When I was in high school, I was TERRIFIED of getting pregnant. I researched every Planned Parenthood in the area and looked up the cost of abortion, with the decision that I would definitely get one if I ever found myself pregnant. I couldn't imagine being 15, a sophomore in high school, and dealing with anything - let alone a baby! I didn't pay bills, didn't cook for myself, and had no responsibilities but to get decent grades in my classes. It was a no brainer, why would I give up such an easy life for a baby?
During my senior year, one of my good friends found herself pregnant. It was exactly as I imagined; she panicked and decided that an abortion was the only way. I looked up abortion clinics and found one, but it happened to be an anti-abortion, pro-life clinic. After she took a pregnancy test to verify, we had to look at several cold plastic models of the fetus in different stages and she squinted her eyes at us over her glasses in distaste. Even when she was describing the help that they offered young mothers, I couldn't help but be turned off. She clearly looked down on us for even considering abortion, but I didn't see her, age 17, toting around a baby!
Now that I'm older and maybe wiser, I find myself in limbo with the abortion question- provided that I can even ask myself this question for much longer. What would happen if nobody had the option to get an abortion? Even now at 20, with a fairly decent job and an almost completed degree- would this be an even worst time to get pregnant? Would I have to drop out of college without potentially ever getting my B.A.? My job is okay to keep me in clothes and regular bills, but how would it ever be enough to support me and a baby? My boyfriend, the obvious father, has a job good enough to keep us in dinners and now-and-then vacations, but it still wouldn't be enough to support a family. Diapers, baby food, baby clothes, baby toys... I feel a panic attack coming!
Even though part of growing into womanhood is having a baby and becoming a mother, I just don't feel that my maternal side is ready to kick in yet. There are so many things that I want to see and do that I couldn't imagine being chained down to a family right now. I have a huge amount of respect for young mothers, especially single ones, who juggle a job, school, and kids because I'm not sure I'd ever be able to handle that kind of responsibility. Let's face it, I have practiced Catholicism my entire life but religion won't pay for everything that a baby needs in the end or let me be a good mother while trying to pursue my own goals right?
All women should have the choice of abortion available to them; if they feel that they can't take proper care of or aren't ready for a baby then that is up to them. Better for young women to prepare for life by going to college or pursuing a career so that they can build a stable future for the children that they will eventually have and love.
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3 comments:
I find myself on the fence about abortion, because as I see it both sides have strong values and good points.
For me what it boils down to is responsibility. Sex is awesome, but it also has a very important, natural function and we need to take the proper precautions when it comes to who we do it with and how we have sex. Abortion is too often the answer for someone who was simply reckless, and now finds themselves between aborting a potential person and having to shoulder the responsibility of a child. All because someone didn't want to wear the rubber.
But there are already too many unfit parents out there, so I hardly think its a good idea to create more. So abortion as I see it is a necessary evil that often times leaves the father in the equally precarious position of potential fatherhood. Or he could be held at arms length for eighteen years while his wage is garnished heavily for child support. I know abortion is all about "a woman's right to chose" but it takes two to tango.
When it comes to abortion I believe the choice should be up to the individual.
Personally I don't think my conscious would ever let me go through with it, having babysat and been around children most of my life I've grown a strong respect for them and the parents who raise them. There is no doubt that taking on such a responsibilty would be difficult, but it is a responsibilty i would take on if I found I had put myself in such a situation.
I do understand how the responsibilty would be tremondous and that an alterior option is necesary for potential mothers and fathers. Nothing seems more tragic then bringing an unwanted child into the world.
Although I too find myself on the fence about the issue at times, it is much more feasible for women to have the right to choose.
Sure there are careless moments when you're not really thinking about the consequenses, thats how we learn, but not being able to fix your mistakes if you wanted to would be horrifying! If you do not see yourself as a fit parent and you don't really want to have a child you can pretend it never happened essentially.
However, this is where my morality kicks in, it's not right to take anothers life. I'm sure not all people who have abortions regret it, but I do know that it will always be with them. Their first child will never be their first child.
I'd like to think that when it came down to it I would choose to keep my unborn child. Yet at this point in my life I'm 22 years old, about to graduate college, and I hardly have time for anything but school and work let alone a baby! So being able to choose to make my life a little more chaotic or not, or being forced by the government to live my biggest nightmare by not being able to choose...i choose being able to make my own decision!
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