The term pro-life is a bit of a misnomer. The term implies caring for the sanctity and well-being of a person, including quality of life and opportunity to thrive. However, people who identify as “pro-life” often focus singularly on an anti-abortion stance.
One of the many arguments against abortion is that by aborting a fetus, you are robbing them of the chance to live a full life, and that a fetus deserves an opportunity to thrive. But what does that really mean? First, we must examine the reasons why a woman may choose to have an abortion. Maybe she is a scared young teenager who cannot properly care and provide for a child. Maybe she is a mother living in poverty that literally cannot afford another child, and the addition of a baby would rob her existing children from valuable resources. Maybe she is a disheartened woman in an abusive relationship, an environment that would be dangerous for a child. Or perhaps she is a rape victim, scared and ashamed of her unintended pregnancy. Women have abortions for a myriad of reasons, and everyone has a different story. Abortion is a resource for women such as these that are not able to or ready to raise a child. The choice to have an abortion is not a black and white issue, it is individualized and personal and should not be judged. Many people seem to stop caring once a child is born. They fight for rights of a fetus, but do not consider the rights of a child, much less the well-being of the mother. After a child is born, what laws and resources do we have to help mothers care for their child? How do we help single moms or families living in poverty? What mental health counseling do we have for teenagers and rape victims? How do we assist parents who have disabled or ill children? How do we help teen moms raise children and continue their education? The answer is very few. If a person wishes to take a pro-life stance, which is their personal choice, they should be equally concerned with caring for the child and mother as they are for the fetus. What about cases of late-term abortion in situations where the fetus’s life or quality of life is threatened? Detection of fetal abnormalities later in a pregnancy often results in the excited mother and her partner to face a difficult decision whether or not to terminate the pregnancy. Some families choose an abortion because the child would not have a meaningful life or would be faced with severe debilitations. Some families do not have the resources or support system to care for a handicapped child. These women are often sympathized with as they make a painstaking choice. However, some people do not believe that this choice is ok, and that someone is “playing God” and ignoring the possibility of a miracle. I do not wish to philosophize about the legitimacy of miracles, but scientifically speaking, modern medicine is usually correct when detecting fetal abnormalities. The possibility of a miracle is a reason that a mother may choose to continue the risky pregnancy. Either decision is an extremely difficult one, and a woman (regardless of her choice) should be met with support and love. My pro-choice stance is accompanied by a desire to reduce the needs for and the number of abortions performed. Pro-life and pro-choice people must unite to work to solve the issues of unintended pregnancy and providing resources for families who are in need. Let’s start with providing comprehensive, accessible sex education and affordable contraception to reduce rates of unintended pregnancies in the first place. Next, we need to address teen pregnancy. We must stop shaming teen parents and support them regardless of their decision. Pregnant teens who choose to keep their child often need resources to help them stay in school, raise a child, and continue their lives. Adoption is often an expensive, messy process that is not a viable for many families. Children who are unable to be cared for by their biological parents deserve opportunity to thrive, and adoption should be less expensive and follow a streamlined process. Families that do not have the monetary resources need assistance to care for the children they already have. Childcare, financial support, and affordable health care are crucial for caring for a child. Parents who have a disabled or ill child need extra support. Without affordable, accessible health care, many families cannot properly care for their child. Children with disabilities and illnesses deserve the same opportunities to thrive as other children. If you identify as pro-life, make sure that your stance is inclusive, open-minded, and problem-solving focused. We need laws, protections, and resources, and none of that can be achieved without social cohesion and understanding.
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AuthorWelcome to Sickness and Society! I'm Jenna Lee, and I hope to work to create an open dialogue about chronic illness that leads to change about how society views illness. Archives
November 2017
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