does the legalization of abortion help protect a woman's rights?
458760
There are more reasons than "I didn't want the baby" that women have abortions.  Health (of mother and fetus), rape, age, lifestyle, are some factors in why a woman chooses to abort.  If Abortion wasn't legal, She wouldn't have the law and health care providers looking out for her overall welfare (for her and her unborn fetus).  In the grand scheme of things, it's only in recent history that women have even been consider as actual people with rights.  We have made great strides in that arena in a very short period, but the fact of the matter is...men unfortunately still hold governmental power, and if abortion wasn't legal, we would be taking HUGE leaps backward in equal civil rights for ALL humans regardless of race, or sex.  When most people think of abortion, they think that women use it as a form of birth control...and while I"m not argueing that they don't (because a small percentage do) But most people don't realize that there are many factors that go into making that kind of decision, and if it's taken away from us, then in effect, we are being told that we don't have a right to choose. Women can't get pregnant without a man...whether it be through physical contact, or insemination.  Taking away the right to an abortion takes away the right for us to decide what we want to do with our body...It's easy for a man to get a woman pregnant. It's not always easy for a woman to give birth, and a lot of women have died trying.    Might as well take away our right to vote, or our right to hold a job, or our right to not have a man tell us what to do and when to do it (which at one point in history was a law).  Abortion is about women, plain and simple...We are the only ones that have the power of giving birth...and until men can start giving birth, they are going to do everything they can to take away our rights as individuals with that power, and this is one way they are trying. And you can better believe that if men ever become capable of giving birth, there would be no way abortion would even be talked about as an issue...it would just be law, plain and simple...because making abortion illegal is only about how men can control women.
1002456
Legal precedents for Roe?  I suggest you read the decision. The majority opinion reviews the history of abortion jurisprudence.  Roe is the first case to elevate abortion to a constitutional position.   \n\nIt's hard to respond to your question, without knowing your thesis, but for earlier cases protecting various family rights see, for example,  Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645 (1972); Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972); Ginsberg v. New York, 390 U.S. 629 (1968); Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1 (1967); Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965); Poe v. Ullman, 367 U.S. 497 (1961); May v. Anderson, 345 U.S. 528 (1953); Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158, 166 (1944); Skinner v. Oklahoma, 316 U.S. 535 (1942); Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510 (1925); Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390 (1923). \n\nThe court cited 143 precedents in the Roe decision- - not that the cases dealt with abortion.\n\nThere is an interesting analysis and criticism of Roe in the amicus brief filed in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services at 1988 U.S. Briefs 605 filed by the United States Catholic Conference.  \n\nWhether you are an abortion supporter or foe, Roe is a result oriented decision. Hope this is helpful.
297056
Women getting the same rights as men.
1036494
I dont think its the best for a person physically but maybe if they kept their legs closed and didnt use abortion as a birth control they wouldnt have to worry about it. \n\nThink about adoption, many couples are looking to adopt babies while irresponsible "women" ( and I use that term lightly) are killing babies every day
1015787
Americans as a whole do not think this way.  There is much controversy in our country about this issue.  It is currently legal in most (I believe) states to have an abortion, but conservative religious zealots are always trying to change the law.  Obviously, I am pro-women's rights (not pro-abortion and not pro-life, but believe that since it's the woman's responsibility it ultimately needs to be her choice.)
300285
Although I don't think abortion should be used as a backup form of birth control, I do think that there are always circumstances that are beyond us.  I think that some women have their reasons and that is their choice!
976751
They were absolutely right.  Abortion needs to be available and legal in this country.  Women have a right to do what they want with their own bodies.\n\nIf men could get pregnant, abortion rights would be one of the first 10 amendments to the Bill of Rights.
944843
Although I am a Christian and truly believe that at the moment of conception a human being is created, I really struggle with this issue. So, after years of fierce internal struggles, here's what I believe.\n\nAbortion, no matter what the reason, ends a life. But I do not feel that you can legislate whether or not abortion should be legal. The decision to abort or not to abort is a moral issue, a decision that rests on the shoulders of the woman carrying the child. The consequences--if the woman chooses to abort--are between the woman and God. \n\nWhat needs to happen in America and around the world for that matter, is a massive effort to educate people with viable information that will prevent unwanted pregnancies. Prevention is our only hope.
262910
It should always be an option whether a women takes chooses to take adavntage of it is her choice. For example alcohol is legal and some choose to drink some don't put no one takes away that right. True abortion is more complex because it involves another "life", or some say, but its all about individual choices and rights. Excuse the whole "life" thing its just that a certain stages it can be considered a life to certain people and in others it won't. I don't think society as a whole can ever agree on whether abortion should be legal or not and I don't believe it is anyone's duty to impose their idea on another individual. The decision to have an abortion is based on what a women may be going throug based on her, life, religion, and emotional and personal health. Its all about point of views. I do believe that everyone should have a choice. Say 2 women got raped and because of it ones wants to get abortion because of emotional damage and say possibly finances, on the other hand the other women doesnt want one because of her own personal views and possibly religion. I'm not one to look down on anyone's decisions or judge an individual based off their actions. When it comes to abortion I can agree to disagree.\n\n@dragonflytimes3- You are somewhat very right. There are so many forms of birth control out there and to be irresponsible and use abortion as birth control is wrong.(Wrong by I mean having an attitude- "I won't use protection and if I get pregnant I'll just have an abortion") And its true that the safest sex is to not have it at all But what happens when a female thinks they are ready to have sex and the rubber breaks or that .1% of the pill not working kicks into effect? Sure you can say that if you don't think you can handle the responsibilty of having a child then don't have sex but in society's changing times how logical can that be? My thing is birth control does not always work, so what is a women to do when when she takes steps to be careful and they are not 100% effective?
1124356
I don’t agree it’s a “woman’s choice”. First because a man is involved as well, second because a new human is involved, third because a doctor is forced to do the operation which is perhaps against his/her ethics.\nAs for snakeman’s idea, the problem is that quite a few people are viable before their teens. Kids in the womb have reaction to outside effects at quite an early time.\nAmhark is right, however, that it may lead to underground activites, as it was in previous centuries. I guess more and far better youth institutes are needed without encouraging mothers to leave their babies there.\nI’m against abortion, except for special cases, like when a woman is raped or when the baby would risk her health. If you don’t want a baby, use protection.
874688
Passing laws never eliminates the activity they criminalize, but passing those laws make shallow people feel good about themselves and gain politicians more votes.  And you don't need a physician to obtain an abortion at all.  There are readily-available herbs that will induce an abortion and all one has to do is know which ones and how to use them.
157869
Well, in the US, family planning and procreation is protected by the right to privacy -- for example the Supreme Court's case in Griswold v. Connecticut.  The extension of Griswold ultimately was Roe v. Wade - but that's a different story all together, isn't it?
7989
I am not a believer in abortion.  It is an easy way out.  I am a single mother and even though it is hard to raise a child on my own, I would never have considered aborting my baby.  How many people out there have ever really seen what an abortion does to an unborn child?  It's positively horrifying, and no other word besides "murder" describes it.  It is not just about a woman's body, there is another life involved!  One that feels pain, has a heartbeat, and is completely defenseless and dependant on it's mother.  Yes, you are right.  Women SHOULD take care of their responsibilities.  Never is abortion ok, not when you consider that that baby can feel everything as it's being ripped apart.
142530
There are a lot of us afraid of that. It's just a matter of time until they challenge Roe vs.Wade in the supreme court, and with the new justices appointed by Bush, it could easily be overturned. That would be a travesty. We have too many throw away children in our society now, and I was alive before Roe vs. Wade. I've seen what horrors illegal abortions can produce, and there will be illegal ones if it's overturned. \n\nThese people who are so pro abortion have no idea how many children will suffer if it's overturned. Is it better to have a child born then abused, neglected or abandoned than for a woman to have an abortion? And what right does anyone have to make that judgment for another woman. Moreso, what right does our government have to make that decision for a woman. It's her body, and it should be her decision. She's the one who knows her circumstances. \n\nYes, I agree that she should have thought about that before she got pregnant, but there are reasons that women get pregnant other than promiscuity, and once again, it's not our place to judge another.
1076072
Abortion is not a crime. Its a woman's right.
60878
Absolutely.  That baby is half the father's too.  The mother will ultimately probably have the final say.  Abortion could affect her uterus enough that she is unable to have children in the future due to scar tissue buildup.
922931
who is this "we" that gives rights?  rights are not something to give to a woman,,,, its her right to have all the same rights men do,,, as they are both human beings,,,,  nor are women weakening america and christianity,,,, men have been in charge of it all for years, let women have their turn!