2. What is Pro-Choice
14th amendment states everyone should have
the right to choose (Staggenborg, 1991)
Pregnancy and having a child is a big decision,
not everyone is ready or want children
Abortion should be between the women and
her doctor based on her needs
3. Pro-Choice Movement
Began in 1960 to legalize abortion
Became legal in 1973 (Staggenborg,
1991).
Roe V Wade Supreme Court ruled
that women have a constitutional
right, under the 14th amendment to
choose an abortion as part of
freedom of personal choice
(Staggenborg, 1991)
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4. Abortion is one of the most common surgical procedures
3 in 10 women have at least one abortion by age 45
Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintentional
Each year 2% of child bearing women have an abortion (Medoff, 2016)
2014, 926,1960 abortions were performed in the United States (Jones, Jerman,
2017)
45% of women have 1 or more abortion
Women 30 or older are two times more likely to have more than one abortion
(Jones, Jerman & Ingerick, 2018)
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
5. Around the World
Between 1996 and 2013 the percentage of governments permitting
abortion increased
2/3 of countries in 2013 abortion was permitted when physical or mental
health of the women was endangered
87 out of 145 countries since 2012, have implemented measures to
improve access to safe abortion services (Medoff, 2016)
6. Risks Involved
Illegal abortions are extremely unsafe
Killing, injuring vast numbers of women every year
Legal abortion is safer than child birth
Pregnancy poses its own risks
Dramatic anatomical changes
Psychological
Biochemical changes in every organ
Hormone changes cause metabolism changes, stress response and
immune action
Vascular changes result in modification in circulation, heart, lungs
and the tendency to form blood clots which can lead to
hemorrhaging (Skop, 2019)
7. After denial
of abortion
Higher odds of
poverty six months
after denial
More likely to be in
poverty 4 years later
Less likely to have a
full time job
More likely to receive
public assistance
(Foster, Biggs, Ralph,
Gerdts, Roberts &
Glymour, 2018)
8. Who are the ones having abortions?
Women age 20-24 had the highest percentage at 33% in 2014
Women age 25-29 had the second highest percentage at 26%
Women never married, not cohabitating had the highest rate at
45%
Women not married but cohabitating second highest at 31%
Women with some college or Associate degree at 41%
High School degree at 27% (Jones, Jermen, 2017)
9. Feminist
Ethics
Ask for equal consideration
Ethics of care seek to replace competition with
cooperation
Rights protect autonomy and independence
Free from coercion and unwanted interference
(Shafer-Landau, 2017)
10. Desire Theory
Happiness is a matter of
getting what you want
Our deepest desires
count for what improves
our life or makes it worse
Many models of a good
life
11. Conclusion
14th amendment supports the right to choose (Staggenborg, 1991)
Women denied abortion are more likely to endure economic hardships (Jones,
Jerman, 2017)
Illegal abortions are dangerous
Pregnancy poses its own risks (Skop, 2019)
Majority of women who have abortions are educated and of an age to understand
their decision (Jones, Jerman, 2017)
Women don’t regret their decision and with age are more likely to have an another
abortion (Jones, Jerman, Ingrick, 20
12. References
Greene Foster, D., Biggs, A. M., Ralph, L., Gerdts, C., Roberts, S., & Glymour, M. M. (2018).
Socioeconomic Outcome of Women Who Receive and Women Who Are Denied Wanted Abortions in the United States. The American
Journal of Public Health, 108(3). doi:10.2105
Healey, J. (2016). The Abortion Rights Debate. Issues in Society, 402. doi:1220413
Jones, R. K., & Jerman, J. (2017). Population Group Abortion Rates and Lifetime Incidence of
Abortion: United States, 2008-2014. American Journal of Public Health, 107(12). doi:10.2105
Jones, R., Jerman, J., & Ingerick, M. (2018). Which Abortion Patients Have Had a Prior
Abortion? Findings from the 2014 U.S. Abortion Patient Survey. Women's Health, 27(1). doi:10.1089
Medoff, M. (2016). Pro-Choice Versus Pro-LIfe: The Relationship Between State Abortion
Policy and Child Well-Being in the United States. Health Care for Women International. doi:101080
Shafer-Landau, R. (2018). The Fundamentals of Ethics. New York: Oxford University Press.
Skop, I., MD. (2019). Abortion Safety: At Home and Abroad. Issues in Law & Medicine.
doi:87568160
Staggenborg, S. (1991). The Pro-Choice Movement: Organization and Activism in the Abortion
Conflict. doi:0195065964
