I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of repeating myself when it comes to debates about abortion. I’ve created this master post to provide links that refute the most common pro-choice arguments.
But the fetus isn’t even a life. It’s a clump of cells. It doesn’t matter.
3 reasons why a fetus is a human being
Straight from the embryology textbook:
A zygote [fertilized egg] is the beginning of a new human being. Human development begins at fertilization, the process during which a male gamete … unites with a female gamete or oocyte … to form a single cell called a zygote. This highly specialized, totipotent cell marks the beginning of each of us as a unique individual.
Even more proof that life begins at fertilization
Okay, it’s a human, but it’s not a person.
The shockingly bloody history of legal personhood
A criterion for personhood that depends on certain functions of human activity implies that individuals who perform the chosen function more excellently should have higher human value. Individuals suffering from severe Alzheimer’s disease or under general anesthesia, who may not be self-aware or able to create future expectations, could no longer be considered persons. We know, however, that the human under general anesthesia retains his personal identity despite his temporary lack of self-awareness, so his personhood must cohere in his underlying nature. Legally speaking, “persons” are guaranteed the fundamental rights of individuals, including the right to life. Historically, abuses of personhood have led to the genocide of groups deemed “non-persons” by more powerful political or social groups. For example, up until the 14th Amendment, African-American slaves were legally considered three-fifths of a person. Native Americans were exploited because they were treated as less than full persons. The racial distinctions used to label these groups as “non-persons” were conveniently invented to justify the violation of human rights.
Justifications for abortion are inherently ableist
What makes human valuable?
But it’s basically just a parasite!
Why the embryo or fetus is not a parasite
You’re just against it because you’re (religious, Republican, conservative, etc.), but I’m not (religious, Republican, conservative, etc.).
Pro-life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians
Why should non-Christians care about abortion?
But if you make abortion illegal, women will die! Haven’t you heard of back alley abortions?
The truth about back alley abortions
More about the coat hanger myth
Refuting the back alley myth
But what about cases of rape or incest?
Rape and incest victims reject abortion
Hard cases, exceptional choices
An honest look at the rape and incest exceptions
A pro-life answer to the rape question
Answering the rape exception
Inside the world of anti-abortion activists who were conceived in rape or incest
While on the topic, the pro-life community must rally in support of the Rape Survivor Child Custody Act
What if the woman is going to die?
Is abortion ever necessary to save the life of the mother?
What about the health of the mother?
What if the child is going to have a short life anyways?
Hard cases: Jeannie Wallace French
Hard cases: Angelica Talavera
Abortion is needed to prevent overpopulation.
Simply stated: no. It’s not.
Women don’t regret their abortions!
Silent No More awareness campaign
Testimonies from post-abortive women
Abortion workers regret their experience in the industry
Well, if you’re against abortion, why aren’t you against [insert other human rights injustice]?
We are against all forms of aggressive violence. That includes, but is not limited to: unjust war, abortion, euthanasia, slavery, torture, rape, embryonic stem cell research, human trafficking, abuse, sexism, racism, police brutality, suicide, etc.
Check out organizations like Life Matters Journal (read the most recent issue here!)and Consistent Life to find out more about this consistent approach to human rights issues.
That being said, not every pro-life organization is against all of the above. Dismissing their arguments against abortion because they happen to not be against some other form of injustice is an ad hominem fallacy.
Why ad hominem fallacies derail conversations
If you’re gonna be against abortion, you better be doing [insert some charitable action].
This is similar to the previous argument. Dismissing someone’s argument because you feel that they aren’t “doing enough” is another ad hominem fallacy.
That being said, pro-life organizations do a whole lot to support those in need:
Catholic Charities USA (which is obviously against abortion) is #13 on the Forbes list of the 50 largest US charities.
Pregnant on Campus supports pregnant or parenting students and provides them with resources.
Abortion Recovery helps men and women who have been affected by abortion.
Project Rachel also helps post-abortive women.
Option Line provides free counseling for pregnant women.
Pregnancy resource centers provide free ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, STI screening, parenting classes, and material assistance.
Pro-life organizations also assist in the adoption process.
You can’t be a feminist if you’re pro-life! Being pro-life is anti-woman.
That’s a straw man argument. Straw men make for poor arguments.
Besides, try to tell that to our feminist foremothers who were anti-abortion.
And finally, the most popular pro-choice argument:
Why “It’s my body, I can do what I want!” won’t do
De Facto Guardian and Abortion
Why pregnancy is not comparable to forced organ donation
Again, you can’t compare pregnancy and forced organ donation
Dismantling the “bodily rights” argument without using the responsibility argument
From secularprolifeprofamily:
When you realize why the political pro-life/pro-choice divide truly exists, the whole “bodily autonomy” argument falls apart.At its core, it’s not merely about protecting fetuses or not. It’s about whether abortion should be a legally sanctioned medical procedure.And the right to bodily autonomy doesn’t guarantee any sort of medical procedure no matter what.In most jurisdictions, no practitioner will legally give breast implants to an underage girl. Surgeons refuse to amputate the limbs of BIID sufferers. Are those infringements upon bodily autonomy? Of course not. Nobody is fundamentally entitled to procedures that may be irresponsible or unethical.
The False Strength of the ‘Bodily Autonomy’ Argument for Abortion
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