Pro Life Vs Pro Choice, Why Not Nip It In The Bud?
“No woman wants an abortion as she wants an ice cream cone or a Porsche. She wants an abortion as an animal caught in a trap wanting to gnaw off its own leg.”
-Frederica Mathewes-Green
Since the beginning of time women have had a rocky relationship with having choices. At times choices seemed like a faraway dream doused in luxury, sometimes choices were given in theory but practically the freedom to choose was snatched under the guise of sugary gaslighting. And when women were finally given choices and the freedom to choose, the onus of tough decisions was theirs to bear and the fruits of the easy decision was theirs to share.
By definition, an abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. A fetus mind you, not an unborn, fully developed baby as some pro lifers would have you believe. The endearing process of nurturing a fetus to an embryo to a baby is carried out by a woman. It is widely believed that since this process is biologically seen through by a woman, the man’s contribution is supposed to be none. This age old “understanding” has given men a free pass to step out of such sticky situations for years.
It is thus quite easy for men to have the privilege to shamelessly spew their concerns about the value of an unborn life. Ironically these concerns are almost always about unborn lives they have 0 stake in.
Let’s take a brief look at the decision that has sparked the “discussion” of pro life vs pro choice, Roe Vs Wade. Roe Vs Wade is a 1973 case that legalized abortion nationwide in the United States of America. This decision established that the constitution allows the right to privacy and thus the right to abortion to every citizen. This ruling however was overturned in 2022. What did that mean for the citizens of this supposedly free country?
This decision meant that each state in the country could independently decide whether to allow abortion or not. Many states thus passed laws that restricted abortion laws shortly after the decision. No surprise there.
In a nutshell? These states thus explicitly stated that abortion is illegal, a criminal offence. Every woman seeking abortion is automatically labelled as an offender. Any and every woman seeks abortion as a last resort. A last resort to whatever unfortunate situation is thrust upon her. A woman impregnated due to rape asking for abortion is a criminal. A woman who doesn’t have the privileges and resources to raise an entire human being asking for an abortion is a criminal. A woman whose health could be at risk whilst trying to grow a baby inside of her asking for an abortion is a criminal. That is what it really means. The fact that the laws for women over their own bodies are more stringent than the buying and selling of weapons and guns says it all.
“One method of destroying a concept is by diluting its meaning. Observe that by ascribing rights to the unborn, i.e. the nonliving, the anti-abortionists obliterate the rights of the living.” -Ayn Rand
If abortion is illegal, if it is a crime, then we should start nipping this crime at the bud. Why wait till this apparent crime is committed? Why not curb a whole part of this discussion?
Why not simply criminalize men who run away after seeing the first sign of taking responsibility? A sexual partner is still a partner. A partner has equal stake in their act and whatever may materialize after. If consensual sex has been performed between two individuals and that results in an accidental pregnancy nine out of ten times it will be the man to suggest an abortion first. And since the law has deemed that to be a crime, it should be the man’s duty to share equal responsibility as the woman financially, emotionally, mentally, and physically in the upbringing of the offspring; and any man who fails to do so should be seen as a criminal and treated as such.
When a man runs away after an accidental pregnancy he robs the woman of her freedom and her comfort. Moreover, maybe, just maybe this decision would help more men to see the importance of exercising abortion as a constitutional right.
In 2022, when Roe Vs Wade was overturned, people were enraged worldwide. The United States of America boasts the title of being one of the most developed nations in the world. This title ensures that such cases and decisions have an effect on similar issues worldwide. The overturning has turned back the clock to many decades ago for the feminist movement, and the fight for equal rights not only continues but reminds us that there is still a long way to go.
I, as the writer of this article felt the need to write about this particular issue in itself is proof that such momentous decisions trickle down and affect most other countries in the world.
In India, the discussion for single women to bear children is a sensitive issue. Moreover, a woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy and having the power to do so is often left unspoken. While the law dictates that abortion is completely legal in India, the socio-cultural aspects enables society as a whole to shame women who choose to do so. The reasons for termination of pregnancy do not matter because we as a country keep our mothers on a pedestal which leaves no room for them to be human and thus abortion is more often than not, vehemently frowned upon.
Thus, in India these judgy frowns give men a free pass to overlook their own responsibility and stake when it comes to raising a child. The reasons may change but cases like Roe Vs Wade make way for irresponsible men around the world to act as they please.
As important as legalizing abortion is, men being made to bear social and legal consequences as long as there are consequences is just as important.
Criminalizing the act of running away from such a grave responsibility is the way to move forward and is also the solution for conservative countries to catch up with the times and legalize abortion. Scrutinizing women under the guise of law or culture is not only futile but truly shameful. Holding men responsible for the cowardly act of running away is the need of the hour.
Thanks for reading, fr! Share if you like it enough. Follow us on Instagram & LinkedIn for more.
Loved every bit of this article!