Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Should abortion be legal?
Position1 of 3›

Abortions should be legal.

This position holds that abortion should be legal. It argues that the choice belongs to the woman as a matter of bodily autonomy, that pregnancy carries real health risks, that banning abortion drives women to unsafe procedures, and that the state should not impose religious morality.

Supporting arguments · 7

  1. Abortion is an individual's choice
    The government should not have the power to regulate women's bodies.
  2. Separation of Church and State
    Abortion laws should not be dictated by religious beliefs in supposedly​ secular countries.
  3. Abortion makes economic sense for both women and the government
    Legalized abortion is more economically cost-effective for women because it is cheaper than birth procedure costs and eliminates the financial burden of a child. According to research, more women from lower economic classes seek more abortions. Therefore, making abortion legal would be economically beneficial for government spending because it reduces welfare costs to help impoverished children.
  4. An unwanted child may be resented
    Parents may be resentful toward an unwanted child they felt forced into it.
  5. The right to bodily autonomy
    if it is illegal to force someone to donate a kidney to save a family member, why should it be legal to force someone to give birth?
  6. The health risks of pregnancy and childbirth
  7. Abortion being illegal would lead to unsafe home abortions