Pro-choice or pro-life?

Pro-choice or pro-life. These are the two options and possible answers when it comes to the question 'What is your opinion on abortion?' I will be honest with you all and say from the start that I am pro-choice, and in the next few minutes (and words) I will explain to you why. And I will do that by sharing some of the views of the opposition and why I disagree with them.

One of the pro-life arguments is that quote "the right to life should always outweigh the right of an individual to equality or to control their own body". To this I respond, do you really think in this day and age, in the era of the Me Too movement, supporting a view like this has any societal ground? What is more annoying about this is the fact that some of those supporting this view are sworn feminists. How can you be a feminist fighting for equality and then say that a woman can't have control over her body? This view goes against their beliefs and if you don't practise what you preach, you better not preach sister! Or brother...

To add to this, some feminists oppose abortion because they consider it a form of violence and all forms of violence are inconsistent with the core feminists principles of justice, non-violence and non discrimination. My response to this is, so when a woman becomes pregnant because of rape or an abusive relationship, forms of violence that feminists denounce, they then accuse the vulnerable person they have sworn to protect and turn her from a victim to the aggressor because she chooses not to carry inside her something that she never wanted? Where is the equality in that?

Others say that abortion has sidestepped women's oppression. For example, they support that when a woman is raped and becomes pregnant, the problem is that she got raped not that she is pregnant. That when a woman is starving and becomes pregnant, the problem is that she is starving not that she is pregnant. That when a woman in an abusive relationship becomes pregnant, the problem is that she is an abusive relationship not that she is pregnant. To this I would say, yes I agree with you. A pregnancy is nowhere near as dramatic as a woman being raped, starved or abused. But my response to this would be, do you honestly think adding the pain and grief of an unwanted pregnancy to the physical and emotional raping a woman has gone through is a solution? Do you honestly think that adding an unwanted pregnancy in a woman's life who is hungry would eliminate her physical starvation? Do you honestly think that adding an unwanted pregnancy to a woman's life who has gone thorough both emotional and physical abuse in a relationship will make her feel better or would it lead to resentment towards that child?

Let's not forget religion! I am a Christian and not very well versed in other religions and what their beliefs are an abortion so I can't really have an opinion therefore, will only touch upon the Christian church. The main viewpoint of the church on abortion is the fact that a child the moment they are conceived i.e., when they are a fetus they are human and that by killing the fetus you commit murder. My response to this is, do you honestly expect me to believe that an institution like the church which traditionally throughout the centuries has been partiarchal and male dominated and excluded women, but had also been involved in murdering people of different religions (see crusaders) in the name of God, is concerned about protecting a fetus? Just to add to this, did you actually know that the church does not forbid the taking of a human life in war or to preserve political freedom? So killing someone in war or for political reasons is ok but abortion is considered murder? When it comes to anachronistic views like these, coming from anachronistic establishment like the church I say thanks but no thanks! I call that for what is is BS!

Non abortion supporters mention that everyone even a fetus should have the freedom to express their views. To that I say, the same way when a grown up is in a comma or in a vegetated state i.e., not able to express a view because they don't have a consciousness hence the doctors or their relatives have to make choices for them, the same way a fetus is not capable of expressing a view due to the mere fact it doesn't have consciousness. It is well recognised that even infants have no awareness of their own state, emotions and motivations. What would happen if you left a baby crawl all the way to the edge of a cliff? They would just keep going and fall over. However, a grown person being capable of processing consciousness would prevent the baby from crawling to the edge of the cliff because they know what would happen.

Personally, I have no problem with anyone's point of view or beliefs, however what I am categorically against is people trying to impose their views and beliefs on others or judging them about their choices. No one has the right to do that and vindicating someone because of how they choose to treat their body is none of their business. My advice to them is to mind their own!