Since the landmark case, Roe v. Wade in 1973, which allowed women to have abortions under the right to privacy protected by the Fourteenth amendment, abortion has been a point of contention ever since. Deemed legal to terminate a woman's pregnancy in the first trimester, the specifications have narrowed over the years and grown in complication and significance. With furthered, advanced studies on the events of an abortion, the righteousness of it all is constantly debated. In the instance of rape, harm to the mother, or other personal reasons, I think the nation should lift the states' ability to restrict abortion in multiple degrees. The main divide in the debate revolves around the question as to when the exact moment is that a fetus turns into a human capable of brain activity.

Not only is abortion a challenging subject to discuss because of the grotesque aspects of it, but it is also a challenge to wrap around one's mind, with varying medical beliefs. To some, this issue of abortion is only a woman's problem, since it is her body. If a father is in the picture and active, then it involves him as well. Bachiochi proposes that having the ability to bring a child into the world is a respected gift, unique to women, while debunking the stereotype that only feminists are pro-choice. (Bachiochi). To put it into perspective, let's say, for example, that the impregnated woman is only sixteen, and the father is absent and aloof. Worst-case scenario, the woman, or early teenager I should say, is without support from her family. Like most fifteen year olds, she is in school and is incapable of raising a child. Now, that is, if raising a child means nurturing it with not just nutrients, but attention, care, and love. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "in 2014, a total of 249,078 babies were born to women aged 15-19 years, for a birth rate of 24.2 per 1,000 women in this age group" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Thanks to increased education on the topic of pregnancy, rates have dropped, but the issue still remains. In the event of rape, the mother can still feel unprepared.

What if a woman was aware of her actions and their repercussions, and still consented to sex knowing the potential outcomes, but if she decided later on that she simply does not want to have or keep the baby? Is that selfish of her or is it just unfortunate that women are held to standards where they are suspected to be careful all the time just since another human has the ability to get a woman pregnant? This article is a rally for society to consider the immense change in women's lives over the past decades, which calls for respect of privacy of a woman's body and freedom of choice. Pollitt argues that women should be allowed to become "mothers by choice, not fate" (Pollitt).  It is uncomforting to imagine a woman birthing and raising a child that she does not want. Whether it is because the woman wishes of pursuing a job, furthering her education, doesn't want to raise a child alone, or simply just does not want a child at all for personal reasons, I think it is important that a woman who raises a child is sure in entirety that she wants to and will do it to the best of her ability. According to Liz Lampkin, "if two people struggle to sustain a healthy connection, adding a child to the equation can be the straw that broke the camel's back" (Lampkin). If a child is raised poorly and brought up in an unwelcoming family, he or she is less likely to do good in the world. This, in turn affects us. The stability of society and welfare of the future population depends on the babies that are being born and raised today. It is crucial to ensure that able, loving parents, who are capable of financial, social, and emotional support, bring up the newest generation of humanity. 

Activists of abortion legalization believe that "between 68% and 81% of pregnancies abort within 2 weeks; 89% to 91% abort after 45 days" and the 68% of abortions that occur within the first six weeks of pregnancy are harmless to the fetus, an organism incapable of brain activity and surviving without the bodily support of its mother (Women's Health). Also, these supporters believe that the other 32% of abortions can help end women's life threatening occurrences. During pregnancy and childbirth, fatalities within the fetus can cause pain and even death to the mothers, who are capable of living and feeling. Since almost half of pregnancies in America are unwanted or unexpected, abortions can relieve the unqualified or unprepared mothers. If a woman already has too many children, cannot financially support the baby, wishes to continue education, or simply does not want or feel comfortable to carry the burden of raising a child, abortions can alleviate.  

Others, advocators of pro-life, believe that abortion is the "premeditative killing of one human being by another" (Merriam-Webster). Regardless of which trimester the abortion is performed, firm believers consider abortion the termination of an innocent life. From a religious perspective, the Catholic faith especially, values the preservation of human life. In literal terms, abortion goes against this principle, regardless of the scientific data of when an organism becomes a human. However, brain activity is not the only measure in which people determine when a fetus turns into a human being. Other bodily factors, such as heartbeat and size of the fetus, can also be a determinant for when a fetus makes that transformation. Not everyone agrees on these factors, as to which one is the proper element for decision-making and for when the exact moment takes place. Since these guidelines have not been set or stabilized, arguments continue on this perplexing debate.

Without even needing to get into the medical or religious aspects of abortion, pro-life advocates, many who deem like as a gift from God, offer the alternative of adoption. From a religious aspect, followers would view an unexpected pregnancy as part of God's plan, and would not want to tamper with it. So, one would ask, why not adoption? Kelseigh Ingram, a student writer, is pro-choice for a more unique and private reason, being that she is infertile for her lifetime. Ingram considers this avoidance or abortion with the solution of adoption patronizing in a way to others like herself, because she does not want people to assume that it is their burdening task on their bodies and themselves to have her baby. She views it as "unfair to make someone go through a pregnancy against their will" as if it were their job to give birth for someone else's desire.

Pollitt argues that women should be allowed to become "mothers by choice, not fate" (Pollitt). The author advocates for the "Trust Women" slogan in this movement to inform people that women are the most capable in deciding what to do with their bodies, since they are the ones living in them, not other spectators.

As stated, "social scientists need to understand embryology, whereas biologists need to look beyond the details of development and begin to explore the decision making side of abortion"; this topic can be construed from many varying stances (Ellertson). In my final resource paper, this quote, with analysis, will serve as a rebuttal to remarks that are derived from only one expertise or viewpoint. Regarding protection, in Ellertson's words, pregnancy should be viewed as the "state's duty to a woman in cases where she does not give consent for the fetus to use her body" (Ellertson). Similar to how the government responds to protecting its citizens with a police force, America should offer the same funds when a woman wants protection of her body instead of going through with an unwanted pregnancy. Another important point that needs to be addressed is the "cultural assumption that sex and pregnancy are a package deal" (Ellertson). It isn't fair that a man, who consensually participates in just as much sexual activity as his partner, does not face any bodily ramifications after. It forces women the need to be careful all the time, in the case that she could get pregnant. It is the woman's consent that perpetuates a positive experience with childbirth and the raising of a child. If an unwanted pregnancy occurs and an abortion is not available, then the outcome will in turn affect the rest of society.

He expresses pro-life advocates' views and differentiates pro-life supporters from conservatives and pro-choice supporters from liberals. Pointing out that pro-life is "the respect for sanctity of life," the author explains how life begins at conception. In regards to religion, Friedman expresses that pregnancy is a gift. Also, he notes that pregnant women would be protected with today's advanced technology and medicine, and will not need an abortion to stay safe.

The article is arguing whether the bill proposed that bans abortions after twenty weeks should be a law or not. Two sides are taken, and not necessarily between conservatives and liberals. Roughly 50% of Americans who polled favoring the ban after twenty weeks believe that the baby can feel pain and could live independently of its mother at that time. The other 50%, including Christy Zink, believe that the ban would infringe on women's rights-that she has the choice up until viability. In Christy's case, she pushes for no time constraints on abortions for the overall lifetime health of her baby. 

