Taking government class as a senior has opened my eyes to what is really happening in the world-the war, the election, the gas prices, the debate and controversy over abortions. My teacher and I have held the same viewpoints on a myriad of issues as class has gone on. She is probably one of the more democratic teachers in my school. When she brought up rape and abortion however, things felt a little differently.
I cannot say that I am for abortion but I also can't say that I'm against it. I suppose my personal side says it's wrong but my political side is quite liberal. If a woman feels it is necessary to participate in an abortion, no one should be able to tell them no.
My oh-so democratic, government teacher posed the question, "Is there any difference between an accidental conception and a rape victim receiving an abortion?" Of course I was quick to answer her yes. With one look from her I realized we might not be as alike as I had assumed previously. Her question (and distinct look of disagreement) made me begin to question my own beliefs. Many discussions and journal entries later I came to the conclusion that I still find accidental conceptions and rape victims very different. Let me expand on this slightly...
A male and a female make a dumb choice, don't prepare themselves correctly, don't prepare themselves at all-the female becomes pregnant and decides things just aren't right for a baby right now. Is an abortion apt? Not to me it isn't. If two people aren't mature enough to make the correct decisions a child shouldn't lose an opportunity at life for it. If every accidental conception was followed by an abortion we would have no adoptions and a lot more depressed women walking around.
Rape is different. A rape isn't a mistake because it isn't agreed upon. It's out of a woman's control. She doesn't submit to the act of sex like a woman would if it were an accidental conception. So what about this makes abortion appropriate? Well, should a woman be tortured with not only memories of her rapist but the idea that she will have to birth his child as well? It would be too much pain for one person to endure. The health of a baby conceived after rape could suffer if the mother goes full term. The stress, despair, anger, and resentment the mother feels due to the rape will be transferred to the baby.
Am I saying that women shouldn't receive an abortion unless she was raped? No, not at all. A woman should always have the choice; it should be up to her and no one else, really. Making abortions illegal will make them unsafe.
The Misconception: Rape vs. Poor Choices
By YO_tikipie - Posted on February 11th, 2008
...? So, you are still sticking with your original answer?
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
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Choice Picks
Yes. I am. Because when I think about it, there is clearly a difference between rape and someone making a bad choice on their part.
Don't be anything but what you are.
I agree with much of what you are saying. When I was younger (granted I'm young, at seventeen) I believed women should have the right to choose, but this was long before I understood what abortion was really about.
I believe abortion should be legal only when the mother's life is threatened and for rape vicitms. Many women who have abortions suffer emotional damages, as do rape victims. Counseling might help women in these situations make wiser decisions, especially if it concerns rape. Women who have been raped and don't desire a child could feel conflicted with making the decision to have an abortion, and this is where we need strong counseling centers to come into play.
As for women who are pregnant by accident, or teens, it's about time for people in this country to start facing the consequences of their actions. Even if you can't keep the baby, adoption is always an option.
While I don't think that abortion is good in any right (Athiest, so God isn't a factor...I just don't like the idea), it is a good form of population control.
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
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Choice Picks
Spent too long trying to figure out my post I missed this...I think you just completely summed up how I feel.
I think real progression would be requiring every women seeking an abortion to have a one time meeting with a pyschiatrist/counseler (unbiased as one can be). I think most would see that as too extreme, but I like the idea.
My heart beeps for the invisible children
www.invisiblechildren.com
I like this idea. While I believe firmly in early-pregnancy abortion, I also believe that every woman needs to have a nice visit to the psychiatrist before that fateful day.
Sounds like a plan... Don't know if I'd want it in legislation though...
"-bah!! Pardon the "bah!" I feel several "bahs!", but out of courtesy I only say one."
H.P. Lovecraft
I completely agree with you.
Don't be anything but what you are.
My opening sentence would be exactly the same as Nick's until the population control bit. I like to think of myself as a little less callous.
1) It's really not your business if a woman decides to do something that will make her depressed.
2) Abortion is a consequence. And it's, obviously, a tough one to have to deal with.
3) Putting up the child for adoption still involves carrying the pregnancy to term, which some women may not feel is a viable options
"-bah!! Pardon the "bah!" I feel several "bahs!", but out of courtesy I only say one."
H.P. Lovecraft
Women who get abortions aren't always informed of the consequences, and don't expect to face the trauma post-abortion. I'm saying that counseling could remedy this- and it is my business if abortions are making women depressed, thus leading to possible medications and therapy bills that could potentially be taken from the public's tax dollars. Then it becomes a public issue.
I'm opposed to abortion on the moral level, so it's never going to be an option for me. I'm also opposed to raising our children irrepsonsibly, and allowing them to believe that getting pregnant isn't a 'big deal' and is simply something that can be fixed with an abortion.
I really think that the whole "women are ignorant" argument is way overplayed. Most Abortion Clinics interview people and, if unsatisfied by what the woman knows, will not give her an abortion without giving her more information and asking her to think about it.
And, again, an abortion is a big deal. Even without being specifically instructed on it, I think most people think of it as a big deal. That's also an over used argument. highly doubt that women just say, op, going to get an abortion. Fun, fun, fun.
As for the public's tax dollars, vote no on universal health insurance, not abortion.
"-bah!! Pardon the "bah!" I feel several "bahs!", but out of courtesy I only say one."
H.P. Lovecraft
I'm still very unsure about this myself. I agree rape seems a more appropriate reason to get an abortion, but I see a child as a chance to have a light, a life and a reason to move on. However that's my view as an optimist and it's not often reality. I then switch to the pessimist and see the women facing a child, her rapist in them and even though a child should never be looked at like that I know it's what often happens.
When you say making abortions illegal being unsafe I picture women with hangers.
My heart beeps for the invisible children
www.invisiblechildren.com
A male and a female make a dumb choice, don't prepare themselves correctly, don't prepare themselves at all-the female becomes pregnant and decides things just aren't right for a baby right now.
Why do you assume that all accidental conceptions are caused by people making dumb choices? Half of all women who have abortions were using contraception at the time they became pregnant. Using contraception is not a dumb choice, it's a choice 99% of women make during their lives. Women using contraception have a 1% chance of becoming pregnant. Those are good odds, but obviously not perfect.
But nothing is perfect at preventing pregnancy. Not even abstinence is perfect, because women who abstain can still be raped. And if they are, they probably have about a 15-20% chance of becoming pregnant if they're not using contraception.
Is an abortion apt? Not to me it isn't. If two people aren't mature enough to make the correct decisions a child shouldn't lose an opportunity at life for it.
So why should a "child" lose an opportunity at life because his/her father chose to rape his/her mother? Why should a "child" be punished for that?
If it's a child, then it should be wrong to kill it for the sins of its parents, whether they are a rapist and his victim or two dumb kids.
If it's not a child, then it should be OK to have an abortion, whether you're a rape victim or not.
If every accidental conception was followed by an abortion we would have no adoptions and a lot more depressed women walking around.
There are 115,000 kids in the US foster care system available for adoption RIGHT NOW, waiting and waiting for a mommy and daddy to adopt them and love them. There is no shortage of children available for adoption. Why on Earth do we need more?
Rape is different. A rape isn't a mistake because it isn't agreed upon. It's out of a woman's control. She doesn't submit to the act of sex like a woman would if it were an accidental conception.
So is unwanted pregnancy supposed to be a punishment for naughty women who dare to have sex and enjoy it?
Pregnancy is supposed to be a happy and beautiful time in a woman's life, not the penalty for being a slut. Children should be wanted and loved, not forced on resentful women who don't want them.
Well, should a woman be tortured with not only memories of her rapist but the idea that she will have to birth his child as well? It would be too much pain for one person to endure. The health of a baby conceived after rape could suffer if the mother goes full term. The stress, despair, anger, and resentment the mother feels due to the rape will be transferred to the baby.
Should any woman be tortured by the physical and emotional demands of a pregnancy she does not want? That is too much pain for one person to endure.
It doesn't matter if a woman was raped or not, an unwanted pregnancy is a horrifying experience regardless. Why do you think a woman who uses contraception (or doesn't know about contraception, or can't afford contraception) deserves that kind of stress, despair, anger and resentment more than a rape victim?
That's why your teacher disapproved of your position. It's because you seem to have a thing for punishing women for having sex. Why? It makes no sense. Sex is a natural and normal part of healthy human relationships. Why should women be punished for it? And why only women?
You didn't get this at all I don't think. I'm not attackign anyone or making any assumptions about any body. I don't think women should have to keep babies they don't want. My point was that I disagree with my teacher when she says that rape and acciddental conceptions are the same. I think they are two vey different circumstances. I stated clearly that according to my own personal views an abortion isn't appropriate after an accidents conception, however at the end of my post I stated that a woman should always have the choice. I never singled anyone out lke you're assuming. I don't have anything against people having sex, I don't even see where that assumption is coming from and I never discussed the couples that didn't use protection for a reason-those conceptions can't be avoided. I'm discussing the two that I believe are extremes. No one should be punished for sex...that's an obscure idea that wasn't even talked about. Most of what you said was misconceptions...
Re-read it, maybe you'll understand next time.
My point was that I disagree with my teacher when she says that rape and acciddental conceptions are the same. I think they are two vey different circumstances.
The only difference is that in one case, the woman wanted to have sex, and in the other case, she didn't. Why should that determine whether or not a woman should have an abortion?
Personally, I think women should decide whether or not to have an abortion based on whether or not they want a child, not whether or not they wanted the sex that produced the pregnancy.
Why should it matter whether the sex was voluntary?
I stated clearly that according to my own personal views an abortion isn't appropriate after an accidents conception... I don't have anything against people having sex
Obviously you do, or you wouldn't have written a blog about how it's inappropriate for women with accidental unwanted pregnancies to have abortions, but OK for women who were raped.
I don't think women should have to keep babies they don't want.
I said that.
I stated that a woman should always have the choice.
I said that.
You're only commenting on the parts that can be twisted to prove your own point. How can I be against sex when the entire world's population was created through sex? Seriously. I don't really care who gets an abortion all I am trying to say is I believe rape victims are more justified for choosing abortion over birth.
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Don't be anything but what you are.*