I'd like to quote from some of the posts above, but everyone had so many great points, that I might as well just share my point of view. I've spoken to this topic before on this forum, as I've had a little experience with abortion. I had 2 of them in my early twenties, and can echo the sentiment that "no one is
for abortion." It's quite easy for us to assume that "I would never do anything like that," until it happens to us. Let me tell you, abortion is painful, expensive, and not fun emotionally.
First of all, I think we have to be careful when it comes to forming images in our minds that every abortion involves an uncaring mother and/or a fully formed fetus. Checking the facts, at 4 weeks after impregnation, the "baby" is the size of a poppy seed. At 10 weeks it has grown to about an inch long. According to research, nine in ten abortions occur during the first 12 weeks.
We should also remember that the success rates for birth control are never 100%, ranging from .5% to 35% women becoming pregnant inspite of birth control. Research tells us that about
half of pregancies in the US are unplanned.
There are also many kinds of individuals and many kinds of reasons for abortion: from a woman who's been raped or abused to someone with emotional problems to someone who has no means to raise a child. There's a history behind each pregnancy. Women can definitely feel pressured to have sex, get pregnant in spite of using birth control, get pregnant in menopause. Some are left by the baby's father. Some find themselves without income, just to name a few.
Quote:
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The reasons women give for having an abortion underscore their understanding of the responsibilities of parenthood and family life. Three-fourths of women cite concern for or responsibility to other individuals; three-fourths say they cannot afford a child; three-fourths say that having a baby would interfere with work, school or the ability to care for dependents; and half say they do not want to be a single parent or are having problems with their husband or partner.
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Of course, several of these circumstances may occur all at once, as they did in my case (and in a time before birth control was even talked about). According to statistics, abortions peaked about 1981 and have been
declining since then.
Some other statistics that are worth mentioning:
Quote:
• The number of U.S. abortion providers declined by 2% between 2000 and 2005 (from 1,819 to 1,787). Eighty-seven percent of all U.S. counties lacked an abortion provider in 2005; 35% of women live in those counties.[2]
• Forty percent of providers offer very early abortions (during the first four weeks’ gestation) and 96% offer abortion at eight weeks. Sixty-seven percent of providers offer at least some second-trimester abortion services (13 weeks or later), and 20% offer abortion after 20 weeks. Only 8% of all abortion providers offer abortions at 24 weeks.[2]
• The proportion of providers offering very early abortion (at four or fewer weeks’ gestation) increased from 7% in 1993 to 40% in 2005.[11]
• In 2005, the cost of a nonhospital abortion with local anesthesia at 10 weeks’ gestation ranged from $90 to $1,800; the average amount paid was $413.[2]
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I thought these were interesting and informative statistics. It always helps to have a little information on these matters, because they're just not black and white issues (in my opinion, anyway). There are also the stories about women using coat hangers and the like. (My mother told me about one of my relatives doing that though I haven't done any research on it).
Another thing I've wondered about is what the guys think about all this. I've heard opinions from male leadership about the "right vs. wrong" once a woman is pregnant, but nothing about the male role in the pregnancy itself. The man is more often the agressor when it comes to sex. Should he exihibit more control of his desires, or take some responsibility in birth control, in order to reduce abortions?
