Just like the ones you've seen below, this article is also mine. It got published in August 2006 in the newspaper Diario de Tampico Milenio. Enjoy!
Every year, there are more than 4 million pregnancies in Mexico and almost 40 % of these are unwanted. Aproximately 17% of those end up in abortion. The woman's right to abort has been one of the most controversial matters of the past 50 years. Until 1980-81 they tried to pass a law where abortion, under any circumstance, was allowed whithin the first quarter of the pregnancy, but a great number of people felt that this was a mistake and it didn't go any further. Many people think abortion is wrong. Many people try to push their beliefs into others. This goes out to everyone, but especially young adults like myself who think that this is none of their business, you're wrong. Many of you are already old enough to vote, to make your own decisions. This important, no matter how old are you.
I'm not saying that those who are pro-life or anti-abortion are wrong, I understand where you come from. But, after a lot of research and debate, I can't understand how can someone allow a law to take control of their body. Many times, people who are against abortion will say that if you're going to have sexual relationships you should take care of yourself first and that anyone who already had an abortion should have done the same. Did you know that, statistically speaking, many of the abortions are practiced on woman who were using some kind of birth control? These methods are not 100% effective. Even those like the DIU have a fringe of about 2%, the patch has one around 1% and the pills around 1% to 5%. Not even sterilization is completely effective.
Every year, there are more than 4 million pregnancies in Mexico and almost 40 % of these are unwanted. Aproximately 17% of those end up in abortion. The woman's right to abort has been one of the most controversial matters of the past 50 years. Until 1980-81 they tried to pass a law where abortion, under any circumstance, was allowed whithin the first quarter of the pregnancy, but a great number of people felt that this was a mistake and it didn't go any further. Many people think abortion is wrong. Many people try to push their beliefs into others. This goes out to everyone, but especially young adults like myself who think that this is none of their business, you're wrong. Many of you are already old enough to vote, to make your own decisions. This important, no matter how old are you.
I'm not saying that those who are pro-life or anti-abortion are wrong, I understand where you come from. But, after a lot of research and debate, I can't understand how can someone allow a law to take control of their body. Many times, people who are against abortion will say that if you're going to have sexual relationships you should take care of yourself first and that anyone who already had an abortion should have done the same. Did you know that, statistically speaking, many of the abortions are practiced on woman who were using some kind of birth control? These methods are not 100% effective. Even those like the DIU have a fringe of about 2%, the patch has one around 1% and the pills around 1% to 5%. Not even sterilization is completely effective.
Many think that adoption can also be an option. But adoption is not an easy process. Women who are planning to do this still have to go through the nine months pf pregnancy. Pre-natal care and natural birth can cost between $10000 and $15000 pesos. A C-section can cost up to $25000 pesos. This doesn't include the money you spend on maternity clothes, doctor appointments (before and after the pregnancy). We also have to take in account that not all kids are adopted. Adoption is an alternative to adoption, yes. But what about the thousands of kids that will never be adopted. Who looks out for them? Who's going to support them?
It is commonly said that abortion equals murder. That the fetus is a human life and abort it is like killing a human being. There is no way to determine when a fetus is conscious of something. Some people think that life begins at the moment of reproduction, some think that it's called life until you're born. A fetal heart doesn't start beating until the 6th week, when it until measures around 2 to 4 mm. And it doesn't begin to look human until the 12th week. Almost 90% of abortions should be practiced whithin the first quarter. An abortion practiced after the 24th week is extremely rare and should only be done under serious medical conditions. These facts destroy the image anti-abortionists want to show: that one of a murdered little baby.
Every woman has the right to decide whether she wants a kid or not. If you agree or not it's not the point. The point is to allow women to take control of their bodies. This is a call to consider the legalization of abortion and in a few years, we'll be responsible to keep it that way.
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