Assignment 9

docx

School

Capella University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

5005

Subject

Philosophy

Date

Feb 20, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by ElderTigerPerson1057

Abortion History The social problem I chose for this paper is abortion. This social problem is such a sensitive topic because of how everyone’s response to this issue is different and no one agrees. Abortion was often used in North America during 1600 to 1900. Leaders attempted to ban abortions in the 1860’s but the laws where ambiguous and was hard to enforce. It was not until after the 1860’s that stronger laws were enforced, and women started having abortions illegally leading to legal actions, religious consequences, and social isolation (Parenthood, 2021). Women are the population who are affected by abortions. In colonial days men did not speak on abortions and women and their female midwife would complete the abortion per the women’s request. The impact of abortion has literally rattled the world. The news always shows protests for pro-life and pro-choice. Women who have chosen to have an abortion are impacted the most. The procedure to have an abortion can be lengthy and have complications all depends on the women’s gestational age. Also, not only does abortion affect a women’s physical health it can impact their mental health as well. Individuals that support pro-life are individuals who support life of the baby no matter the situation. Individuals who support pro-choice are supporting individuals to make their own decisions about their body. Both pro-life and pro-choice have impacted abortion negatively by making the women question their decisions about abortion, especially after lawmakers have considered abortion murder due to most abortions happening with the fetus has a heartbeat which is why abortion is attempting to be banned. Women’s Human Right Each year, nearly 70 million women have unwanted pregnancies. The impact of these pregnancies will vary immensely depending on such factors as a woman’s health, family

relationships, economic resources, and the availability of medical care (Safe and legal abortion is a woman’s human right 2022). Due to abortions being illegal in some states many women get abortions done in secret where it is not reported or safe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 20 million women have unsafe abortions every year. These unsafe abortions are responsible for the deaths of nearly 70,000 women annually. When medical services are restricted, it causes more harm than good. Women have ‘rights” but still in 2023 coming a long way from the colonial era this is still not a right a women can have. According to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, "discrimination against women" includes laws that have either the "effect" or the "purpose" of preventing a woman from exercising any of her human rights or fundamental freedoms on a basis of equality with men (Safe and legal abortion is a woman’s human right 2022). Policy and Abortion Roe v. Wade was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 which the court ruled that the Constitution of the United States generally protects a pregnant individual's liberty to have an abortion (Oyez Cases 2018). This lawsuit’s goal is to protect and allow women to have an abortion under any circumstance. Also, any women who is pregnant is eligible to have an abortion. Women who have chosen to have an abortion could potentially have to pay out of pocket because some insurances do not have to pay for “elective” procedures and surgeries which could prevent a woman from getting an abortion because of the cost. In June of 2022 the supreme court overturned Roe V. Wade and the constitutional right to an abortion. Roe ruling and repeated subsequent high court decisions reaffirming Roe "must be overruled" because they were "egregiously wrong," the arguments "exceptionally weak" and so "damaging" that they

amounted to "an abuse of judicial authority” (Totenberg & McCammon, 2022). Millions of American women have lost the root constitutional of protection. Many women will now have to travel to have an abortion if abortion is not legal in their state. Most abortions are banned in 14 states at this time since Roe V. Wade was overturned (Totenberg & McCammon, 2022). Analyzing the Policy When Roe V. Wade was in affect it provided right to privacy, women could make the decision to have an abortion without any negative effects from the law, society, or their religion. Also, when Roe V. Wade was in effect, insurances paid for the abortion due to it being considered a prenatal protection procedure. Women felt heard, protected and that they had women’s health rights but that all changed when Roe V. Wade was overturned in 2022. When Roe V. Wade was overturned millions of women expressed their opinion by having protest. The biggest complaint women had about the courts overturning Roe V. Wade is that the decision was made by men and that men had no right to make decisions regarding women’s reproductive decisions. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned women lost the right to safe and clean abortions, it could potentially cost women thousands of dollars to get an abortion because healthcare can elect if they cover or not cover abortions. After the overruling women felt they lost their voice because this overruling only supported women who were pro-life and not pro-choice. Women’s health rights were no longer women’s choice and women now feel like they are committing a crime when choosing to have an abortion. Compare and Contrast

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

A similar policy to Roe v. Wade is Griswold v. Connecticut. Griswold v. Connecticut stated a constitutional right to privacy regarding reproductive decisions that paved the way for the legalization of birth control for unmarried couples. The 1879 law provided that "any person who uses any drug, medicinal article or instrument for the purposes of preventing conception shall be fined not less than forty dollars or imprisoned not less than sixty days." The law further provided that "any person who assists, abets, counsels, causes, hires or commands another to commit any offense may be prosecuted a punished as if he were the principal offender (Expanding civil rights Griswold v. Connecticut (1965): PBS 2021). Both Roe v. Wade and Griswold v. Connecticut promoted the safety and privacy of women when it comes to reproductive health and decisions. Roe v. Wade allowed women to obtain abortions after getting pregnant under any circumstances, but Griswold v. Connecticut allowed women to obtain birth control who were not married to prevent getting pregnant which prevented women in having to get abortions. When Roe v. Wade was overturned Griswold v. Connecticut came into question as well. Even though both lawsuits promote different aspects of the women, pregnancy, and the prevention of it both lawsuits are similar by protecting and promoting privacy when it comes to women’s reproductive decisions. Improving Women’s Reproductive Choices The biggest and most important recommendation I believe to improve the quality of the reproduction rights and decisions is protecting and funding planned parenthood. Planned parenthood is a nonprofit agency that provides reproductive and sexual healthcare, and sexual education. Women can obtain contraceptives, teach women about preventing pregnancy as well as educate women on prenatal health and caring for a baby if they are pregnant. Planned parenthood also does provide services and resources for women who are choosing to have an

abortion. If we continue to fund planned parenthood it can assist individuals in preventing pregnancy which will decrease the number of women who are having abortions. Since women’s reproductive decisions have diminished after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, planned parenthood can provide a safe and protective environment for a woman to make their own choices regarding their own reproductive health.

References Parenthood, P. (n.d.). Abortion in U.S. history . Planned Parenthood Action Fund. https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/issues/abortion/abortion-central-history- reproductive-health-care-america Safe and legal abortion is a woman’s human right. (2022). https://www.reproductiverights.org/sites/default/files/documents/pub_bp_safeandlegal.pdf The Supreme Court . expanding civil rights . landmark cases . Griswold v. Connecticut (1965): PBS . The Supreme Court . Expanding Civil Rights . Landmark Cases . Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) | PBS. (2021). https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_griswold.html#:~:text=Conn ecticut%20(1965)-,In%20Griswold%20v.,or%20use%20of%20birth%20control. Totenberg, N., & McCammon, S. (2022, June 24). Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, ending right to abortion upheld for decades . NPR. https://www.npr.org/2022/06/24/1102305878/supreme-court-abortion-roe-v-wade- decision-overturn {{meta.pagetitle}} . {{meta.siteName}}. (2018). https://www.oyez.org/cases/1971/70-18

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Assignment 9

Related Documents