Pro-Choice: A Cause and Effect Issue
In a March townhall Donald Trump made a comment on national television to Chris Mathews of MSNBC that even he and his campaign had to walk back. When asked by Mathews about not allowing women in America to have an abortion, Trump when pressed on the idea of consequences for the woman who has an abortion said "Yes, some sort of punishment for the woman" In the emotional vortex of pro-choice and pro-life battle, the cause and effect of an unwanted pregnancy and the eventuality of having an un-planned or unwanted child are lost. The covenant between the republican party and the evangelical right (that has all but guaranteed GOP dominance in presidential election in the south and bible belt of this country) has assured a nescient and opaque view of this issue
When Trump made his off the cuff remark he not only drew the wrath from pro-choice advocates but pro-life groups as well. Holding the woman responsible is not only an egregious position to those who support reproductive rights for women, but anti-abortionists see that kind of message as a severe blow in their attempt to convince the majority of this country that they are only interested in the life of the fetus.
In the 2016 presidential election with Hillary Clinton all but assured to be the democratic presidential nominee, a women's right to choose and reproductive rights has the chance to be highlighted with understanding and compassion instead of the false reclamation of the moral high ground by the GOP.
Republicans continue to make abortion a divisive issue in the American political landscape. They have turned a topic of contention where reasonable discussion from both sides could occur into an emotionally charged controversy.
Recently by using Planned Parenthood as a focal point for their base, claiming this organization is all about abortion rather than a variety of women's health issues, including family planning, they have rekindled ignorant points of view and in some cases violence.
In November of 2015 a gunman claiming to be anti-abortion opened fire in a Planned Parenthood Clinic, killing three people as two anti-abortion protesters held signs accusing the organization of harming women and killing babies.
Today in America what happens to the mother and child as the result of an accidental pregnancy is often ignored. In a Study done by Dr. Nancy Felipe Russo, and Dr. Henry P David of the Transnational Family Research Institute of the Arizona State University a complex problem is given thoughtful consideration. "Bonding and love between parent and child is a crucial foundation for family integrity and wholesome child development." They then go on to explain for those not ready for the responsibility of raising a child the consequences are pernicious
"Both unintended and unwanted childbearing can have negative health, social, and psychological consequences. Health problems include greater chances for illness and death for both mother and child. In addition, such childbearing has been linked with a variety of social problems, including divorce, poverty, child abuse, and juvenile delinquency. In one study, unwanted children were found less likely to have had a secure family life. As adults, they were more likely to engage in criminal behavior, be on welfare, and receive psychiatric services. Another found that children who were unintended by their mothers had lower self-esteem than their intended peers 23 years later the adverse health consequences of teenagers' inability to control their childbearing can be particularly severe. Teenage mothers are more likely to suffer toxemia, anemia, birth complications, and death. "
Similar to the calculus of misinformation on other issues like climate change, those who seek zealous loyalty from their voting base continue to ignore facts and scientific studies to retain political office. In their haste to capitalize on funding for their election campaigns from anti-abortionist donors they have blinded a public who hold to illiterate beliefs. As an overview of the progress that has already been made through medical science and rational policy a recent co-authored study by Mia Zolna a research associate at the Guttmacher Institute of sexual and reproductive health center in New York City gives clarity.
"Accidental pregnancies have reached a three-decade low in the United States. "The un-intended pregnancy rate is at the lowest level we've seen in 30 years, mostly because of long-acting contraceptive methods." Still as she explains more progress needs to be made. "Poorer women have a 5 times greater chance of an accidental pregnancy with high school dropouts about three times as much, and African American and Hispanic women twice as much.
The Guttmacher researcher adds that unintended pregnancies could drop even further with the Affordable Care Act, which requires insurers to provide all forms of contraception with requiring a co-pay. In dealing with this issue based on pragmatism and science rather than emotional hyperbole cause and effect becomes clear
Finally, Dr. Adam Jacobs, director of family planning at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City responded to the study by saying. "This trend of lowering unwanted pregnancies will have a positive impact on women at all levels of American society. You empower women to choose when they start their family and by doing so you let them stay in education which leads to better incomes"
Perhaps in the last 7 years one of the most helpful approaches to unwanted or unintended pregnancies came from the Affordable Care Act requiring insurers to provide all forms of contraception with no co-pay.
And even though this has been met with resistance from theological institutions citing issues of faith and religious freedom, ACA has provided a direct avenue to ensure women's reproductive care, rather than the dead end of religious dogma.
In 2016 the republican candidates for president continue to posture on a women's right to choose. Their failure to realize that in their posturing, they are all advocating to punish women and the resulting child they are not ready for. The forms of punishment run the gamut from forcing them into lives of poverty to emotional and psycho-social distress. Moreover, a greater maltreatment, the forfeiture of their future.
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