Is the Changing Attitude of Women towards Childbirth and Motherhood a Cause of Seeking Abortions - Term Paper Example

Argumentative Essay. Is The Changing Attitude of Women Towards Childbirth and Motherhood a Cause of Seeking Abortions? Women and health care havebeen a predominantly debated issue of concern the world over. While it is unarguably agreed that issues of primary health care have been resolved to a great extent, their mental health and its implications on their attitudes towards their natural roles have been neglected; the changing attitudes of women towards child birth and motherhood are a major cause of seeking abortions in modern society. Pointing out the correlation between abortions, illicit relationships and their risk to women’s health in Latin American women in “Clandestine induced abortion: prevalence, incidence and risk factors among women in a Latin American country " the report seeks to determine if these casual incidents of abortions are a major factor for their ill health. The rise in abortions during the regime of Reagan brought forth a study report that highlighted degrading mental health of women as a major factor linking abortions. A pro abortion Institution argued that it was women’s education and awareness of birth control as well as liberal promiscuity that caused drastic changes in decisions leading to abortions in society (2009). Although legalizing abortion made an impact on these figures, in "Sexuality, birth control and abortion: a decision-making sequence." It is evident that changing trends in the attitudes of women towards their role as mothers and procreators that have actually made them seek abortions in the present society (1973). Abortion has been a topic of discussion for many thinkers. Not only issues of women and their health but also a vital cause of concern for the whole society: mankind because it raises questions of morality and ethics in the modern society. Comparisons in statistics of abortion making decisions with reference to geographical domains, educational standards, cultural and social backgrounds and as also the advent of technology in daily lives affected this issue of abortion to an extent unfathomable by most. Social scientists deemed into medico legal, geo-political, socio cultural attitudes intermingling with all parts of the world indicated that women have a more complex role to play in this century than ever before. These demands on them resulted in drastic changes in their attitudes towards child bearing and motherhood. Burdens and responsibilities as well as rising social, financial insecurity challenge their basis of survival. Hence most research findings tilted to their changed attitudes towards themselves as key factors which influence their decisions of abortions today. If it was only the geographical or developing areas of Latin America that indicated clandestine induced abortions perpetrating that it was their primitive lifestyle or ignorance of sexuality which resulted in their seeking secretive means of preventing illegitimate babies coming into the world, then why should the US society results indicate the same? Reports in Clandestine Induced Abortions: prevalence, incidence and risk factors among women in a Latin American country prove the contrary (2009). So it is not the location of the globe that women inhabit that links to their decision making or abortions, it is their mind set at that situation which leads them to make a decision to do so. Irrespective of whether it is healthy for them or poses threats to their future health women resort to termination of pregnancies at any cost only to avoid having the baby in their laps for ever. Similar decision making is found in American and British society where women have resorted to clandestine end to their conceivements only so they are not burdened with the responsibility of a mother for a lifetime. Modern society too provoked clandestine abortions which prove that it is not the development of area which could lead to their decision of secret abortions. Their decision making superseded the health threat they incited upon their future lives but that danger did not prevent them from such steps at all. Arguing that degraded standards of mental health could lead to abortion making decisions in women is a contention that gets disproved in Report of the APA taskforce on mental health and abortion “During the Reagan administration, the President ordered the Surgeon General to prepare a report on the effect abortion has on the mental health of women. The Surgeon General concluded that there wasnt enough evidence to publish a report. As a result, the APA began to collect statistics on this important issue. What they found is that the literature on the topic is notoriously imprecise. Many different methodologies have been used to study the topic, but most are flawed to an extent or another. The authors found several studies that suggest a correlation between depression and lower self esteem in women that have had abortions. Unfortunately, none of the studies controlled for pre-existing mental illnesses” (2008). The report weakens the argument that it could be the mental health a cause of abortion making decisions in most women. Reiterating the fact that liberal sexual behavior in modern society has given rise to the need of abortions in Trends in the characteristics of women obtaining abortions the authors do suggest that women are more educated and experienced in matters of sexual relationships. They are free in their sexual innuendoes and indulge in promiscuity at an early age. Parental and adult guidance may or may not be involved in their sexual behavior and decision making. But their report reveals startling facts that despite the various choices available to women in they still opt for abortions when confronted with pregnancies. Why is that so? Yet another evidence of extra sexual affairs and their trite nature in women is illustrated by “it provides key statistics that I have not found anywhere else. For example, minority women account for over half of the abortions in the United States and 7% of all abortions are preformed on minors”(2008). Teenage and tender age pregnancy is a rampant issue of grave concern for not only sociologists and psychologists of the nation but also parents and sensible individuals in and around. No amount of sophisticated technology and advanced sciences of bio engineering could save women from what nature has endowed on them and which they have tampered in the form of terminations of natural procreation, abortions. Without giving a thought to its detrimental effect on their personal health women resort to abortions is not enough to prove that it is not their ignorance which makes them have neither unwanted pregnancies nor the liberal inter relationships but their changing mental set up towards their own roles that governs their decisions for seeking abortions. When abortion was a raging political issue as it was not legalized in many states the women factions themselves were embroiled in debates of ‘to do or not to do’ abortions. The issue became political at the time of evolving legal policies of abortion in the country and states of America. In Predicting State Abortion Legislation From US Senate Votes: The Effects of Apparent Ideological Shirking the authors mock at the convenient policy making strategy of Politicians in favor of not the welfare of the womenfolk but with an intention of winning votes for their party(2005). Politicians had shunned aside ethical, moral, and social and health beneficial issues to evolve a policy for popular mass appeal which legalized abortion. The repercussions of their policy on the social standards or moral code of behavior in the younger generation of society was of little concern to them. The report suggested that even though the legalizing of abortion did play a considerable role in promoting them it cannot be held totally responsible for their decision making to do so. Thereby pointing towards other factors which could be motivating women to seek abortions in their current social scenario. Although the Gutmacher Institute report alleges to be unbiased it remarkably tilts towards pro abortion contents. The report provides key statistics from vital government agencies which support the fact that it is not geographical areas, nor cultural backgrounds, nor education or choices of sexual relationships, nor their liberty, nor legalization of the same that makes women seek abortions but it is the changing trends in their attitudes towards child birth and motherhood that results in their eventual decision making in favor of abortions. In "Sexuality, birth control and abortion: a decision-making sequence." Journal of Biosocial Science (1973): 347-361. Addressing a professional readership the article attempts to highlight the major factors influencing women of all ages to seek abortion. Delving into the minds of present day women from all strata of society, ages, education and status, the report unfolds interesting factors that rule the minds of modern women. It was a surprising revelation by the report that pregnancies were neither a result of ignorance in their relationships nor the result of spontaneous outbursts of passion but they were casual mishaps which could be tackled with professional help. “Surprisingly, the unintended nature of the pregnancy was not a role. What appeared to be more of a factor were the womens attitudes towards childbirth and motherhood. 2/3 of all women that reported an unintended pregnancy but had a positive attitude about motherhood did not seek abortions. 2/3 of all women seeking abortions expressed concerns about how the birth of the child would impact their life goals” (1973). Women today are confronted with problems that provoke stress and negativity in their lives. Social survival demands multifarious roles and strong competition is a basic threat for each individual in modern society. In lieu of this social scenario it is a pragmatic choice for women to enjoy benefits endowed to their gender and to discard what they see as additional burden than benefit to their lives. Children are seen as a mere responsibility and not at all as an emotional endearment to personality by women these days. The emotional wealth accrued by offspring is devalued at the amount of investment made on them. This is a trend of negative attitude towards children and child bearing seen in modern women. It is justified to have developed this negative trait as reports about drastic change in social psychology emerge from literary pursuits from all directions. The crumbling institutions of family and the well knit fabric of intricate bonding between kith and kin, minimal interdependence on interpersonal relationships and also the betrayal of commitments have culminated into negative attitudes not only in women but in people all around. Despite having medical facilities of advanced health care at their disposal, expenses taken care by medical insurance, social support for childbirth and mothers, Why would women decide not to give birth? In spite of having abundant information of sex and sexual relationships available at the click of keys on the electronic and mass media why would women have accidental pregnancies? Even when sex and sexuality was as liberal as desired, the moral cordon let loose by legalizing abortions, freedom of youth, relationships and lifestyle adapted by women in current society by free will, why would they feel the inability of bearing children? Contrary to the beliefs that social ecological, educational, medical and ethical factors intervened in the decision making of women while deciding about giving birth to children and treading into the natural stereotype role of motherhood, the literary research contends that there is something else that makes them seek termination of pregnancies and reject child birth. What could motivate them to strongly oppose the privilege and responsibility of childbirth? If it was not ignorance, threat of society, dangers of health, nor libertine character? What was it that dominated their desire to deny themselves motherhood? Why is it that they shunned aside children and procreation to decide on abortion? When all the relevant issues taken care of and when most controversial issues for their welfare resolved, why did they still need to seek abortions? The myriad questions raised by intellectuals and social scientists researched into factors that did not tally with the identified norms associated with the process of thinking of. Women who went for abortion. The questions inspired a research into the connection between all these issues and the links between them. The chain of studies finally led to the conclusion that with the changing times the role of women had changed. The gender role had drastically been challenged by the evolution of a diverse social fabric and the global village. This weft and weave of socio, politico, and legal issues affected the mind set of women. The intricacies of this change brought about a significant effect in their general psychology of motherhood and child bearing. Is this changing attitude of women towards child birth and motherhood a cause of seeking abortions? Therefore, even though Women and health care have been a predominantly debated issue of concern the world over it can unarguably be agreed that even if issues of primary health care have been resolved to a great extent, mental health and its implications on women’s attitudes towards their natural roles was a diluted matter until now whence it is changing attitudes of women towards child birth and motherhood that are a major cause of seeking abortions in modern society. Reports from authors support the argument and weaken the earlier prevalent beliefs about women seeking abortions today. Yes, it can unarguably concluded that it is the basic need to fulfill other criteria of life like career roles, individual pursuits, challenge of survival, lost trust in commitments, additional responsibility of single handed parenting and emotional insecurity that has aligned them to think that abortions is the viable solution to unwanted pregnancies and unwanted children in present times. Works Cited Bernaba, A., White,P.J., Carcam, C., et al. "Clandestine induced abortion: prevalence, Incidence and risk factors among women in a Latin American country." Canadian Medical Association Journal 2009. Diomonda, M, Patricia, G., et al. "Sexuality, birth control and abortion: a decision- making sequence." Journal of Biosocial Science : 347-361. 1973. Kost, Stanley, H. and Kathryn. “Trends in the Characteristics of Women Obtaining Abortions”. New York: Gutmacher Institute, 2008. Major, B., Applebaum, M., et al. “Report of the APA Taskforce on Mental Health and Abortion”. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association, 2008. Ohsfeldt, Stephan, R., Gohmann and L., Robert. “Predicting State Abortion Legislation From U.S. Senate Votes: The Effects of Apparent Ideological Shirking” Review of Policy Research: 749-762. 2005. Read More