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prashantkhadka1
peerreview.docxResearch Essay Abortion
Abortion, one of the most controversial and debatable social issues in America today. The term “abortion” refers to the action and decision to terminate intentionally pregnancy by removing the embryo or fetus, which ends the pregnancy. Embryo refers to a fertilized egg that has implanted in the uterus. After 8 weeks of conception it is referred to it as a fetus, it keeps this term until birth. Abortions have been performed since the ancient times including the Medieval civilizations, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Ancient Jews. The cultures have all practiced the use of abortifacients with the help of drugs or herbs. (Lopez) Women decide to get an abortion for various reasons including their socioeconomic status, lack of support from partner or family members, religion reasons, motherhood, or simply it interferes with plans for the future like school or a job. Women have the right to better themselves, follow their dreams and not be tied down to a mandatory pregnancy. Growing up, I wish I would of had the opportunity to be more sex-educated, and I wish I would of had the right knowledge to accept that there are more options out there when a woman becomes sexually active or when she becomes pregnant.
It was not until 1973 abortions became legal in the United States, before that an abortion was only acceptable if the pregnancy severely affected the health of the mother, in other US states abortion was completely prohibited.(Romaine) Before this triumph, if women were to seek or have an illegal abortion, they were punished with jail time, buredt or even hanged. It was not until the case of Roe vs. Wade in the state of Texas, the Supreme Court decided to rule in favor of legalizing abortion. Jane Roe was a female resident of the state of Texas who demanded a legal abortion, due to becoming pregnant after being rape. Roe sued Henry Wade, who at that time was an official in charge of enforcing criminals for their actions. Jane Roe claimed her privacy and civil rights had been violated, and also the 5th & 14th amendment of the constitution. Once the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 on making abortion legal, this particular law dropped the female death rate tremendously. Women were able to obtain abortions legally and most importantly under safe and adequate conditions.
There are four different methods used for an abortion; the method depends on how far along the embryo or fetus has developed. According to CDC, statistics showed that most abortions, up to 91 %, take place during early gestation. The first method is performed up to 10 weeks in gestation, its called “Medical Abortion” it consists of taking 2 pills. The first pill is called Mifepristone or RU-486 which blocks the progesterone in the woman’s body, blocking the blood flow and nutrients for the fetus. The second method is called D&C, which is a surgical abortion performed between the gestational periods of 4-13 weeks. It is performed by using a suction catheter, and by using its force it pulls the embryo out terminating pregnancy. The third method is called D&E, which stands for dilation and evacuation. This procedure is performed between 13-24 weeks of gestation. For this procedure a 9 inches suction catheter is used to remove the amniotic fluid, followed by the used of a 13 inches sopher clamp which grasps the fetus body parts to end pregnancy. The last method used for abortion is called D & X, which stands for dilation and extraction, it is performed from 25 gestational weeks up until term. It is the least common method used. It is legal in a few US states but prohibited in others. This abortion method is performed by using a medication known as Digoxin, which is injected into the fetus head, torso or heart through the women’s abdominal wall or vagina. This causes the fetus to demise. The women’s cervix is then dilated for her to give birth to a stillborn baby. (www.abortionprocedures.com)
One of the main reasons why I support the pro-choice option on abortion, is because I strongly stand for the that fact that women have the right to decide the correct timing for a pregnancy, women deserve the choice to whether to continue her pregnancy since its her body. Women know their life situation better than anyone else. Politicians, men, law, society, pro-life supporters have no idea nor care under what circumstance a woman got pregnant, or what her feelings might be towards the pregnancy, yet they want to decide what she can and cannot do with a pregnancy. Now that’s wrong, morally wrong. (Pollitt) Women must have the right to decide for themselves when to become mothers, and if they want to become a mother at some point in their lives or not at all. Some women are just not meant to nourish others. Women also have the right to decide who they want to have a baby with, freedom of religion, decide what to do with their own body, and decide about their sexuality on their own, no laws or men word involved. “Men and women, from this perspective, are not just equal but should have the same opportunities and choices to make in their personal and professional lives” (Munson 71)
Secondly, I powerfully support a legal and safe abortion. Women who opt to have an abortion need to have peace of mind that an abortion procedure is legal and that it will be performed under safe, sterile and adequate conditions. Just as author Schoen sates: “Furthermore, poor women and minorities often procure illegal abortion clinics or try to induce abortion themselves, which many times causes their own death” (Schoen, 2005) When woman don’t have the right resources, they start seeking illegal resources to make an abortion happen. This compromises their own well-being and the right to practice their civil rights. On the other hand, when women feel supported with legal laws, they will seek for the right resources, at the right place, the right experienced physician to have an abortion done. By having an abortion done correctly they can move forward healthy in life.
As author Katha Pollitt remarks: “Legalizing abortion didn’t just save women from death and injury and fear of arrest, it didn’t just make possible for women to commit to education and work and free them from shotgun marriages and too many kids. It changed how women saw themselves: as mothers by choice, not fate.” (Pollitt 3) Reinforces my support for pro-choice, more specifically in teenagers and young women. Pro-Choice option secures a better future for teenagers and young women. Everyone deserves a choice. Even if the young mother tries to, is very challenging, very hard to succeed in this life when you don’t have the right tools to provide for a child. For the most part young girls who end up having children in their teen years end up living under the federal poverty line, become welfare recipients, and require assistance to make it through, that is why they deserve control over their lives. Throughout the years, statistics have been very consistent that children from young women have many deficits and impact on development, nourishment and chances to thrive. In contrast to a mother who is matured, supported, educated is most likely able to provide for her child easily, and the chances of thriving in life increases tremendously. Young women should not be punished for their sexual activity, reproduction is part of life and sex, but options to legally abort need to be an open option.
An alternative perspective to abortion is the importance of an informative sexual and family planning education, most importantly birth control counseling. Our youth need to be well informed of the importance of what method to use for birth control if being sexually active, the clarity of a pregnancy at a young age and the hardships that come with it, the importance of completing an education to empower themselves, last what resources exist that will support their decisions. The organization Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization, and an amazing resource on a national level, is located all throughout the United States. They support family planning, sex education, and reproductive issues.
To conclude this research essay, the main reason and most importantly why I support Pro-Choice today is because I know what is like to experience a pregnancy before being of legal age in the State of California. I was very young, naïve, uneducated, and I struggled to make ends meet and even today am still struggling to complete my education. At the time when I became pregnant, I didn’t not know my options, many taboos existed around abortion. All I kept hearing from people around me was how morally wrong it was to have an abortion, and how I had to keep the baby, yet no one explained to me how excruciating it would be growing up with a baby under my responsibility. Despite unconditionally loving my child with all my strength, an unplanned, unwanted and unsupported pregnancy changed my life and future forever, more to say mine and hers. It wasn’t fair that I brought her to this world with no resources, no father figure. I hadn’t even stopped growing up myself when I had to learn the do’s and dont’s of parenting, unfortunately by making many mistakes with her; and my number one mistake was to raise her on my own. Parenting is a two-individual responsibility, equal share. I want to prevent other young ladies from going through the same thing. Young women have their whole life ahead of them. That’s why I support pro-choice. Young women need to be aware that there are options out there and is legal and safe. Life doesn’t stop just because you became accidently pregnant.
Reference List
1. “Abortion Procedures: What You Need To Know.” AbortionProcedures.com, www.abortionprocedures.com/ (Links to an external site.) . Accessed 30 July, 2019.
2.“Reproductive health: Data and Statistics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 January 2019, https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/data_stats/. (Links to an external site.) Accessed: July 30, 2019
3. Lopez, Raquel. 2012. Perspectives on Abortion: pro-Choice, Pro-Life, and What lies in between. European Journal of Social Sciences. ISSN 14-50-2267 Vol.27 No.4, pp. 511-517 http://www.europeanjournalofsocialsciences.com (Links to an external site.)
4. Munson, Ziad W. Abortion Politics. Polity, 2018.
5. Parenthood, Planned. “Abortion Information: Information About Your Options.” Planned Parenthood, Updated 2019. Web. 30 July 2019. www.plannedparenthoor.org/learn/abortion
6. Pollitt, Katha. Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights. Picador, 2015.
7. Romaine, Deborah. Roe v. Wade Abortion and the Supreme Court. Lucent Books, 1998.
8. Schoen, J. (2005). Choice and coercion: Birth control, sterilization, and abortion in publichealth and welfare. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press.
Self Revision:
· Write one thing you are struggling with in regard to the content of the essay:
One thing that I am struggling with in regards to the content of my essay is to try to stay away from "my own opinion" and instead make my essay sound like a research essay, be informative. I've caught myself adding a lot of "I" "I""I"....which I want to refrain from using. I want my essay to have a clear thesis, coherence, reliable facts. I want my reader to enjoy what I wrote.
· Write a thesis that incorporates the broad and narrow aspects of your essay.
Broad: Abortion
