WP2 Blog 2: Body Autonomy and Paternalism
Access to abortion should be freed from governmental paternalistic control. I believe abortion should still exist as a last resort for unwillingly impregnated women in the form of contraception with an acknowledgment of the living quality of the child and the legitimate right of women’s bodily autonomy. Since women who decide to have an abortion are primarily in their 20s and are mainly under the federal poverty line, the probability of the children being given up for adoption is high. The practicality of adoption, such as the haven boxes in Indiana, as an alternative suggested for abortion is absurd socially and economically. From 1973 to 2011, legally reported abortion cases total an average of about 1.4 million yearly in the United States. As the adoption number totaled 57,900 in 2020, which is only around 4% of the abortion average, the pressure directed to the foster care facilities would be immense. Due to the increased need for Medicaid coverage, the anti-abortion bills raised t