Why Pro Choice Is The Right Choice

In 1973, Norma McCovery who is also known as Jane Roe brought a case to the Supreme Court. She and her defense team claimed that the 1859 Texas abortion law violated women’s constitutional right to have an abortion. Before reaching the Supreme Court, this case, which was a class-action suit, was argued in a Dallas Fifth Circuit Court on May 23, 1970. The judges in Dallas ruled that the Texas law violated Roe’s right to privacy which is found in both the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendment, so this case was then sent to the U.S. Supreme Court (Brannen and Hanes, 2001).

In contemporary America it can be argued that nothing is more contentious and controversial of an issue than abortion. From the vehement pro-life movement to the impassioned pro-choice coalition, this policy issue is one that has become increasingly important in our society. This debate has raised important questions regarding the value of human life, at what stage of development does a fetus have it’s constitutionally ensured rights take hold over that of the mother and at what stage can a state start regulating abortions.

A famous feminist named Margaret Sanger once said,“No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body.” In 1973 the united states supreme court pass the right to get an abortion. The court ruled 7-2 extending the 14th amendment. The case is known as Roe V. Wade case.

Over the years controversies on abortion was a salient issue and today the topic still remain the debate, said Driedger, Leo, and Shiva S. Halli. Ongoing debate whether if it right or wrong to end a life causes tension worldwide. Pro-choice argue that it’s their right to decide whether abortion is the option. Determining whether the abortion is a right or wrong, the decision depends on an individual believe, situation, and preference according to NARAL Pro-choice America staff in 2016. Pregnancy occurs from sexual activity whether voluntary participating or un-consensual, but when pregnancy resulted unexpectedly women may seek abortion. Some common reasons why women have an abortion are because too young, victim of rape or incest, contraceptive failure, financial issue, inconvenient, career priority, and without any reason abortion would be an easier decision according to Driedger, Leo, and Shiva S. Halli. Pro-Choice is a movement act that allows women rights to terminate pregnancy base on the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case in 1973, said FedWorld official webpage 2016.

Wade was a high court consideration for Texas law outlawing abortion in all cases except those in which the life of the mother was at risk. Lower federal courts had declared the statute unconstitutional, deciding that women cannot be denied the right to decide whether to complete a pregnancy or not because their right to basic privacy and liberty interests contained in the Constitution would be violated. In a 7-2 vote, the Supreme Court affirmed the lower court’s ruling, concluding that the constitutional rights to privacy and liberty protected a woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy. While the Constitution does not mention any right to privacy verbatim, there is a guarantee of privacy in certain zones which are explained in the amendments within the Bill of Rights and in the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of liberty. Marriage, contraception, family relationships as well as child-rearing are all areas or zones of privacy protected. The conclusion in Roe v. Wade saw the access to abortion to be a fundamental right and only a “compelling state interest” could enact legislation to limit this right. In addition the state must also have “important and legitimate interest” in protecting the health of the mother and “the potential human life” inside

This case was about a pregnant mother, that wished to undergo an abortion in Texas because she could not afford to go somewhere else for the medical procedure. Jane Roe sued on behalf of ever women to prevent the enforcement of Texas statutes criminalizing all abortions except those performed to save the life of the mother. Jane Roe sought a declaratory judgment that the statutes were unconstitutional vague and abridged her right of personal privacy, protected by the First, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments. The right to personal privacy includes the abortion decision, but the right is not unqualified and must be considered against important state interests in regulation.

In 1973, the Supreme Court took on the case of Roe v. Wade. This Supreme Court case was based on the right of privacy in reference to abortion. The case ruled that the U.S Constitution effectively mandates a nationwide policy of abortion on demand. This case is one of the most criticized cases in Supreme Court history.

Abortion in America is a hot topic in today’s society. With 1.21 million abortions in 2013 (Pro Life Action League), many people are starting to question if abortion should be outlawed. In 1973, the supreme court issued that banning abortion took away a woman’s right to life, liberty, and property (Pro Life Action League). This ban overlooks the fact of taking away another human’s right to life, liberty, and property; that human, is the fetus growing inside of the mother who aborts it. Abortion should be outlawed in America because it kills innocent human beings, frees people from taking responsibility for their own actions, and because there are other options to not having to raise a child.

Abortion is perhaps the most disputed issue in America today. There are nine states in the United States that do not have specific laws prohibiting abortion after a certain point of pregnancy. This means that an abortion can be performed at any time, despite how far along the pregnancy is. This controversial topic is viewed through public opinion, legislatures, and the courts. There are three main concerns that are discussed within this issue: the constitutional rights of both the woman and the fetus, the development of the fetus, and the statistics between the harm restricting abortion and the loss of life caused by abortions. Allowing Americans to partake in abortions, revokes the nation’s moral values. It is situations and matters like these that define America.

Women seeking abortions often find themselves either unaware or with unwelcomed pregnancies, so they typically deem abortion as their last resort method because preventative options were not used or had failed (Rossi 1). In fact, abortion may be the only problem in which sexual activity itself and towards life are in disorder (George, Jr. 371). Common liberal beliefs are that women have the right to determine what happens to their bodies—pro-choice (Kamide 1). However, when viewing abortion from a conservative stand point, having an abortion is the murder of God’s creation—pro-life (Clifton 1). These differing views from both political parties regarding abortion are what began the overall argument—whether women should have the right to choose to have an abortion or not. Currently, conservative politicians are working to end taxpayer dollars used to provide abortions and liberals are defending the funding of abortions when a woman does not have the financial means (Kamide 1). So, due to legal, religious, and cultural differences, abortion has remained a controversial topic (Debate

Abortion is the deliberate termination of an unborn embryo or fetus during pregnancy, before it is capable of independent life . Because the act of abortion involves the removal of the human embryo/fetus , this topic has been heatedly debated for decades to no avail. In the 1970s, the landmark case Roe v. Wade determined that state laws banning abortions (in a woman’s first trimester of pregnancy) is unconstitutional. This ruling intensified the fight between abortion opposers and defenders. Today, as President Trump takes over the reins of the United States government, with his publicized anti-abortion views and his efforts to dismantle government funded women’s health care, the topic of abortion is once again in the spotlight (not that it ever left). Permitting women’s reproduction rights to become a topic of such heated discussion (in comparison to men’s reproduction rights) implies that women are still not seen or respected as equal citizens. An unwanted pregnancy can mean a great deal of unhealthy impacts regarding mental and emotional health. As human beings, a woman should have the ability to make decisions and choices regarding her body. Due to the concept of bodily autonomy , unhealthy psychosocial effects of an unwanted pregnancy, and equal rights, abortion should be legal in the first trimester.

There are few issues in the American political climate that are as divisive as that of abortion. Though it had a history before 1973, intense legal opposition by counter movements did not occur the way it currently does. In 1973 the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade established a woman’s right to privacy, which extends into the right to have an abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy. This success for the pro-abortion rights side as a result served as the catalyst for the anti-abortion, or “pro-life” movement.

“Over the last three decades, the abortion debate has been characterized as the clashing of rights: the human rights of the unborn on the one hand and the reproductive rights of women on the other.” (Erika Bachiochi “How Abortion Hurts Women: The Hard Proof”) Abortion has been one of the most controversial topics in history. We are constantly seeing the news talk about it and rallies over why people want to keep abortions legal or put a stop to this cruel act.

Abortion remains a common medical procedure in today’s society, even though its rates have steadily dropped since 2000. Studies show that one in three women will have an abortion sometime in their life. There has been a constant religious and political debates between health care and abortion services. Many people believe they shouldn’t have to pay for their own abortion, just like they don’t have to pay for their birth control, doctor visits, or dental. This is an accusation that many pro-life people like to use on women who believe that anyone can have control on when and if they have children. The first thing to do is address to the challenges with provisions associated with abortion coverage, Medicaid and the Hyde Amendment, and second come up with solutions to these ongoing battles.

States could only enact abortion laws protecting the “life” of the fetus only in the third trimester, but exceptions must be made to protect the life of the mother. Linda Coffee and Sarah Weddington fought the case on behalf of Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe) under the claim that the Texas law banning abortions violated Roe’s constitutional rights to privacy (McBride, Roe v. Wade). The Supreme Court decided in Roe’s favor in a 7-2 decision (Oyez, Roe v. Wade). The decision deemed marriage, contraception, and child-rearing as part of a Constitution-guaranteed “zone of privacy” from the 1st, 4th, 9th, and 14th amendments. This decision also deemed a woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy as part of this zone of privacy. The opposition gave three justifications for banning abortions. The first was a Victorian-like social concern to discourage illicit sexual conduct, the second to protect the life of the mother, and the third to protect prenatal life. The court rejected the first two reasons, and ruled that fetuses do not fit the definition of a person (McBride) The court also ruled that if a fetus is viable, then states may disallow abortions as long as the life of the mother is not at stake, and states may restrict abortions during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Forty-six states were affected by this decision.