed to provide non-emergency termination; 17 said that they could provide the service only if there was a medical emergency; the remaining 12 refused to carry out termination no matter the reason.” The research showed that abortion was very difficult in state hospitals rather than private hospitals. The law was violated by state hospitals, women weren’t given the right that was legal for them, and they weren’t able to access abortion as easy a western cultured person would.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Abortion forces and their enforcement have changed in several eras. Many of the Western cultured nations during the 20th century were able to get their abortion bans repealed. While abortion currently remains legal in most Western cultured nations, it is regularly challenged by radical groups of people who are often from non-Western cultures.

References:

1. Abort73.com. (2009). Abortion statistics and other data.
2. Hangul, O. (2012). Abortion in Turkey: Women’s Experiences within a Restrictive Legal Framework. Reproductive Health Matters, 20(39), 27-34.
3. “Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States.” (n.d.). National Right to Life.

Understanding Abortion through Diagnostic Analysis

Understanding Abortion through Diagnostic Analysis

Diagnostic analysis was used to analyze the data collected for this assignment. It was used because it creates more connections between the data and identifies patterns of behavior; diagnostic analysis asks the main question of “what happened” and then dives deeper and asks, “Why did it happen?”

Perceptions and Beliefs on Abortion

According to the data collected, it can be said that seventy-five percent (75%) of the twenty persons interviewed believe that Abortion is the deliberate act of murdering a child before birth. While five of twenty respondents (25%) responded that Abortion is the removal of the unwanted from a mother’s womb. Based on the data collected, it can also be said that the majority of the respondents, 65% believe that human life begins when the sperm penetrates the embryo.

While five of the twenty persons, 25%, responded that it begins after the child exits the womb. Based on the data collected, it can also be said that the majority of the respondents, 50% believe that the main cause of Abortion is being mentally unprepared to be a parent. Whilst six of the twenty respondents, 30%, believe it is because the partner does not agree or is ready to take up his responsibility, three respondents, 15%, are of the opinion that family issues are the cause, and finally, one respondent, 5%, of the twenty persons said family drama.

Opinions on the Morality and Accountability of Abortion

According to the data collected on if Abortion is considered murder, it was concluded that eighty percent of sixteen persons responded that Abortion is not murder if the unborn child has not or was not born and harmed. Whilst twenty percent replied that Abortion is indeed murder. One can also learn from the data collected that thirty percent (30%) of the twenty persons interviewed believe that the effects of Abortion are emotional pains to a mother, whilst two persons (10%) responded with a mental disorder.

Sixty percent (60%) of the responders are of the opinion that the effects of Abortion are all of the above options listed, including physical health disorders or issues. According to the data collected on if only women and girls are responsible for Abortion, it was determined that 80% of the respondents replied that a woman should not be responsible for Abortion alone since she was not involved in developing a fetus or unborn offspring. While 20% of four persons responded that the woman should be held responsible for Abortion.

Involvement of Fathers and Potential Solutions

One can also learn that sixteen of the twenty persons, 80%, when asked, “Should a father have a say in the choice of abortion?” replied that fathers should have the right to make decisions in anything that pertains to their unborn child, including the choice of Abortion. While 20% four of the twenty persons responded that fathers are not the parent that has to carry the child in the womb for nine months, so they should not have a say.

When it comes to the solutions that can reduce or stop Abortion, it was detected that seven respondents (35%) responded with being financially, mentally, and physically prepared for having kids before doing so. Whilst thirty percent six of the twenty responders believe that not having unprotected sex is the solution. Thirty-five percent responded with all of the above, including drugs used to cause death to unborn babies should be banned from medical institutions.

Conclusions Drawn from the AnalysiS

It is concluded that Abortion is the deliberate act of murdering a child before birth. It is concluded that the majority of the responses stated above disagree with Abortion and would not encourage such. Abortion is one of the main reasons why babies don’t get to experience being part of the world, and the 20 persons being surveyed for this research agree with this view of Abortion. The main cause of Abortion is being mentally unprepared to be a parent. The effects of Abortion are all of the options listed. The mothers should not be blamed for Abortion, and the fathers should be more involved in the decision-making of their child. The solution for Abortion is for parents to be financially, mentally, and physically prepared for having kids before doing so.

Examining the Abortion Debate: Ethics, Rights, and Controversy

Historical Context and Definition of Abortion

There are many pressing, contentious problems in our world today. The majority of them have to do with our ethics, morality, and beliefs, which gives rise to a very strong yes or no, or good and bad side. The topic of abortion is one of these topics. The term ‘abortion’ refers to the removal or evacuation of an embryo or fetus in order to end a pregnancy.

Abortion procedures were created to spread knowledge as early as 1550 BC when the Egyptian medical text Ebers Papyrus proposed that the vaginal insertion of plant fiber wrapped in honey and crushed dates may induce an abortion. As specified by World Health Organization, Abortion is a common health intervention. It states that it is safe when carried out using a method recommended by WHO, appropriate to the pregnancy duration, and by someone with the necessary skills.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle stated that ‘when couples have children in excess, let abortion be obtained before sense and life have begun,’ indicating that abortion was acceptable in ancient Greece and Rome. As long as the procedure was carried out before the fetus’s first detectable movement, which can happen between 13 and 25 weeks of pregnancy, abortion was not regarded as a criminal act. In contrast, abortion has been illegal in the Philippines for more than a century.

Abortion procedures and methods were allowed and freely publicized throughout the United States and other nearby countries until at least the early 1800s. There are no exceptions to criminal laws against abortion, including ones that would permit it to save the pregnant woman’s life or preserve her health. Under Spanish colonial control, abortion was made a crime under the Penal Code of 1870. The penal prohibitions were then integrated into the Revised Penal Code, which was enacted in the Philippines during the American occupation in 1930.

Societal Implications and Cultural Views

Similar to the Chinese yin and yang symbol, abortion has a strong black-and-white side but also hints of both in the contrasting color. This shows that even if you decided on an abortion decision on abortion, there would still be negative consequences, which is the main reason why people around the world cannot come to a consensus on this delicate and emotive subject. However, if we take a more pessimistic view, we can see that abortion contradicts God’s Word, violates the child’s human rights, and harms the mother’s health.

Arguments for Legalizing Abortion

Abortion should be included in a country’s contraceptive policy. People should plan their families, and society needs to support women in ending unintended births and dealing with birth control failures. As a result, despite being discouraged, abortion should be legal. Legal because you have control over what grows inside your body and a choice. It also won’t stop happening if you make it illegal. Simply put, it shows how dangerous and life-threatening procedures are often forced on women. Women in the Philippines lack access to birth control, are subject to unsafe abortions, and are more prone to abuse in the healthcare system as a result of the criminal abortion law and the country’s discriminatory culture.

In other words, banning abortions won’t halt abortions; instead, women will just turn to hazardous and illegal means of getting an abortion. It is, therefore, preferable to offer women safe and legal means of getting an abortion. According to Ana Maria ‘Princess’ Nemenzo, who spoke at a forum on behalf of the Center for Reproductive Rights, Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR), and Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network (Pinsan), the Philippines should end the criminalization of abortion, as it increases the number of abortions, complications, injuries, and maternal deaths. Abortion should also be made legal for rape victims, as having a child after a traumatic experience can be detrimental to them for life.

The Rights of the Unborn and Ethical Considerations

Abortion procedures violate the human rights of children. Because life begins at fertilization, pregnant women already have certain rights.  Because it violates the idea that all human life is sacred and untouchable, prenatal diagnosis must be vehemently forbidden as a means of achieving discriminatory goals. According to Article II of the 1987 Philippine Section 12 of the Constitution, The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution.

The right to life is a fundamental human right that governs all other existing rights; without it, all other fundamental rights would cease to exist. For children, the right to life is the opportunity to be able to live and have the possibility to grow, develop, and become adults. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.

Consequently, everyone has the legal right to life, which is acknowledged by all countries. It is Every right in existence is subject to this fundamental right. All other essential rights are meaningless without this one. For children, the right to life is having the opportunity to live, as well as the chance to develop, grow, and mature into adults. The right to have one’s life protected from the moment of birth and the right to be able to live and develop healthily healthy manner are both crucial components of this right. Abortion must follow the law. It is forbidden and ought to be considered cruel and irrational, utterly unethical human behavior for the reason that every child has the right to survive.

Empowering Women’s Reproductive Choice: The Abortion Debate

Understanding Abortion: Debates and Decisions

How do you think it would feel to have your right to make your own decisions taken away from you? Abortion is a highly controversial topic and is a worldwide debate. Many people believe abortion should be illegal, while others believe women should have the right to choose what they want to do as a result of unplanned or unwanted pregnancies. People hear about abortion, and they think a woman killed her baby because she wasn’t safe and ended up getting pregnant and didn’t want it, so she made a decision to abort it, but it is more than that.

Women have very personal reasons as to why they get abortions, but even then, other people don’t think abortion is the answer. We need to protect the women who decide to have one because abortion is a very difficult decision, and we shouldn’t be judging the women who get them. Many people also believe that abortions are wrong because they say you are killing a human life, while others say that under certain circumstances, it is okay or necessary to have one, which divides people into either the pro-life side or the pro-choice side. Abortion should be legal because women should have the freedom to choose what to do with their bodies.

What Is Abortion and its Medical Context

Abortion is when a woman deliberately ends a pregnancy by removing the embryo or fetus from the uterus. They are performed within the first 13 weeks of a pregnancy. When the procedure is performed by a healthcare professional during the 1st trimester of the pregnancy, it is one of the safest procedures in medicine today. There are some side effects after the procedure, like bleeding and cramping. Some people think that abortion can affect your health afterward, but “unless there’s a rare and serious complication that’s not treated, there’s no risk to your ability to have children in the future or to your overall health”.

Complications during an abortion during the first trimester are less serious than those associated with giving birth. 88% of women get an abortion before 13 weeks, and 97% of those women claim to have no complications with it. Many people also believe that having an abortion can cause breast cancer, but ‘in February 2003, a panel of experts convened by the National Cancer Institute to evaluate the scientific data concluded that studies have clearly established that “induced abortion is not associated with an increase in breast cancer risk”. The U.S. Supreme Court declared abortion a fundamental right by the Constitution in the 1973 case Roe v. Wade which gave women the right to choose what to do with their bodies. If they didn’t have that choice, it would contradict the fight for freedom.

Methods of Abortion: Surgical vs. Medical

There are two methods to consider when having an abortion. There is either a surgical abortion or a medical one. You can either get an in-clinic procedure, or you can take medications at home. A surgical abortion will end the pregnancy by removing the embryo or fetus and placenta. They should be done during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and if it is done within that time frame, it is one of the safest medical procedures. Surgical abortions are nearly 100% effective.

Of course, with a procedure, there can be some side effects after. Cramping and bleeding can last from 1-2 days up to 2 weeks after the procedure is done. An abortion will not affect fertility or your overall health. During a medical abortion, a woman will take pills that will lead to the uterus expelling the pregnancy, like what would happen during an early miscarriage. Medical abortion is 98% effective during the first eight weeks of pregnancy.

The longer time you wait, the less effective it will be, and a surgical abortion will have to be performed instead. You will have to go to the clinic to take your first pill, but the second pill can be taken in the privacy of your own home. The bright side to this is that you can have one while you are surrounded by people who love and support you. Instead of a procedure, this method can feel more natural for women if that is what they prefer. Both methods are deemed safe, and having serious problems afterward is very rare. These procedures are completely safe, and if there are no serious side effects for the women who get them, why shouldn’t they be allowed to have the choice to have it or not?

It is very important to protect women and keep them safe. Denying a woman an abortion does not always stop them from getting one. Women can have unsafe and illegal abortions if they know they need to have one. By letting women have abortions, it will give them the option to have a safe and easy procedure rather than an unsafe and illegal one. “Access to legal, professionally-performed abortions reduces maternal injury and death caused by unsafe, illegal abortions” (Abortion ProCon.org).

Many women who have abortions aren’t financially stable enough to take care of a child, so keeping abortion legal will help protect women from financial disadvantages. Another problem is women who are denied abortions are more likely to have mental health problems than someone who receives one. In September 2013, a study compared the mental health of women who had abortions to those who were denied them.

The results showed that the women who were denied them felt more anger and regret and less relief and happiness than the women who had abortions. We should want to make the women who are going through this as comfortable as possible, and we should want them to be happy after their decision. A woman should not be uncomfortable going through with an abortion for fear of getting judged by the public. They should feel open with their decision, and they shouldn’t have to shy away from the topic because other people feel it is wrong.

They should have support from others, as it is already a difficult time without so many people telling them it is wrong. No one should be told that something is so wrong to do when they’re confident with their decision, and they know it is the right one for them. Women should be able to choose what is going to be best for their life and their situation, and abortion should be able to be an option to prevent further problems for women.

Addressing Concerns and Myths About Abortion

There are many reasons why people are against abortion. One of the main reasons is people think having an abortion is the same as murder. They think you are killing a human life and that life should be taken into consideration. Abortions are usually performed within the 1st trimester of the pregnancy. In this stage, their health strictly relies on the pregnant woman’s health. It can not survive outside of the womb at this stage.

Personhood doesn’t actually begin until the fetus can survive outside the womb, not right after conception. Therefore, abortion is just a termination of the pregnancy and not the baby. People also think in certain circumstances, such as rape, that proper medical care can ensure that the woman doesn’t get pregnant, but not everyone feels comfortable reporting that when it happens, so not every woman can get that proper medical care.

Women who go through these situations should have an abortion as an option. Forcing a woman to have a baby after that happens can cause even further psychological harm. People believe that if women have free access to abortion, they will start to use it as a contraceptive. Abortion is not a form of contraceptive. Women have personal reasons as to why they get abortions, and women do know when that is what they want to do. Abortion is a very difficult decision, and it should never be looked at as a contraceptive for an accidental pregnancy.

Countries that have legalized it have actually reported lower abortion rates than those in which it’s illegal. A big myth about abortion is that it can cause medical complications later in life, which is not true. It is proven that it doesn’t lead to breast cancer as many people think, and it does not affect your ability to get pregnant later, either. Many people are against abortion due to their religion, but a lot of religious organizations believe in a woman’s reproductive choice. Ultimately it should be the woman’s choice because it is her body, and she should have control over what happens to it.

The Right to Choose: Empowering Women’s Decisions

Abortion is a highly personal decision. No woman ever hopes to get an abortion during her life. People don’t believe women should have abortions as a decision, but other people should not be allowed to make a woman’s decision for her. Abortion should be a decision made by the woman and her significant other. Other people do not have the right to decide something so important for someone else. They should have the freedom to make this decision based on the situation, and if they think it is for the best, then they have the right to get one. Women have abortions for many different reasons, and anyone who hasn’t gone through that decision will never know what exactly those reasons are.

Other people can not understand why a woman would decide to get one, but if it doesn’t involve them or affect them in any way, it shouldn’t matter what that woman decides to do with her body and why she ultimately made that decision. Some reasons could be the woman isn’t financially stable enough, maybe she was raped, or maybe she’s only a teenager, and she isn’t ready to have a kid. There are so many reasons to have one, and the reasons vary from woman to woman. Having a baby should not be a punishment for having sex if you are not ready to have a kid. Women should not be judged for having an abortion when they have a serious reason for having it. They have every right to have one, and other people are in no place to be able to make decisions for them.

Women have the right to choose what to do with their bodies. Who are we to tell them what is right and wrong? Abortion doesn’t affect everyone; it affects the woman who is pregnant and the man who got her pregnant. No one should be able to make the decision except for them. Every person has the right to believe in what they want, and they have every right to speak up about their beliefs, but no one should be able to make decisions for someone else. No one should be allowed to tell a woman what they can and can’t do with their body. Abortion is one of the safest procedures in medicine today and doesn’t have any major side effects that could harm the woman afterward. When done by a medical professional, the woman is completely safe during these procedures. We need to protect women, and denying them abortions can cause further problems.

Psychological and physical harm could be brought to the woman who is denied an abortion. Making abortion illegal does not stop abortions, but making it legal can give women a safe option. Abortions are much more than what people think they are. No woman would ever hope to get an abortion in her life, but stuff happens, and they may end up going down that road. They do not just get an abortion because they suddenly got pregnant. No one gets an abortion just to have one. They have very personal and very real reasons as to why. It is a very difficult decision, and if a woman thinks about it enough and decides it is the best decision for her, then who are we to deny them their right to choose that? They should have the freedom to do what they want.

References:

1. Supreme Court of the United States. (1973). Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113.
2. Major et al. (2013). Psychological Responses of Women After First-Trimester Abortion. Archives of General Psychiatry, 69(8), 837-844.
3. American Psychological Association. (2008). Mental Health and Abortion.
4. Abortion Facts. (n.d.). Breast Cancer and Abortion: The Untold Link.