ENDORSING REPRODUCTIVE SOVEREGINTY- RIGHT TO CHOOSE ABORTION

“Our bodies are our own and every Minnesotan or any citizen deserves to decide if to be on birth control, if to get a vasectomy and if or when to become a parent.”¹ Abortion is still an important and complicated issue that ignites strong discussions about women’s rights, morality, and the role of the state with regard to private decision-making. With a focus on the crucial idea of reproductive sovereignty, the article aims to present a comprehensive analysis in support of abortion. Emphasizing the broader perspective of reproductive sovereignty as a human right, this article explores how the concept aligns with international human rights frameworks. Recognizing the right to make decisions about one’s body and reproductive health is fundamental in upholding human dignity and sovereignty. With the implementation of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971, abortion has been permitted in India under a number of different circumstances². The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Regulations, 2003 were issued under the Act to enable women to access safe and legal abortion services.³ 

One of the most basic human rights is the freedom of women to control their bodies.  Refusing a woman to access an abortion violates her right to make decisions about her own reproductive health. Deeply ingrained in philosophical traditions that prioritise individual rights is the concept of bodily autonomy. For example, Utilitarianism, as advocated by John Stuart Mill, holds that people ought to be free to choose actions that maximises their overall well-being.⁴ The foundation for questioning cultural conventions that limited women’s autonomy was established by Mary Wollstonecraft’s support of women’s rights in her book Vindication of the Rights of Women⁵. The public’s view on abortion is varied and frequently influenced by cultural, religious, and political influences. It is still a very divisive topic. Socioeconomic variables, individual experiences, and the general political and cultural environment can all have an impact on abortion. Abortion stigmatisation adds another level of complexity to the conversation. The stigma and silence surrounding the subject are exacerbated by the judgement, embarrassment, and social exclusion that women who opt to have an abortion may experience. It takes an honest and polite conversation that recognises the complexity of each person’s unique experiences and decisions to break the stigma.

Women’s wellness benefits come from having access to safe and legal abortion since it reduces the number of high-risk pregnancies and pregnancy related problems. Pregnant women who already have health issues may be more susceptible to miscarriage and then abortion may be the only option available to them. Unwedded girls/women or a girl of a rape victim who gets pregnant have an inadequate financial source as they are excluded from the society and are referred to as stigma. Due to the lack of parental and partner support most unwedded girls and some wedded women faces pressure and frustration. Men desert these women/girls and then they are left alone to fend for themselves and their child. Women who get pregnant at a very young age and are left by their husbands lack education and they do not have any money mean because some might be a least qualified labourer and some might not be working hence their earning potential will not be enough to rear their child well and provide the child with the good education and a good lifestyle. 

Ten women reportedly die due to unsafe abortions every day in India⁶. Access to safe and legal abortion is a critical component of reproductive healthcare, hence restrictions on abortion can disproportionately affect marginalized communities, exacerbating existing disparities in healthcare access. Socioeconomic factors, geographical location, and legal barriers can limit the ability of some individuals to exercise their reproductive rights. Efforts to restrict access to abortion services, such as waiting periods, mandatory counselling, and clinic closures, can create significant hurdles for those seeking reproductive healthcare. The availability of comprehensive sex education, affordable contraception, and supportive reproductive healthcare services also plays a crucial role in shaping the landscape of reproductive rights. Abortion procedures changed in the 20th century with the introduction of modern medicine and scientific discoveries, therefore, safer methods have decreased the health hazards related to abortion which has reignited discussions about the morality and legality of the practice.

Unplanned pregnancies can put women and their families in a difficult financial situation. By allowing women to schedule pregnancies in accordance with their financial capabilities, abortion can be used as a weapon for economic empowerment. A child that is not wanted in the world could have a lower quality of life. The function of reproductive choice plays an important role in the management of sustainable resources. The conversation is expanded to include ecological considerations when family planning is discussed as a means of reducing resource strain and promoting ecologically conscious population control. This highlights the interdependence of reproductive autonomy and global resource sustainability. Under addition to further social and economic justice, accessible abortion services provide additional benefits for society. This is covered under Social and Economic justice. The article highlights the significance of reproductive autonomy in promoting a more equal society by tackling discrepancies associated with reproductive choices. Examining the moral implications of compelling women to carry undesired pregnancies to term raises ethical questions about reproductive choices that take the health of the mother and the unborn child into account, hence highlighting a variety of ethical frameworks that people and communities employ while making difficult reproductive decisions. 

The concept of personhood is central to the ethical debate. When does a foetus attain personhood and rights? This question remains unanswered and contributes to the ongoing ethical dilemma surrounding abortion. The concept of when personhood begins is a pivotal ethical consideration. Investigating the diverse perspectives on when life attains personhood, including religious, philosophical, and scientific viewpoints, adds nuance to the ethical dimensions of abortion. By acknowledging the range of viewpoints that contribute to the continuing ethical conversation surrounding abortion, this part seeks to give a more comprehensive framework for ethical issues in reproductive decision-making. The constitutional right to an abortion was upheld by the Supreme Court’s historic Roe v. Wade ruling.  Examining the legal underpinnings and consequences of Roe v. Wade, as well as its importance in establishing a woman’s right to self-determination, provides a thorough examination of the legal turning points that have influenced reproductive rights.⁷ Across the world, cultural and religious aspects greatly influence abortion regulations. A worldwide perspective on the challenges of striking a balance between cultural norms and reproductive autonomy can be gained by examining case studies from various nations to highlight the various cultural and religious influences on abortion regulation. The Reflection of Social Values in Law talks about how laws pertaining to abortion frequently reflect social norms and views on women’s autonomy. This explores the mutually reinforcing nature of laws and society values, highlighting the necessity of legal frameworks that uphold and defend women’s reproductive autonomy. 

Women may turn to dangerous and covert methods in nations where abortion is prohibited or limited, endangering their health and lives in the process. Global inequities in reproductive rights must be addressed by promoting comprehensive sexual education, access to contraception, and women’s health activism in addition to a sophisticated understanding of cultural circumstances. 

“The right to choose abortion is not shameful and unnecessary, it is a necessary medical option that is allowed in a free country.” In retrospect, defending the freedom to choose an abortion comes from the understanding that reproductive sovereignty is an essential human right. This article has touched on the legal, ethical, medical, philosophical, and economic aspects of the abortion controversy. It is important that the conversation is approached with respect and an understanding of the nuanced nature of the decisions made by women. Women have the right to their own body, state, society and law hence men or anyone else have no business to deprive her of her natural rights. When a woman is deprived of her rights and she is a single or a teenager mother then she can’t take care of herself and her child properly. She must decide what course of action she prefers when she faced an unwanted or an accidental pregnancy. The focus should be on emphasizing the value of giving women agency in making decisions about their bodies and lives rather than just advocating abortion. This viewpoint is necessary to promote an understanding and caring conversation about the many problems related to abortion. All of the information obtained from this article advances our understanding of the many problems surrounding abortion and also the difficulties that women face while making decisions for her own body and life.

1.  Sarah Stoesz, President of the Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund. ↩︎
2. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. 10 August 1971. ↩︎
3. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. New Delhi. 13 June 2003. ↩︎
4. John Stuart Mill, English Philosopher and Economist, Utilitarianism, 1861 ↩︎
5. Mary Wollstonecraft, Advocate of Women’s Right and British Writer, Vindication of the Rights of Women, 1792
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6. Deccan Chronicle, 2^nd July, 2018. ↩︎
7. Roe V. Wade, 410, United States of America, 1973. ↩︎