Abortion is a volatile subject and one that most people feel passionate about. There are several ethical components of the abortion debate that help form ones opinion on whether or not abortion is moral. In this piece I'd like to focus on the rights of everyone involved in the decision to either terminate a pregnancy or carry to term. Much emphasis is placed on a woman's right to choose', yet very little attention is given to the man and the unborn child's rights and choices.

As the term "pro-choice" has been coined, why has that term only applied to the woman? What about the father's and the unborn child's choice? I believe the unborn to be a living person, someone that has a heartbeat within a mere few weeks after conception. The way laws are structured, the man has no rights in terms of the baby being carried to term and the unborn doesn't yet have a voice. Is it moral to disregard the rights of the other people involved in this decision? The decision to terminate a pregnancy is not only about the woman involved, it affects others as well. If the woman decides to have the baby the father is required to pay child support even if he doesn't want to be a father (as he should take this responsibility). However, if a man wants to raise his child, he has no decision making capabilities according to the law. I find it ethically wrong to deny a man the opportunity to raise his child. The arguments are the woman is carrying the baby and it's her body, but bringing a child into the world impacts both consenting adults, not just the female. Pregnancies can be tough on a woman, but raising a child is harder and more work, nine months can hardly compare to a lifetime of parenthood. If the man chooses life and is willing to take on that responsibility, why should he be deprived of that chance?

As a woman, I feel abortion is morally wrong and feel restrictions should be placed on the ability to obtain an abortion if not banned completely. With the technology available today, several different methods of birth control are accessible and abortion should not be in such high demand. Granted, sometimes devices will fail, but abortion should not be made available to use as an additional layer of birth control. When someone willingly and consciously makes the decision to have sexual relations, they are aware pregnancy could happen and I believe in one's taking accountability for choices made.

Essentially, I think it comes down to personal responsibility. If one is able to make the decision to have sex, they should be willing to accept the consequences of that decision. It takes two people to have sex, and if it's consensual, both parties should have equal say of any consequences that occur as a result. In cases where the man wants the baby and is willing to raise the child, then yes, I think morally, ethically and legally he should be able to do so.

Learn more about this author, Leigh Goessl.
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