A world agenda poll found that 44 percent of men and 42 percent of women believed that abortion should be accessible to those who seek it. Before women got the right to choose if they would keep their child, some states didnt provide abortion, thus requiring women to give birth to their babies. In the 2st century, abortion is still a contentious issue, with millions of people endorsing it and many still not agreeing with it. Every woman has the right to control her body in any way she deems fit, and those rights should not be stripped away by the law. The legalization of abortions is also an essential step to further extending womens rights. This is a major issue that specifically affects women as men are not directly affected by abortions. Women must have the choice to do as they please with their bodies because it promotes gender equality. It is said that this equality is created due to the legalization of abortions, stripping women of their so-called motherly duties that were developed in the early 900s, when women had minimal rights and were heavily dictated by men. Philosopher Judith Jarvis wrote: If abortion rights are denied, then a constraint is imposed on womens freedom to act in a way that is of great importance to them, both for its own sake and for the sake of their achievement of equality. After all, this debate boils down to more than just abortions itself as it also impacts womens rights, freedom rights, and gender equality. If abortions were denied to women, they would lose their basic rights as a human and are then forced to carry an unwanted child. Not only must they birth this child, but must also raise, care and provide for them for many years to come due to societal expectations placed upon mothers. Women must have the choice of whether they re
ceive an abortion as, at the end of the day, the fetus is a part of her body, not anyone elses.
Women have fallen victim to sexual assault for decades. In 206, at least 50% of women experienced some form of sexual assault over their lifetime. Instances of rape can often cause an unplanned pregnancy, and it was estimated that up to 32,000 women fell pregnant as a result of rape last year. These rates are atrocious. Women should not have to carry a child they didnt plan, especially in cases where it is a result of inhumane treatment such as rape. This is why we must make sure that every woman has access to safe abortion clinics that provide safe abortion services. The American Medical Association states that there are approximately million abortions performed annually worldwide. It is estimated that half of all abortions are performed by women who dont have access to an abortion clinic. Women have to face the scary possibility of receiving a life-threatening abortion due to the law and expensive clinics. Not only that, but women who have been raped, abused, or neglected may experience a variety of problems, including anxiety and depression, and may also lose their ability to function normally. On top of these psychological effects of sexual abuse, women are also expected to birth a baby that is as a result of the assault. This is purely inhumane and is why not just women, but girls of all ages, should have access to safe clinics, as statistics show that women will most likely perform an abortion illegally if given no choice. Therefore, victims of sexual assault must have access to safe abortion clinics, as not only do they suffer from the psychological effects of the assault, but will also put themselves at physical risk to end the traumatic and unplanned pregnancy.