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Essay / Abortion: analysis of the political and public health controversy
Table of contentsArgumentative essay: political controversy on the legalization of abortionconcerns on the side of public healthConclusionBibliographyToday, abortion is one of the social and most controversial policies in the United States. Therefore, abortion is used as a political tool by Republicans to gain support from conservatives, while Democrats use their pro-choice stance to mobilize voters who view abortion as a feasible option for pregnant women. Clearly, positions on abortion have the power to influence political powers and voting behavior at all levels of government. In this argumentative essay on abortion, we argue that despite recent restrictions on abortion enacted by the federal and state governments, abortion should remain a legal option because it is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution , many unwanted pregnancies result in economic deprivation or unfortunate consequences. circumstances, and current abortion restrictions put women's safety at risk. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get the original essayArgumentative Essay: Political Controversy Over Legalizing AbortionIn 1973, Norma McCorvey, a Texas woman who used the pseudonym Jane Roe, grew up in poverty, wanted to terminate her unwanted pregnancy. At the time, wealthy American women could obtain safe, legalized abortions by traveling to other countries or bribing a doctor to secretly perform their abortions. However, McCorvey and many other women could not afford these options, forcing them to turn to illegal or voluntary abortions. Roe v. Wade allowed the court to rule that the Constitution protects a pregnant woman's freedom to choose to have an abortion without undue government restriction. Other cases, such as Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, also supported the constitutionality of abortions. Over time, the right to abortion has been linked to more abstract and generally applicable concepts of freedom. The Court also linked women's rights to abortion based on the Fourteenth Amendment, American citizens' right to privacy, and reproductive rights as an enumerated power. However, states are allowed to impose a number of restrictions on abortion, even to the point where the state bans almost all abortions except for a few cases. The Roe v. Wade is opposed by extremely conservative advocates who want to ban or restrict abortions. According to EC Duckworth, the Court left "the State free to impose increasing restrictions on abortion as the period of pregnancy lengthens, provided that these restrictions are adapted to the recognized interests of the State". As a result, several conservative states are attempting to ban almost all abortions except in cases of rape, incest, and/or life endangerment. For example, in 2013, the Heartbeat bill was struck down as unconstitutional pursuant to Roe v. Wade. However, in recent years, several states have proposed heart rate bills, such as Ohio and Missouri. Although state judges have temporarily blocked overly restrictive abortion bills, nine states have passed bills this year that seek to unreasonably limit abortion. In the United States, President Donald Trump's pro-life stance on abortion hasallowed many conservative states to pass anti-abortion bills that unreasonably restrict or explicitly ban abortion when performed early in pregnancy. In addition to state laws, President Trump has appointed conservative judges to overturn Roe v. Wade, federal funding for Planned Parenthood clinics and reinstated the global gag rule to restrict reproductive health care overseas. On January 23, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order enacting the Global Gag Rule, an anti-abortion policy under which nongovernmental organizations receiving U.S. family planning funds cannot inform the public or educate their government on the need to make safe abortion available, provide legal abortion services, or provide advice on where to have an abortion. Globally, Trump's global gag rule has increased unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, maternal deaths, and newborn deaths. As a result of this unjust policy, abortion rates have increased because organizations that provide access to family planning services lose federal funding and a lack of information leads to illegal abortions. Overall, this policy undermines free speech, rejects reproductive health, and imposes an anti-feminist agenda. Public Health Concerns In addition to being a political controversy, abortion is a public health issue. Denying women access to legal abortion does not prevent them from having an abortion, but simply increases the likelihood of having an illegal abortion in unsafe conditions. According to Cates, Willard and Roger Rochat, "the total number of abortion deaths in the United States fell from 88 in 1972 to 56 in 1973, then to 48 in 1974. Eighty-five percent of this decline is due to results in fewer women dying from illegal (i.e. not performed by a doctor) abortions.” Their data also illustrates a dramatic decline in the number of deaths related to illegal abortions in the United States following the Supreme Court's 1973 rulings on abortion. Clearly, legalization and abortion services need to be more accessible to reduce pregnancy-related mortality. By banning abortion, many women have no choice but to carry their unwanted pregnancies to fruition. Although this seems ideal to pro-life advocates, most do not consider the negative consequences of preventing abortions. According to the authors of "Reasons US Women Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives," a 2004 survey concluded that "the two most common reasons were 'having a baby would radically change my life' and 'I can't afford to have a baby now.” ". A large proportion of women cited relationship problems or a desire to avoid single motherhood (48%). Others believed their fetus' health had been compromised due to lack of prenatal care, risk of birth defects due to age or genetics, history of miscarriages, and exposure of the fetus to medications or prescription medications. Obviously, having a child could interfere with a woman's education and is not wise due to financial instability, unsuitable environments, and concerns about the child's health and education. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. .Get Custom EssayConclusionAlthough some may understand the socio-economic conditions and problems of 4, 2017)