Аборт и беременность молодых девушек
Аборт и беременность молодых девушек
Abortion and Teenage
Pregnancy.
This essay is aimed at
discussing term paper "How Abortion Relates To Teenage Pregnancy"
and providing personal opinion on the main issues. First of all, I am going to
discuss teenage abortion and my attitude towards it. Further, I'll consider
negative behaviour and inappropriate emotions of the pregnant teenager, and at
last I'll pay attention to such matters, as adoption and keeping the body.
Conclusion will summarise all above mentioned issues.
It stands to
reason that teenage pregnancy has always been an important matter for many
generations, but nowadays society is divided into two groups: those who claim
for abortion and those who speak against it. Each group uses its own reasons,
in the first case – economical, in the second – moral. The article "How
Abortion Relates To Teenage Pregnancy" is just aimed at discussing
these reasons. According to it, the main reason of teenage abortion is
inability to face the society's attitude towards teen mothers. In my opinion,
it is true to some extent, but, of course, there are other important factors
that influence such decision. For instance, financial insecurity may cause fear
of becoming parents. But, whatever the reasons, millions of teenage girls all
over the world make abortion, and in the United States, according to the
article, over 200,000 girls out of one million turn to abortion. These data
were collected by Alan Guttmacher Institute in 2000, and I think that this
number is not exact, it may be at least twice larger.
It is true
that pregnancy influences all aspects of teenage life, so a pregnant girl faces
various psychological difficulties, let alone educational difficulties.
Pregnancy and a child at this age can prevent a girl from receiving good
education and impede future perspectives, future career. And nowadays, women
tend to achieve as much in their professional life, as men does, thus, many of
them turn to abortion in their chase of something larger than simple family
life. The author of this article also pays attention to this important aspect,
and I can't but agree to him. In these circumstances the decision of abortion
is made in the best interest of a child and a pregnant mother. In my opinion,
children should grow up in the atmosphere of love, in the family of mature
parents, who are financially, psychologically and socially strong. What can a
teenage mother give to her child, when she is still a 'child' herself? I think
not too much, at least she is not able to give her/him the most necessary
things, because she is not old enough to be a real mother for a child.
On the other
hand, abortion may lead to a serious posttraumatic response, the author states.
It is really difficult for a pregnant girl to overcome a feeling that she has
killed her own child, a small part of her, and sometimes she even thinks that
somebody else forced her to take this step. It is obvious that a mother unconsciously
attaches to a fetus, and abortion can negatively influence her future attitude
towards pregnancy and children. Such situation is quite difficult for an adult
woman, let alone for an adolescent. At the time of pregnancy she turns into
another woman, and this may cause various inner negative feelings. But it seems
to me, most of teenage girls manage to overcome this feeling. Time cures, they
say, and youngsters' minds are especially relevant to this treatment.
Nevertheless,
the pregnant teenager is no longer the same, and, as the article claims, she
"may engage in negative behaviour and inappropriate emotions and may
result in the thought that abortion will end the confusion and emotional
disturbance she feels" (p.4). Of course, a young girl is extremely
vulnerable to various problems, and pregnancy may be the worst of all troubles
she faces. She wants to believe that abortion will save her and bring calmness
and joy. However, a girl's expectations do not always come true. After abortion
she feels herself even worse, her feelings are so odd that it takes much time
to return to her previous life-style. And very often she understands that she
has already changed, and her confusion and emotional disturbance remain after
abortion.
In this case
she really needs help of her parents, friends, and social workers, as well as
their patience. A girl, who has lost her child, is very vulnerable, and may
bring many troubles for those around her. Her mood may change from bad to
worse, because of her inability to cope with emotional feelings, with a feeling
of guilty. She doesn't act like this in purpose, she is simply very young to
accept such a great tragedy. She feels lack of confidence as to her deed, she
is afraid of changes that happen within her inner world. These rapid changes
may lead to difficult emotional state of a girl. Fortunately, today's society
accepts the teenage mother as a person with deep feelings and thoughts, the
paper states. And I think it is really good. A pregnant adolescent or a girl
who has just made an abortion suffers greatly, and it is not wise to add
additional sufferings or accuse her of her deed. It is difficult for her to
accept new responsibilities and give up former light-hearted life.
For many
teenagers abortion is the way to keep their bodies without any changes. They
are afraid that pregnancy will change them greatly, and the fear to lose their
attraction makes them turn to abortion. Suddenly, they appear to be at the
mercy of their bodies, and this realisation frightens them. According to the
article, a pregnant teenage may "resent the mounting demands the infant
makes upon her body, and ultimately resent the infant as an object that has
seriously constrained her independence". Besides, some researches (for
instance, data of The Medem Medical Library) show that bodies of pregnant girls
are not fully ready for child birth, thus, they risk more than mature women.
There is a great probability that their children may die either during
pregnancy or delivery.
However, in my
opinion, there is a good alternative to abortion – adoption of a child. There
are certain situations, when a pregnant teenage girl doesn't want to kill her
child, but she also can't keep it and bring him/her up. She understands that
she has to live with a child for the rest of her life, and she needs certain
means of subsistence, but she is too young to provide good life for her child.
Thus, she agrees to give him/her to another family in order to ensure the
future stability of a baby. I can't say exactly, if such decision is moral or
not, but I am sure that adoption is wiser than abortion or keeping a child
instead of common sense. A family with good financial support and stability is
much better than a young girl, who is so uncertain in this world.
In summary,
the paper "How Abortion Relates To Teenage Pregnancy" raises
one of the most important issues of our days – teenage pregnancy and abortion.
In my opinion, the reasons for abortion stated in it are true, but, whatever
they are, teenage abortion is a real tragedy in our society, and the
consequences may appear to be even worse than we think. The partial blame can
be put on all of us, and emotional and psychological damage of these teenagers
can be unimaginable. Everyone suffers in this situation: a teenage mother, a
child and close relatives. A child is especially vulnerable, and may be unhappy
throughout his/her life. We should pay more attention to adolescents and take
more measures to protect them from such tragedies and difficulties.
Works Cited.
1. Alan Gyttmacher
Institute. Teens Pregnancy: Trends and Lessons Learned. United States,
2000.
2. Harris, Yvette R,
"Adolescent Abortion", Society Magazine, Jul/August 1997, Vol.
34 Issue 5, p20, 2p.
3. Hayes, Cheryl D,
National Research Council. Risking the Future: "Adolescent Sexuality,
Pregnancy, and Childbearing." Vol. 1., Washington, D.C.: National
Academy Press, 1987.
4. McAnarney, R.R. &
Hendee, W.R, "The prevention of adolescent pregnancy". Journal
of the American Medical Association, volume 262 issue 1, p78-82, 1989.
5. Repke, J.T, Adolescent pregnancy:
"Can we solve the problem?" Mayo Clinic Proceedings, volume 65,
1990.
6. The American Academy of
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Facts for Families #31, "When Children
Have Children." 1/00.
7. Trad, Paul V., "Assessing
the patterns that prevent teenage pregnancy", Adolescence magazine,
Issue: Spring, 1999.