Abortion Pros and Cons

There are few topics as divisive in America and the world as a whole than the subject of abortion.  Many countries have banned legal abortions outright, in any situation, without exception.  Others have very loose abortion statutes that leave the termination of a pregnancy at the discretion of the gestating woman.  And there are others in between that have shadier laws, allowing for abortions in cases in which the mother (or fetus) is in mortal danger from the continuation of the pregnancy.  When discussing abortion pros and cons, there are many viewpoints to be considered, and many moral and theological beliefs to hash out before coming to a decision.

Pros

When considering abortion pros and cons, it is important to take into consideration first and foremost the bodily autonomy of the gestating woman.  The general argument is that no one has the right to infringe upon the natural right that anyone has to bodily autonomy, and the relationship between a fetus and a gestating woman is no exception.   In layman’s terms, if the woman does not want to gestate the fetus, she simply doesn’t have to.  Her body, her choice.  An abortion also has the potential to save the life of a woman if a pregnancy becomes life threatening.

Additional pros that are often listed when discussing abortion pros and cons are often related to finances and population control.

Cons

Abortion opponents will list on primary con when discussing abortion pros and cons.  They will argue that terminating a pregnancy is the same thing as taking a human life.  And, there is no way to argue intelligently that a life is not lost during any abortion.  The debate often centers on when personhood is established.  Is it at the moment of conception?  Viability?  Live birth?  Additionally, some studies indicate that women have undergone abortion procedures suffer depression and other mental health issues later on down the road.

Middle Ground?

When it comes to abortion pros and cons, there is very little middle ground.  Those that believe that having an abortion is the same thing as murder will generally not concede that it is okay to have an abortion for fetal or maternal health issues, or in cases of incest and/or rape.  A life is a life.  On the other hand, those on the opposite side of the debate will argue that no life, human or otherwise, has the right to continue to the detriment of another.  As political, religious and moral views continue to change and evolve, certainly so will laws regarding abortion.