Unfortunately, the rhetoric regarding reproductive rights and abortions has become increasingly politicized during every election cycle. On both sides of the aisle, the focus has veered further and further away from solutions that support women in the long run. Yes, women should have access to safe, legal abortions (because no woman wants an unsafe, illegal abortion). They should also be legal because making abortions illegal will not magically stop a woman from wanting (or needing) an abortion.

Now here is where people forget about the context of this issue. There are many people who want to eliminate all access to abortions. There are others who want to increase it, but has anyone ever thought about how to prevent the need of an abortion? According to a study done by the Center of Disease Control Prevention in 2011, abortions are at a historic low! Do not be fooled. This is a good thing. No woman exists who likes having an abortion. It is not an enjoyable process that women do for fun. Unfortunately, it is not only women who have abortions either. There are young girls who receive the procedure as well.

Rates of Abortions 2002-2011

As encouraging as the study sounds, there are limits to the scope of research done by the CDC. For example, the sample size only contained women who received legal induced abortions in the United States. The actual number of abortions that took place during this time period is probably higher.

Regardless, a part of their conclusion is that unintended pregnancies make a majority of abortions. “Because unintended pregnancies are rare among women who use the most effective methods of contraception, increasing access to and use of these methods can help further reduce the number of abortions performed in the United States.” This is not rocket science. Despite the limitations of their research, their analysis is still logical and accurate. The best way to prevent abortions (which is what everyone wants) is to increase access and knowledge of contraception.

Sister Joan Chittister, a Benedictine nun, offers an insightful perspective:

“I do not believe that just because you're opposed to abortion, that that makes you pro-life. In fact, I think in many cases, your morality is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a child housed. And why would I think that you don't? Because you don't want any tax money to go there. That's not pro-life. That's pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation on what the morality of pro-life is.”

You can learn more about this woman here.

There should be more to a pro-life argument than having a baby. There is more to pregnancy than just having a baby. Children change everything: sleep patterns, lifestyles, budgets, stress levels, career choices, schedules, neighborhoods, school systems, insurance plans, vacation spots, groceries, etc. Having a child should be a joyful occasion. Unfortunately, for some this is not the case.

We need to change the way we have a conversation about this issue because currently it is dehumanizing every person in the process: the mother and the child. We are so bent on proving each other wrong that we forget to consider the welfare of the people involved and the reality of their lives.