Pro-Choice Activist

Ariel Torres, Opinion Editor

Abortion: the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. A topic so controversial with many views by different people. Women around the world understand and experience the struggle of having one, and supporting them. Abortions should not be banned because women should have the right to do whatever they want to their bodies.

Different countries have their own rules and policies when it comes down to it. Some allow it, some do not. The government is no help at all with this topic. There are states in the US who make abortions virtually illegal. Idaho, Iowa, Utah, and Louisiana are some of the toughest states to get one. As hard as it is to get one already, there are some pro-life supporters who stand outside abortion clinics to scream and judge women for their choice. Saying, “Baby-killer!” and, “God does not accept this!” If that isn’t bad enough, women literally have to cover their heads with sweaters while walking in just to get past without much harassment. Volunteers help to escort the women in.

A reason why abortions should not be banned is because women should have the right to choose what they want to do to with their bodies. Roe vs Wade, a court case that took place in 1973, was a landmark decision made by the Supreme Court which the court ruled that the U.S. constitution protects a pregnant women’s right to choose if she wants an abortion or not. The government should not have the power to control that; it is the woman’s unalienable right. Compare it to college; what if you decided you wanted to major in human resources but the government said, “No. Your major is now business. We think human resources should be illegal.” You would want to fight back, right? It would seem insane and unfair for them to do that, right? If you’d be mad already at that, wouldn’t you be mad that the government wants to have a say in what you do to your body?

Another reason it should not be banned is because it would cause women to do back alley abortions. That puts her in serious danger, even risking her life. Many women from countries that have banned abortions die from complications with these. According to an article by Business Insider, “An estimated 47,000 women worldwide die every year because of complications stemming from unsafe abortions, a major cause of maternal mortality.” They would still be here today if they had only been given their basic human right to choose.

Poverty plays a huge role in this aspect. It is unfair to have the want to force a woman to keep her child when she knows she could not afford it and give the baby the life it deserves. And if the poor women did have them, she might have had to send them to an orphanage. Orphanages are over packed, and there are not many people willing to foster. Why is it that the government cares so much about an embryo when it isn’t alive, yet when it is born…?

Having an abortion is not the murder of a human life. It is a basic human right to have the ability to do anything you want with your body. If you do not want to have one, don’t. If you don’t support it, don’t do it. Just because you wouldn’t do it doesn’t mean the right for other women to have one should be taken away.