Abortion

Carla Sunji

Ms. Dania Adra

English 203

20 October 2015

Doubting

            Senate candidate Richard Mourdock sparked controversy in 2012 when he wanted to ban abortion. Abortion should be banned because it is unethical to kill the unborn child. The cells divide rapidly and an unsustainable human form is visible early in the pregnancy. Women should not resort to abortion because they do not have the financial means to raise a child. Women should be able to take action and find a job in order to sustain a reasonable living for the child. Frum argues that supporting women will reduce abortion rates. For example, “As a general rule, societies that do the most to support mothers and child-bearing have the fewest abortions. Societies that do the least to support mothers and child-bearing have more abortions” (Frum). He is generalizing that woman will avoid abortion if they are offered support. The woman may still want to have an abortion even if support and compensation is offered. Frum also states that women will “accept economic costs of potentially many thousands of dollars” from pregnancy due to rape. The government would also have to endure economic costs; they should not have to spend funds in order to prevent woman from having abortions.

Believing

I agree with Frum’s points. For instance, in the event of rape, a woman should not have to “carry the rapist's child to term” (Frum). This event will interrupt her life while the rapist is free. Why does the victim have to deal with the consequences caused by her rapist? Ultimately she will have to pay for this child’s expenses, pay for her own medical expenses, and lose the opportunity to work. She unfortunately receives no compensation from the government because of people like Richard Mourdock. In addition to keeping this child, she must endure psychological and physical trauma from the assault. For example, “when we used to draft men into the Army, we gave them veterans' benefits afterward” (Frum). Why can’t woman receive a similar sort of compensation? If politicians are so concerned about reducing abortion, they should “support women to have the babies they want” in order to reduce abortion rates (Frum). For example, Germany gives working mothers 14 weeks of paid maternity leave. Germany also pays a child’s allowance to the parents for as long as the child remains in school. Because of this, abortion rates in Germany are reduced; in this way, abortion is still an option for those who need it. Instead of banning abortion, as Mourdock wishes, woman should be offered support to avoid resorting to abortion.

Works Cited

Frum, David. "Let's Get Real about Abortions." CNN. Cable News Network. 29

Oct. 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.