The Reproductive Right Debate Essays - 2566 Words

No other element of the Women’s Rights Movement has generated as much controversy as the debate over reproductive rights. As the movement gained momentum so did the demand for birth control, sex education, family planning and the repeal of all abortion laws. On January 22, 1973 the Supreme Court handed down the Roe v. Wade decision which declared abortion fundamental right.† The ruling recognized the right of the individual â€Å"to be free from unwanted governmental intrusion into matters so fundamentally affecting a person as the right of a woman to decide whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.† (US Supreme Court, 1973) This federal-level ruling took effect, legalizing abortion for all women nationwide. In a 2006 study conducted by†¦show more content†¦495) Abortions were linked to low birth rates of American children, and fear was spread that with the continuing birth rates, the population would no longer be able to reproduce itself The fear w as that lower class and immigrant children would soon make up the majority. Abortion was seen as a privilege more available to the higher classes than the lower ones, thus explaining the imbalance in birth rates. (Linders, 1998) Another key issue in the argument to criminalize abortions was the attempt by doctors to establish exclusive rights to practice medicine. They wanted to prevent midwives, apothecaries, and other â€Å"untrained† practitioners from competing with them for patients and patient fees. Rather than openly admitting to such motivations, the newly formed American Medical Association (AMA) argued that abortion was both immoral and dangerous. By 1910, all but one state had criminalized abortion except where necessary, in a doctors judgment, to save the womans life. â€Å"Should the woman die in that situation, it would not be because of the abortion but in spite of it.† (p.494) In this way, legal abortion was successfully transformed into a physician s-only practice. (Linders, 1998) Unfortunately, the criminalization of abortion did notShow MoreRelatedUndue Burden : Obstacles Against Women s Reproductive Rights971 Words   |  4 PagesAgainst Women’s Reproductive Rights Undue Burden: Obstacles Against Women’s Reproductive Rights The topic of women’s reproductive rights has become a major, controversial issue in today’s society. Grounded in a history of opposition for religious, political, and moral reasons, reproductive rights have only legally been around for a short period of history. Specifically, the landmark case Roe v. Wade was the major stride that this country took towards enforcing women’s reproductive rights. The rulingRead MoreEssay on The Four Principles of Ethics in New Reproductive Technology802 Words   |  4 PagesThe Four Principles of Ethics in New Reproductive Technology Jamie Cormier Health Care Ethics Baker College January 14, 2014 How can the principles of ethics (autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice) assist in finding a middle ground on new reproductive technologies? The principles of ethics can assist in finding a middle ground on reproductive technologies by forcing the healthcare provider to consider first the patient and their well-being above all else, yet keeping in considerationRead MoreThe Debate Of Womens Reproductive Health1194 Words   |  5 PagesThe topic of women’s rights has always been one that has been discussed. Specifically, the topic of women’s reproductive health and rights has been the subject of controversial debate for many years. There have been countless organizations formed that often debated the validity and sometimes even the legality of health programs that include reproductive health. There are many different aspects and topics under the wide umbrella that is women’s reproductive health and the one that is argued aboutRead MoreMandated Coverage For Birth Control On Health Insurance Plans957 Words   |  4 PagesDebates are ongoing in the United States as more laws and restrictions are implemented on reproductive care. In 2014 there was a heated debate on whether there should be a mandated coverage for birth control on health insurance plans. According to a survey by the University of Michigan Health System, 69% of adults in the United States support this requirement in health insurance plans and the people who oppose this requirement is less than 10%. There have been other laws made by states recentlyRead MoreAnalysis Of Gloria Steinem s Article Our Revolution Has Just Began 908 Words   |  4 Pagestowards total equality. My analysis will focus on Steinem’s arguments regarding the future, which lie ahead for women as well as feminism itself, these arguments include: the economic benefits of equal gender pay, women’s right to reproductive freedom, and violence towards women. The debate over equal gender pay has been and will continue to be a core issue among social feminists and can be seen as an apparent movement within the third wave of feminism. Socialist feminism relates to radical feminism forRead MoreAbortion And Abortion1002 Words   |  5 Pagesdistinguish themselves from Republicans as they presume that women have the ability to legally chose what they do and do not do with their bodies since â€Å"choice is a fundamental, constitutional right,†(Democratic Party on Abortion). Also, unconditional support for the Roe v. Wade decision on the premise that â€Å"a womans right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion† forms the backbone of the Democrats stance and allows for them to defend women across the nation.(DemocraticRead MoreFurthermore, Reproductive Rights Cannot Be Discussed Without1698 Words   |  7 PagesFurthermore, reproductive rights cannot be discussed without additionally addre ssing the history of healthcare in the United States. Women are more likely to visit a physician than men, and do so more frequently (Mezey, 2011). They are also more likely to enter into nursing homes when they are older and live longer lives (2011). Despite these frequencies, women are not often considered or even included when planning healthcare. For example, Medicaid is a government program that provides health insuranceRead MoreAbortion Is An Accepted And Legal Medical Practice853 Words   |  4 PagesThere is widespread debate in American society on whether abortion should be an accepted and legal medical practice. Those who oppose abortion claim that fetuses are human persons with a right to life which must be protected by law, even at the earliest stages after conception. Those who support a woman’s right to choose whether she will carry an infant to term argue that the mother’s rights to bodily autonomy and to decide whether or not to have a child outweigh any rights a fetus might have.Read MoreBrief Description Of Technology And Assisted Reproductive Technology1453 Words   |  6 PagesBrief description of technology Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) refers to the technology  used to assist human  reproduction  for individuals who are infertile (inability to conceive after trying for at least 12 months). Assisted Reproductive Technologies are categorized as HardwareThere are a variety of assisted reproductive technologies that are used to help couples reproduce: †¢ In vitro fertilization (IVF) – this is fertilization outside of the body. IVF is the most effective and the mostRead MoreThe Field Of Reproductive Technology1484 Words   |  6 PagesToday’s culture has a growing fascination with biotechnology and genetic engineering. This is especially true within the field of reproductive technology. Advancements in this field has expanded family options significantly with the advent of reproductive technologies such as in vetro fertilization, embryo transplant, and varying genetic testing and screening (Finsterbusch, 2008). However, what drives humanity to want to modify humankind? Should there be limits placed on these modifications? And