The Big Question - Part I (of many)

In general, I find myself very liberal when it comes to civil rights. However, I am unsure of my position on the abortion issue. I hate to be judgmental and try to not have concrete opinions about experiences that I have not experienced, but a small part of me cannot help but disagree with abortion. This issue is an important factor in conservative and liberal debate, therefore I plan to research both arguments before making a decision.

In an article titled, "Reasons women give for abortion: a review of the literature," Maggie Kirkman, Heather Rowe, Annarella Hardiman, Shelley Mallett and Doreen Rosenthal research the "reasons women give for having an abortion," (Arch Womens Ment Health. Springer-Verlag. 28 May 2009/Published online: 11 June 2009). The research planned to specifically focus on the woman's reason for having an abortion and not the opinion of others.

The conclusion was broken down into three possible reasons for a woman getting an abortion - 'Woman-focused, 'Other-focused', and 'Material'. 'Woman-focused' referred to the woman's belief that she was too young or too unprepared to have a child at that time. 'Other-focused' mostly referred to the biological father, but some cases specified a mother's fear of neglecting an older child if a younger sibling was born or fear of neglecting the unborn child. Finally, 'Material' could refer to a "diagnosis of foetal abnormality" or lack of sufficient income - although the report pointed out that the latter might be better categorized as 'Other-focused' because it usually was due to the woman's inability to care for the unborn child.

In the last paragraph, the article states the investigators conclude that, "decisions to terminate a pregnancy were often influenced by the desire to be a good parent." This shows, "that women take seriously the responsibilities of motherhood in seeking abortion. Whether they conclude that they are not yet ready to be mothers, that they do not have adequate financial resources for a baby, or that they prefer not to give birth to a child who is not wholeheartedly desired by both parents, their own needs coincide with those of the potential child."

Kirkman, M., Rowe, H., Hardiman, A., Mallett, S., & Rosenthal, D.. (2009). Reasons women give for abortion: a review of the literature. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 12(6), 365-78. Retrieved January 3, 2010, from ProQuest Medical Library. (Document ID: 1895924621).

Pro-life advocates would certainly disagree with the conclusion of this report and claim that abortion cannot be best for an unborn child, and options such as adoption are much more preferable. Still, I understand how a lack of good options or feelings of hopelessness would lead many women to choose abortion.