24. LIBERAL AND RIGHT-BASED APPROACHES ON ABORTION

Question 1

1. What is the focus of Liberal and Feminist ideologies with regards to Abortions?

Answer 1

• the focus is on the freedom of the woman
• the woman should determine what happens to her
  body

THE FOCUS IS ON:
- access to safe abortions
- these should support women’s choices
- they should facilitate individual self-determination

Question 2

2. What do the Liberal and Feminist ideologies pay special attention to?

Answer 2

• paternalism
• sexual inequalities
• gender roles
• oppression in the provision of Health care

Question 3

3. What is the focus of Rights-Based ideologies with regards to Abortions?

Answer 3

• they illustrate the tension between mother and foetus

A FOETU’S RIGHTS:
- if they have any at all
- cannot outweigh the rights of the woman

Question 4

4. What is the focus of Rights-Based ideologies with regards to Abortions in the UK laws?

Answer 4

ABORTIONS:
- should be done without question if the woman’s life is
in danger

THE FOETUS:
- will only obtain legal rights from the moment of birth
onwards

Question 5

5. What are the Pro-Life arguments against Abortion?

Answer 5

1. All Human life is sacred
2. Every person has the right to live
3. The foetus is a distinct human from the moment of
   conception
4. Unless the woman’s life is in danger
   
   • a woman has the duty to not kill her unborn baby
5. Abortion is murder
   - it should not be legal in a moral society

Question 6

6. What are the Pro-Choice arguments for Abortion?

Answer 6

1. Every person has the right to their bodies
   - as long as they do not hurt others
2. Abortion is a safe medical procedure
   - it protects women’s lives
3. The value of life and the rights of the foetus can not
   compare to that of the mother
4. Women do not have the obligation to be pregnant
   against their will
   - they are allowed to change their minds
5. Women have the right to choose to end their
   pregnancy

Question 7

7. What can be said about the attachment that women have to their babies?

Answer 7

• women can still be attached to the foetus despite the
  decision to terminate the pregnancy

Question 8

8. What can be said about the conditions of the lives of the women who are seeking out abortions?

Answer 8

1. Most of these women must balance demanding work
   schedules
   - while still caring for other dependents
2. Most of these women are already mothers to one or
   more children
3. Most of these women are concerned about their
   ability to adequately care for an additional child

Question 9

9. How is the importance of the Foetus viewed in Japan?

Answer 9

IN JAPAN:
- the foetus is humanised in many ways
- abortion is still ethically acceptable
- abortions can happen even in the 2nd trimester

THE QUESTION OF WHEN LIFE BEGINS
- is less important than the Japanese ethical framework

Question 10

10. What factors do they place importance on in Japan?

Answer 10

THE FOCUS IS NEITHER ON:
- the rights of the mother
- nor the personhood of the foetus

THE FOCUS IS ON:
- the social life of the child
- the welfare of the family
- the question of the broad social good

Question 11

11. What do the Japanese believe brings forward a good society?

Answer 11

• child rearing
• the health of mothers
• physical and emotional well being
• the resources available to children

THEY SEE ABORTION AS A SOCIAL NECESSITY:
- this removes the dividing line between life and choice