In three weeks, Jennifer will leave for college. She broke up with her
boyfriend two weeks ago, and today she found out she was pregnant.
Should Jennifer have an abortion, or stop all her plans and have a baby
at eighteen? Either way the decision is hers to make. On January 22,
1973 the landmark decision of Roe vs. Wade occurring in the Supreme
Court made abortion a “constitutional liberty” (Francome 20). Legally,
Jennifer can receive an abortion. Socially, however, she will endure
many more obstacles.
Fighting for society’s acceptance
In today’s American society, viewpoints on certain topics often
conflict with what individuals believe is right. This is very evident
in the argument for acceptance of abortions among college students.
However, with the rise of the anti-abortion movement this procedure has
become less accepted and harder to obtain. Should abortions among
college students be more widely accepted in society? According to a
Planned Parenthood study done in 1997, forty percent of seventeen year
olds will become pregnant before their twenty-fifth birthday. This
statistic is directly targeted at college age females. The answer is
far from being strictly a black and white issue, but my own viewpoint is
“yes” abortions should be accepted among society for many reasons. The
controversial issue of abortion has many intertwining, surrounding
complications. Such an issue is never concrete, “in
America, about 20% of Americans thoroughly oppose abortions, 20%
thoroughly favor abortions, while a vast majority are ‘muddled in the
middle'” (Pojman and Beckwith 59). As with any pregnancy there are
impending risks involved and many extenuating circumstances that justify
an abortion. In a perfect world, abortions are not the best way to
prevent unwanted pregnancies, but there are many “bumps in the road,”
keeping the United States from being perfect.
Defining Life?
The main question facing society is the definition of a fetus’ point of
living. Pro-Lifers believe that, “a fertilized embryo is the foundation
for a living human being” (National College Students for Life). In
contrast, pro-choicers argue that a human being is something more
concrete with it’s own thought processes and consciousness. Petchesky
argues, “the fetus is only a potential human being, and we confuse
actual with potential” (432). So who is right and who is wrong? Who
makes the definition of a living human being? These however, are
questions that will most likely never be resolved. Therefore, both
sides need to accept and respect each other views on the issue for
society as a whole to be more accepting of abortion.
Emotional Instability
The emotions that result from being in a college atmosphere and the
emotions that occur with pregnancy do not coincide. Most college
students are not emotionally stable enough to carry or give birth to a
child. As stated by Rosalind Petchesky, “women between the ages of
eighteen and twenty are at the highest level of emotional insecurity
and have proven to be unfit mothers” (322). Entering college is a new
experience for teenagers which involves a new sense of freedom and
responsibility. College students are battling with being on their own
for the first time, managing their time and studying. College students
have too much emotional strain and stress on them to add the additional
stress of having a child. A survey was conducted among college males
and females on their various viewpoints of abortion. Of those surveyed,
82% of both males and females claimed they did not feel that they would
make a capable parent while still remaining in college. Having a child
brings a whole new sense of responsibility that I do not believe college
students are able to handle. The added stress of morning sickness, mood
swings, weight gain and other anxieties attributed to pregnancy would
place to much of a emotional strain on an already tense college
student. Pro-Lifers argue, “if one is responsible enough to have sex,
one should be responsible enough to deal with the consequences”
(National College Students for Life). I am in agreement with the
responsibility necessary to be a part of a sexual relationship but the
reality of unwanted pregnancies is far too large to overlook. Studies
show that “each year, one million teenagers become pregnant and 85% of
these pregnancies are unwanted” (Detroit News). Of course there is
always the counter argument of putting the child up for adoption, but
that leads to more emotional entanglements. Having to go through a nine
month period carrying a child growing inside you may cause you to become
attached to that child, which may not receive the life it deserves at
that time.
Consequences of unwanted pregnancies
When examining the records of any mental or penal institution and
prison, one realizes that in too many cases the person was raised in a
household where the parents did not want the child (Landes 121). A
child requires love and compassion to grow and live a happy life. The
children that do not receive adequate attention often go to jail or
become insane because they have never learned to love. Also because
abortions are not always easily accessible or accepted, mothers find
another way to get rid of the child. This means that the children live
in foster homes where they do not lead stable lives (Landes 122).
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Extenuating circumstances
More than 87,000 rapes were reported in 1996, and 40% of those rapes
were considered date or acquaintance rape among women between the ages
of sixteen and twenty, typical college age students (Willke 193). Rape
is a violent act that may leave a woman pregnant. Christina, a 20
year-old rape victim, remarks on her decision of abortion rather than
adoption, “losing a seven week fetus which weighed less than aspirin
tablet does not compare to losing a seven pound baby with hair and
fingernails that would look like me” (Bender and Leone 132). Regardless
how much a mother loves her child, it is unbearably difficult to look
into its face without thinking about the mortifying activity on how the
child was conceived. Rape is a harsh crime and having a baby reminding
the woman is too much to ask, unless she is totally willing.
Abortions should also be more accepted and accessible to women whose
lives are in danger or whose children will be born with a terminal
illness. Pregnancy does not go with out health risks. However,
“teenage mothers are more likely to give birth to unhealthy children due
to their immaturity” (Maloy 124). It is not fair to the child nor the
parents to bring the child into the world under those circumstances.
The parent’s life would be completely altered due to the demanding needs
of terminal ill children and this would not correspond with a demanding
college schedule.
Breakdown of sociological expectations
Society’s expectations of today’s generation also conflict with the
acceptance of abortion among college students. All of our lives it is
instilled in us to further our education by attending a college or
university. Those females who have achieved this goal should be highly
praised. However, this praise and recognition is then shattered upon
them becoming pregnant. The treatment received and the emotional
struggles endured will make it hard for a continuation of their college
education, not to mention the emotional strength it takes to carry and
then support a child. According to the same Planned Parenthood study,
mentioned previously, the majority of female college students that have
children in college, are not able to finish their college careers.
Another issue that society deems important is family values, and once
again, society’s lack of acceptance of abortion conflicts with this
issue. We have been taught, and studies show, that a nuclear family is
healthiest. The probability of a pregnant college student being a part
of a nuclear family, with two married parents, is low. As supported in
the survey conducted, 30% of males said they would not support a child
that was a result of a one night stand. This leaves the child without a
two parent family, which is against society’s norm that we are expected
to follow.
Financial burden
Seventy-three percent of college students are receiving some form of
financial aid, grant, scholarship or student loan (College Board 1996).
College students are usually already on a fixed and strict budget and
children are a huge expense on top of that. It is estimated that
8,000-10,000 dollars are spent on a newborn within it’s first year of
life (Hume 213). With or without support, many college students could
not afford the expense of a child in addition to college expenses, and
therefore would be forced financially to drop out of school. Secondly,
a large portion of the financial burden of children is held by medical
expenses. There is a great insufficiency in the number of inexpensive
and accessible medical utilities for young adults without any form of
insurance. To follow through with a healthy pregnancy, adequate
pre-natal care must be given. Because the majority of pre-natal
development occurs within the first trimester (Willke 46), favorable
development requires frequent check ups, along with vitamins and drugs
that help prevent birth defects. Facilities that dispense such services
are usually expensive and require medical insurance. After a child is
born, immunizations and follow up care is required. These procedures
also require some form of payment. The majority of college students do
not have jobs that provide adequate medical coverage, if they even have
jobs. So obviously, for many
reasons having and supporting a child is too much of a financial burden
on a college student and abortion seems the logical answer.
Is there a solution?
Now that all the problems of having a child in college have been
discussed, it’s time to ask the question-Can anything be done to make
abortions among college students more socially accepted? I believe
something can be done and many different possibilities need to be
proposed.
More education
As with any other issue, education is the basis of judgment. According
to psychologist, Dr. Martin J. Sternberg, “the way children are educated
at a young age directly affects their behavior as adults” (Pojman and
Beckwith 418). Therefore, children need to be educated possibly as
young as elementary school on the topic of abortion. At this age
children are just starting to learn of society’s expectation of them to
go to college in the future. They then will be able to directly
correlate the need of responsibility to raise a child with the struggles
of a college student, and learn they don’t mix. Of course education
cannot stop at this age, and must continue throughout high school.
Educating young children implants the notion in their minds, but high
school students are on a more mature level to comprehend information,
especially dealing with sexual relationships. High school students are
also at the perfect age to realize the emotional and physical hardships
that would be endured if one was to have a child in college. Of the
college students surveyed, 63% did not know exactly how an abortion was
performed. Teaching
children about abortion at a young age, and constant reinforcement
throughout their schooling will allow them to be more knowledgeable and
accepting if they are a part of, or know someone who is a part of such a
situation, once they reach college age.
In addition to education about abortion, education about alternative
methods of birth control is necessary. A study done in 1995 showed that
82% of women that received abortions, that year, were not using any
method of birth control at point of conception. It could be inferred
from this statistic that these women did not have knowledge about birth
control or access to it. Again, starting at an early age in education,
children should be taught the logistics of different methods of birth
control. In many states, including North Carolina, the only method of
birth control allowed to be taught, by law, is abstinence. The presence
of pre-marital sex among teenagers in today’s generation cannot be
ignored. Instead of trying to discount the number of teenagers that
participate in pre-marital sex, society should go with a more realistic
approach and educate them about birth control and therefore, there will
be fewer necessary abortions.
Educating today’s youth about abortion and birth control will conjure
ideas in them at a young age. With education comes knowledge, and with
knowledge comes acceptance.
Greater accessibility
Much of the problem with accepting abortion is the lack of facilities
that perform abortions. Only thirteen percent of abortions are
performed within hospitals (Landes 64). The rest are performed outside
of hospitals in clinics. The Alan Guttmacher Institute
surveyed and found only 2,680 abortion clinics in the United States.
Eighty-eight percent of the clinics are only in metropolitan areas where
ninety-eight percent of abortions are performed (Landes 64). Rural
counties that contain colleges or universities do not have such
accessibility to facilities that perform abortions. The AGI discovered
that eighty-three percent of rural counties did not have clinics.
Limited facilities that perform clinics poses a dilemma for college
students that may not have transportation or time, to travel to
metropolitan areas. However, if colleges installed on-campus abortion
clinics with certified doctors and psychologists, for counseling
purposes, this problem could be corrected. With on-campus abortion
clinics, it would show the university to be more accepting and
understanding of college students need for such medical facilities, and
therefore, society as a whole may be more accepting. The clinics should
be widely advertised so that students knew of their presence. However,
they should also be in an environment that the students still feel safe
and protected. It is imperative that these clinics include
psychologists for counseling needs because, as previously stated,
college students are encountering many new experiences and may need
someone to talk to about their decision. The increase of abortion
clinics, in places where college students can access them, is essential
to society being more understanding of college students’ situation if
they become pregnant.
Coming to a compromise
Abortion will always be a very controversial issue with many different
aspects intertwining within the issue. People will have their set
opinions on the topic and that is
fine. All that is being asked is, that society, as a whole, come to the
realization of the situation that college students are a part of. An
understanding of the stress and pressure that is already upon college
students is needed to comprehend the impossibility of undertaking, and
following through with, a pregnancy during these years of life. There
are many people that consider themselves pro-choice, but pro-life for
themselves. These people need to be recognized as leaders, in such
that, they have made an opinion for their own bodies but are not willing
to make the same decision for the rest of the world. For many reasons
such as, lack of finances and medical care, society’s expectations of
our generation, and the emotional strain of pregnancy and motherhood
clearly illustrate need for acceptance in today’s world. College
students are not emotionally nor financially stable enough to carry and
raise a child. One night of stupidity should not be punishable by a
lifetime of struggleIn three weeks, Jennifer will leave for college. She broke up with her
boyfriend two weeks ago, and today she found out she was pregnant.
Should Jennifer have an abortion, or stop all her plans and have a baby
at eighteen? Either way the decision is hers to make. On January 22,
1973 the landmark decision of Roe vs. Wade occurring in the Supreme
Court made abortion a “constitutional liberty” (Francome 20). Legally,
Jennifer can receive an abortion. Socially, however, she will endure
many more obstacles.
Fighting for society’s acceptance
In today’s American society, viewpoints on certain topics often
conflict with what individuals believe is right. This is very evident
in the argument for acceptance of abortions among college students.
However, with the rise of the anti-abortion movement this procedure has
become less accepted and harder to obtain. Should abortions among
college students be more widely accepted in society? According to a
Planned Parenthood study done in 1997, forty percent of seventeen year
olds will become pregnant before their twenty-fifth birthday. This
statistic is directly targeted at college age females. The answer is
far from being strictly a black and white issue, but my own viewpoint is
“yes” abortions should be accepted among society for many reasons. The
controversial issue of abortion has many intertwining, surrounding
complications. Such an issue is never concrete, “in
America, about 20% of Americans thoroughly oppose abortions, 20%
thoroughly favor abortions, while a vast majority are ‘muddled in the
middle'” (Pojman and Beckwith 59). As with any pregnancy there are
impending risks involved and many extenuating circumstances that justify
an abortion. In a perfect world, abortions are not the best way to
prevent unwanted pregnancies, but there are many “bumps in the road,”
keeping the United States from being perfect.
Defining Life?
The main question facing society is the definition of a fetus’ point of
living. Pro-Lifers believe that, “a fertilized embryo is the foundation
for a living human being” (National College Students for Life). In
contrast, pro-choicers argue that a human being is something more
concrete with it’s own thought processes and consciousness. Petchesky
argues, “the fetus is only a potential human being, and we confuse
actual with potential” (432). So who is right and who is wrong? Who
makes the definition of a living human being? These however, are
questions that will most likely never be resolved. Therefore, both
sides need to accept and respect each other views on the issue for
society as a whole to be more accepting of abortion.
Emotional Instability
The emotions that result from being in a college atmosphere and the
emotions that occur with pregnancy do not coincide. Most college
students are not emotionally stable enough to carry or give birth to a
child. As stated by Rosalind Petchesky, “women between the ages of
eighteen and twenty are at the highest level of emotional insecurity
and have proven to be unfit mothers” (322). Entering college is a new
experience for teenagers which involves a new sense of freedom and
responsibility. College students are battling with being on their own
for the first time, managing their time and studying. College students
have too much emotional strain and stress on them to add the additional
stress of having a child. A survey was conducted among college males
and females on their various viewpoints of abortion. Of those surveyed,
82% of both males and females claimed they did not feel that they would
make a capable parent while still remaining in college. Having a child
brings a whole new sense of responsibility that I do not believe college
students are able to handle. The added stress of morning sickness, mood
swings, weight gain and other anxieties attributed to pregnancy would
place to much of a emotional strain on an already tense college
student. Pro-Lifers argue, “if one is responsible enough to have sex,
one should be responsible enough to deal with the consequences”
(National College Students for Life). I am in agreement with the
responsibility necessary to be a part of a sexual relationship but the
reality of unwanted pregnancies is far too large to overlook. Studies
show that “each year, one million teenagers become pregnant and 85% of
these pregnancies are unwanted” (Detroit News). Of course there is
always the counter argument of putting the child up for adoption, but
that leads to more emotional entanglements. Having to go through a nine
month period carrying a child growing inside you may cause you to become
attached to that child, which may not receive the life it deserves at
that time.
Consequences of unwanted pregnancies
When examining the records of any mental or penal institution and
prison, one realizes that in too many cases the person was raised in a
household where the parents did not want the child (Landes 121). A
child requires love and compassion to grow and live a happy life. The
children that do not receive adequate attention often go to jail or
become insane because they have never learned to love. Also because
abortions are not always easily accessible or accepted, mothers find
another way to get rid of the child. This means that the children live
in foster homes where they do not lead stable lives (Landes 122).
Extenuating circumstances
More than 87,000 rapes were reported in 1996, and 40% of those rapes
were considered date or acquaintance rape among women between the ages
of sixteen and twenty, typical college age students (Willke 193). Rape
is a violent act that may leave a woman pregnant. Christina, a 20
year-old rape victim, remarks on her decision of abortion rather than
adoption, “losing a seven week fetus which weighed less than aspirin
tablet does not compare to losing a seven pound baby with hair and
fingernails that would look like me” (Bender and Leone 132). Regardless
how much a mother loves her child, it is unbearably difficult to look
into its face without thinking about the mortifying activity on how the
child was conceived. Rape is a harsh crime and having a baby reminding
the woman is too much to ask, unless she is totally willing.
Abortions should also be more accepted and accessible to women whose
lives are in danger or whose children will be born with a terminal
illness. Pregnancy does not go with out health risks. However,
“teenage mothers are more likely to give birth to unhealthy children due
to their immaturity” (Maloy 124). It is not fair to the child nor the
parents to bring the child into the world under those circumstances.
The parent’s life would be completely altered due to the demanding needs
of terminal ill children and this would not correspond with a demanding
college schedule.
Breakdown of sociological expectations
Society’s expectations of today’s generation also conflict with the
acceptance of abortion among college students. All of our lives it is
instilled in us to further our education by attending a college or
university. Those females who have achieved this goal should be highly
praised. However, this praise and recognition is then shattered upon
them becoming pregnant. The treatment received and the emotional
struggles endured will make it hard for a continuation of their college
education, not to mention the emotional strength it takes to carry and
then support a child. According to the same Planned Parenthood study,
mentioned previously, the majority of female college students that have
children in college, are not able to finish their college careers.
Another issue that society deems important is family values, and once
again, society’s lack of acceptance of abortion conflicts with this
issue. We have been taught, and studies show, that a nuclear family is
healthiest. The probability of a pregnant college student being a part
of a nuclear family, with two married parents, is low. As supported in
the survey conducted, 30% of males said they would not support a child
that was a result of a one night stand. This leaves the child without a
two parent family, which is against society’s norm that we are expected
to follow.
Financial burden
Seventy-three percent of college students are receiving some form of
financial aid, grant, scholarship or student loan (College Board 1996).
College students are usually already on a fixed and strict budget and
children are a huge expense on top of that. It is estimated that
8,000-10,000 dollars are spent on a newborn within it’s first year of
life (Hume 213). With or without support, many college students could
not afford the expense of a child in addition to college expenses, and
therefore would be forced financially to drop out of school. Secondly,
a large portion of the financial burden of children is held by medical
expenses. There is a great insufficiency in the number of inexpensive
and accessible medical utilities for young adults without any form of
insurance. To follow through with a healthy pregnancy, adequate
pre-natal care must be given. Because the majority of pre-natal
development occurs within the first trimester (Willke 46), favorable
development requires frequent check ups, along with vitamins and drugs
that help prevent birth defects. Facilities that dispense such services
are usually expensive and require medical insurance. After a child is
born, immunizations and follow up care is required. These procedures
also require some form of payment. The majority of college students do
not have jobs that provide adequate medical coverage, if they even have
jobs. So obviously, for many
reasons having and supporting a child is too much of a financial burden
on a college student and abortion seems the logical answer.
Is there a solution?
Now that all the problems of having a child in college have been
discussed, it’s time to ask the question-Can anything be done to make
abortions among college students more socially accepted? I believe
something can be done and many different possibilities need to be
proposed.
More education
As with any other issue, education is the basis of judgment. According
to psychologist, Dr. Martin J. Sternberg, “the way children are educated
at a young age directly affects their behavior as adults” (Pojman and
Beckwith 418). Therefore, children need to be educated possibly as
young as elementary school on the topic of abortion. At this age
children are just starting to learn of society’s expectation of them to
go to college in the future. They then will be able to directly
correlate the need of responsibility to raise a child with the struggles
of a college student, and learn they don’t mix. Of course education
cannot stop at this age, and must continue throughout high school.
Educating young children implants the notion in their minds, but high
school students are on a more mature level to comprehend information,
especially dealing with sexual relationships. High school students are
also at the perfect age to realize the emotional and physical hardships
that would be endured if one was to have a child in college. Of the
college students surveyed, 63% did not know exactly how an abortion was
performed. Teaching
children about abortion at a young age, and constant reinforcement
throughout their schooling will allow them to be more knowledgeable and
accepting if they are a part of, or know someone who is a part of such a
situation, once they reach college age.
In addition to education about abortion, education about alternative
methods of birth control is necessary. A study done in 1995 showed that
82% of women that received abortions, that year, were not using any
method of birth control at point of conception. It could be inferred
from this statistic that these women did not have knowledge about birth
control or access to it. Again, starting at an early age in education,
children should be taught the logistics of different methods of birth
control. In many states, including North Carolina, the only method of
birth control allowed to be taught, by law, is abstinence. The presence
of pre-marital sex among teenagers in today’s generation cannot be
ignored. Instead of trying to discount the number of teenagers that
participate in pre-marital sex, society should go with a more realistic
approach and educate them about birth control and therefore, there will
be fewer necessary abortions.
Educating today’s youth about abortion and birth control will conjure
ideas in them at a young age. With education comes knowledge, and with
knowledge comes acceptance.
Greater accessibility
Much of the problem with accepting abortion is the lack of facilities
that perform abortions. Only thirteen percent of abortions are
performed within hospitals (Landes 64). The rest are performed outside
of hospitals in clinics. The Alan Guttmacher Institute
surveyed and found only 2,680 abortion clinics in the United States.
Eighty-eight percent of the clinics are only in metropolitan areas where
ninety-eight percent of abortions are performed (Landes 64). Rural
counties that contain colleges or universities do not have such
accessibility to facilities that perform abortions. The AGI discovered
that eighty-three percent of rural counties did not have clinics.
Limited facilities that perform clinics poses a dilemma for college
students that may not have transportation or time, to travel to
metropolitan areas. However, if colleges installed on-campus abortion
clinics with certified doctors and psychologists, for counseling
purposes, this problem could be corrected. With on-campus abortion
clinics, it would show the university to be more accepting and
understanding of college students need for such medical facilities, and
therefore, society as a whole may be more accepting. The clinics shou
