Abortion: A Woman’s Choice, Right, or An Issue for social Judgement? - Page 4

Since the beginning of time, people have debated the phenomena of abortion, and it is still a contentious issue today.

Abortion touches social, religious, economic and political aspects. Its impact on thesociety seen can be looked at both in a positive and a negative manner.

Pro Choice and Pro Life are two phrases that might sum up this argument. Both arguments carry equal weight to prove that there is a reason for supporting that angle.

Abortion has numerous issues involved in that, Social stigma, Medical issues, Moral reminders, Religious beliefs, family pressures, psychological traumas, financial inability, and physical pain and emotional turmoil.

The modern society offers women freedom and empowers them to make their own decisions.

The Preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights describes the Declaration as, “a common standard of achievement for all peoples and nations”

Religion and some traditions, however, are opposed to abortion, claiming that ending a life is sinful.

Abortion is one of the most controversial ethical issues because it concerns the taking of a human life. Generally, if we look at traditional arguments for and against abortion, we find legal and religious arguments guiding each respectively.

After the Roe v. Wade10 case, European and American countries started to legalise abortion. During the last thirty years, since 1970s many countries have liberalized their abortion laws.

MTP Act was introduced to assist the patients with medical problems. Consequently, many acts were introduced.

Here, we have viewed the issue from different angles and discussed with various perspectives by all the participated members.

Being said that, still there is no convincing answers to the pertaining questions, such as ---

Why is a woman viewed as the sacrificed goat to uphold the traditions and honours? Is it her sole responsibility ?

Morals, rules and restrictions are only for women? What about the other part of the society??

Originally posted by: Viswasruti

Religion and some traditions, however, are opposed to abortion, claiming that ending a life is sinful.

Only some religions are opposed to abortion. By-the-book Judaism requires abortion if it endangers the health of the pregnant individual.

Bṛhaspati is considered an authority on dharma, and his view on abortion is recorded as this (Mahābhārata: Harivaṃśa 20.37):

tām antaḥprasavāṃ dṛṣṭvā vipraḥ prāha Bṛhaspatiḥ

madīyāyāṃ na te yonau garbho dhāryaḥ kathaṃcana

Noticing that she (his wife Tārā) had a child within her, the austere Bṛhaspati said to her, "In your womb that belongs to me, (this) fetus shouldn't be borne by any means."

Anyone can make up a religion with any tenets, really. And what people imagine to be "tradition" is often incongruous with actual tradition. For example, no matter how often an ancient religious text equates breath with life (the word prāṇa means both), modern people are devoted to the fetal heartbeat - something that their religious forebears never got to hear.

I think people and lawmakers should let woman decide for herself, it’s her body , her choice .

i really liked this article : https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/ram-charan-s-wife-upasana-praised-by-sadhguru-over-her-choice-to-not-have-kids-101657355201034-amp.html

As Sadhguru stated, we are not an endangered species, it is fine for a woman or a couple to choose to not have children.

People should stop making judgements on a woman/couple's choices and allow them to make it on their own.

Originally posted by: Nichuss

very sensitive topic... its hard to say right or wrong...

pregnancy's due to rape crime , abortion still cant be made right, saying girl future.. government should allow the new born a shelter.. as now days adoption is legal and formalities are quite reduced.. many foster parents in this world to hv adoption... instead of Abortion we need to make aware of Adoption how holy to adopt a child and grow him or her n give shelter....

Let's agree to disagree right at the italicized portion, a girl who was forced and had to bear rape is now forced to carry the organism/fetus of the perpetrator of the crime on her is not good for her sense of self, mental or physical health.

Pregnancy for a select few may be without complications but for the majority it is 40 weeks/ 10 months of trauma and pain. The first trimester is riddled with nausea, vomiting and low blood pressure meaning you can have dizzy spells and blackout any time. There are a few for whom the vomiting is not limited to one time of day, they throw up 24 hours, 7 days a week. Then a select few will have to deal with throwing up all 40 weeks because guess what they have Hyperemesis Gravidarum or a variant of that which means that they have to be put on an IV drip to keep them alive, so this "Girl" who had to bear being violated by someone is now being tortured by this fetus who is taking over her body and stealing all her nutrition and making her sick.

Let's not forget the fact that the body is preparing for labor and will start rearranging your pelvic bones and internal organs that is hell painful and the pregnant woman cannot take pain killers either during the time.

The woman/girl gets sick can't work can't go to the doctor - is there a program or resource that she can rely on to support here - for majority no. Her life is in danger and possibly will be extinguished because abortion as an option was not presented to her.

If by some miracle she is able to make it through the 40 weeks can you imagine the physical and mental strain this person is going through.

If not lets talk about the process of giving birth - many countries still practice episiotomies which means she will have bear being torn again after being violated by some random resident who does not know what they are doing. If the episiotomy was performed correctly then she has to worry about infections but if it was not which is most cases she will tear even more maybe down to the muscle fibres and have to deal with stitches and additional complications of having incontinence (this is when your bladder and anus cannot keep the urine and poop in the body and you expel involuntarily all the time) think of the additional shame!

The pain of giving birth is equal to having all your bones broken 50 times. I am not even going to talk about a C-section.

But now this lady/girl who was forced to give birth maybe further forced to nurse or breastfeed this organism that grew in her. Again think of the mental trauma she has to keep going through.

Also after birth, post episiotomy, post C- section, possibly stitches - will this person ever be able to return to a normal functioning life. Her body and soul were ravaged. I

s the expectation now that since she gave birth she not ever hope to have a pleasurable physical relations with a significant other who will accept her. She should shut herself away from society?

Why should a woman bear all of this because a few clumps of cell are growing in her because someone forced himself on her.

You can have a belief that abortion is wrong but that is your belief and should stay with you and not be enforced on the masses.

And that's why we need the Right to Abortion as a constitutional right, infact this should not even be discussed by politicians its between the woman and their physician no one else..

Originally posted by: nmurali

Let's agree to disagree right at the italicized portion, a girl who was forced and had to bear rape is now forced to carry the organism/fetus of the perpetrator of the crime on her is not good for her sense of self, mental or physical health.

Pregnancy for a select few may be without complications but for the majority it is 40 weeks/ 10 months of trauma and pain. The first trimester is riddled with nausea, vomiting and low blood pressure meaning you can have dizzy spells and blackout any time. There are a few for whom the vomiting is not limited to one time of day, they throw up 24 hours, 7 days a week. Then a select few will have to deal with throwing up all 40 weeks because guess what they have Hyperemesis Gravidarum or a variant of that which means that they have to be put on an IV drip to keep them alive, so this "Girl" who had to bear being violated by someone is now being tortured by this fetus who is taking over her body and stealing all her nutrition and making her sick.

Let's not forget the fact that the body is preparing for labor and will start rearranging your pelvic bones and internal organs that is hell painful and the pregnant woman cannot take pain killers either during the time.

The woman/girl gets sick can't work can't go to the doctor - is there a program or resource that she can rely on to support here - for majority no. Her life is in danger and possibly will be extinguished because abortion as an option was not presented to her.

If by some miracle she is able to make it through the 40 weeks can you imagine the physical and mental strain this person is going through.

If not lets talk about the process of giving birth - many countries still practice episiotomies which means she will have bear being torn again after being violated by some random resident who does not know what they are doing. If the episiotomy was performed correctly then she has to worry about infections but if it was not which is most cases she will tear even more maybe down to the muscle fibres and have to deal with stitches and additional complications of having incontinence (this is when your bladder and anus cannot keep the urine and poop in the body and you expel involuntarily all the time) think of the additional shame!

The pain of giving birth is equal to having all your bones broken 50 times. I am not even going to talk about a C-section.

But now this lady/girl who was forced to give birth maybe further forced to nurse or breastfeed this organism that grew in her. Again think of the mental trauma she has to keep going through.

Also after birth, post episiotomy, post C- section, possibly stitches - will this person ever be able to return to a normal functioning life. Her body and soul were ravaged. I

s the expectation now that since she gave birth she not ever hope to have a pleasurable physical relations with a significant other who will accept her. She should shut herself away from society?

Why should a woman bear all of this because a few clumps of cell are growing in her because someone forced himself on her.

You can have a belief that abortion is wrong but that is your belief and should stay with you and not be enforced on the masses.

And that's why we need the Right to Abortion as a constitutional right, infact this should not even be discussed by politicians its between the woman and their physician no one else..

I agree to ur point... its about th woman who shd take decision....

My point was in general killing a small cell doesnt seem a solution... it will b also a mental trauma... some woman/girls goes mentally unstable on guilt... may b in future.... it all depends...

If the mother decides she dont want... its her own decision.. no one shd tamper or pressure her to abort....

Originally posted by: Nichuss

I agree to ur point... its about th woman who shd take decision....

My point was in general killing a small cell doesnt seem a solution... it will b also a mental trauma... some woman/girls goes mentally unstable on guilt... may b in future.... it all depends...

If the mother decides she dont want... its her own decision.. no one shd tamper or pressure her to abort....

I think that's where the entire conversation/discussion is bodily autonomy. Men should be held to the same standards.

I agree I am bringing up something on an extreme end of a spectrum but none of the state laws affect men or the sperm donors just the women who are seeking abortion either due to health or personal reasons.

Originally posted by: nmurali

I think that's where the entire conversation/discussion is bodily autonomy. Men should be held to the same standards.

I agree I am bringing up something on an extreme end of a spectrum but none of the state laws affect men or the sperm donors just the women who are seeking abortion either due to health or personal reasons.

Actually that's a very interesting point. If men are held accountable to the same standard like forced vasectomy, everyone will lose their shit, however it is acceptable to do what people, society, religious groups want to do with women, even at the expense of their own lives. Women are penalised just for being a woman.

There are laws and then there are morals. In most developed nations as well as in some developing nations like India, laws and morals tend to have a complementary relationship.

Lawmakers (legislators) can be voted in or voted out. But when it comes to voting, as you know, abortion would be a factor among a myriad of factors such as jobs, economy, law and order, border security, foreign policy, corruption, which influences electoral behavior, which determines an election outcome.

We are not here to discuss how to effect new laws. You have a say via your vote. You could also take to streets, as some do, to protest and put pressure on lawmakers but that's about it.

In an "academic setting", that leaves us to discuss morals.

In my opinion, "no restrictions on abortions" and "outright ban on abortions" are extreme positions. Gestational limits should apply except when a woman's life/health is at risk. That makes me "pro-choice" when it comes to a woman's first trimester and "pro-life" when it comes to a woman's third trimester (provided the woman's health/life is not at risk, in which case, I would be pro-choice again). The second trimester is where I am on the fence. The baby has a chance of survival after 24 weeks of pregnancy, so, my sense of what is right agrees with those laws that restrict abortions after 23-24 weeks of pregnancy. By this time, the woman had plenty of time to think and rethink whether to proceed or abort.

Even though my personal stance on this topic should not matter to anyone, if you want my "vote", you will have to convince me why the second trimester should also be open to "no restrictions" on a moral basis. Please bear in mind that for every persuasive argument you make about the woman, I could make one too about the fetus, and describe the actual procedure in gruesome detail.

P.S: This thread is not an announcement, so I am not sure why it is perched on top under forum announcements. Why not move it to DM forum topics?