How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America: Entry #4

I was particularly impressed by the discussion Page into which page now enters, which she calls “pro-lifers abroad.” She brings up points that extend beyond the scope of abortion in the United States and similarly privileged nations. She presents her argument on a global stage, showing how the issues of birth control and abortion are not purely moral issues, but economic and cultural ones as well. She opens this section of the book with a powerful statement: “In reality, one of the most pro-life things to do is to give people the means to plan their pregnancies” (122). The simplicity of this statement struck me. If one can put aside the nuances of the abortion debate, it becomes clear that both sides simply desire children to be given the opportunity to live good and healthy lives. I realized that the sides are more alike than I’m sure either of them would like to believe. Also, this statement helped Page’s argument—grounds it in a sense—by reminding the reader that the pro-choice movement is not aimed at haphazardly terminating pregnancy after pregnancy for women who do not and will not ever desire children (in fact, Page mentioned a statistic earlier in the book that declared nearly 61% of all women seeking abortions are already mothers). Instead, its focus can, and should, be painted much sunnier. By putting a pro-life spin on it, Page underscores how the pro-choice movement simply seeks to provide women with the option of being able to have children when they are willing and ready to give the child the best life possible.

Page continues on, speaking of countries where abortion is either unavailable or inaccessible to many and the negative economic impact it has had on the nation. To reinforce this point, Page includes a quote from economist Jeffrey Sachs’ book The Poverty Trap. He says, “One reason for the poverty trap is the demographic trap. When impoverished families have large numbers of children, the families cannot afford to invest in each child…Rapid population growth also puts enormous stresses on farm sizes and environmental resources, thereby exacerbating poverty” (123). Not only does Sachs’ comment show how inapplicable the pro-life argument is to women in third world countries, but it also suggests what might be the fate of any nation that outlaws abortion, An argument frequently used by pro-lifers is that abortion is not the only option for a woman who does not desire a child; adoption is always an alternative. If abortion were to be outlawed, the nation would be facing a potential crisis in population growth, in effect leading to inflation of the poverty crisis. As harsh as it may seem, abortion is a form of population control and this facet of abortion must be carefully considered by its adversaries.