Thoughts on Abortion

Introduction

A year ago, I watched Trapped, a 2016 documentary on the current state of the issue of abortion and women's reproductive rights in the United States. For me, the result of watching the film was to motivate me to do something that I never do: write down my own thoughts. As an American, I have to become clear on my understanding and my stance regarding this highly sensitive matter.

A significant observation I recently made is that while almost every person in America comes down on a particular side of the abortion argument, very few Americans reflect on the roots of their own opinion, on why they really believe what they believe. I need to understand my thoughts on abortion at least for myself, if for nobody else. I have a mother, a sister, a wife, and a daughter. I cannot afford the dangerous luxury of disregard.

Basic Position

I could say that I am pro-choice, but that term has become too much of a badge to clearly communicate what I intend when I say it. Rather, I will say that:

1. I recognize and acknowledge that it is the right of a woman to determine whether she will reproduce or not.
2. I recognize and acknowledge that is it the right of a woman to choose the time that she will produce a child, if she decides to do so.
3. I deny that any entity bestows this right upon a woman - it is an inalienable right that belongs to her, before and beyond any system of law or government.

Given these statements, I could almost concede that my opinions about women's reproductive rights and abortion are irrelevant. I am a man; it makes no difference what I think about the issue. Arguably, my position wouldn't matter even if I were another woman!

What I mean to say is this: because of the view that I hold, I believe that the opinion of anyone other than the woman concerned has no bearing on her rights, her will, her decisions, or her actions. It is a libertarian position to be sure, but I contend it is also the simplest and most honest in its intention. I believe in the sovereignty of the individual.

Why I Hold an Opinion on Abortion

When considering abortion, a key point where I might differ with other people is the central issue in question. Many people, particularly those who support the pro-life side of the debate, believe that the central issue is the definition of human life and subsequently the identification of the specific moment of its inception. This is an axis for polemics. It is nonsense.

I know - as of today - that beyond the mere identification of its existence, neither religious nor scientific authority can speak to the nature of life. As such, I avoid becoming engrossed in the minutia of this technical dead-end. This focus on life, the sanctity of life, etc. is only a sideshow; it distracts from what is really at the heart of the matter. What is centrally at stake is the right of a woman to her identity as an equal member of human society and her concomitant right to dignity.

As a human, as a member of society, and as a person who claims my own dignity, I must hold a position on abortion, this pivotal issue of our times. If I refuse to acknowledge the equal claim of a women to her rights, how can I claim my own? It is my duty, it is the duty of us all, to recognize the inalienable human rights of a woman -- because only in the act of acknowledging the rights of others do we lay claim to our own.

Questions I Consider

• How do reproductive rights tie into the identity of women?
• How do reproductive rights relate to human dignity?