Rational Dreaming
I was on my way home from the movies this evening when I caught an anti-abortion ad on the radio. It made the emotional appeal to consider what “might have been” for all the children who would have been born if they had not been aborted—i.e. they could have been doctors, great teachers, or even a future president, and so on.
While I don’t doubt the commercial’s ability to tug at the heartstrings, when you actually analyze what they are saying, it doesn’t really make a terribly good or even honest argument against abortion.
First of all, they claim that 25% of all pregnancies in America end in abortion. That is simply untrue. There are 25 abortions per 100 live births in America, meaning that one in five pregnancies end in abortion, which is only 20%. Now you may argue that 20% is still far too many, but twisting a simple fact like that does not reflect well on the integrity of the anti-abortion activists who put together the ad.
Second, the ad makes the assumption that an abortion rate of 25% means that there will be 25% fewer children growing up in America in the future. That is also a dishonest assertion. The abortion statistics are clear:
- Over 50% of women who have abortions are younger than 25 years old,
- Nearly half of all women having an abortion have not already started a family,
- Almost 80% of women having an abortion earn $10,000/year or less.
Essentially, what this tells us that at least half of all women are having abortions because they are not ready to start a family yet—because they are still in school, or are simply not ready to settle down yet, or are not financially secure enough to start raising a family.
Thus it’s only reasonable to assume that many of these women will indeed go on to start families and have children later, and are likely to end up with the same number of children in total, whether or not they had an abortion first. Indeed, young women who are not struggling to make ends meet while trying to raise a child alone are likely more able to devote more time and effort in attaining a stable long-term relationship, and so it could well be that those who do have abortions end up with slightly more children, on average, than young single mothers.
I can’t find any studies that look into these numbers, but I believe it’s pretty safe to assume that the “net loss” of number of children to America through abortion is far less than the 25% claimed in the ad — perhaps lower than 15% or even 10%. It is certainly true that there are millions of children alive today only because their mothers did have an abortion before they were born.
Finally, while we all like to believe our children will grow up to be the next great American success story, in reality, there’s just as much chance that they will be one of the nation’s great failures. For every child that grows up to be President, there are hundreds more who grow up to be murderers, muggers, and rapists. And given that the majority of women who have abortions are at or below the poverty line, the sad truth is that there is even less chance that had those children been born, they would have grown up to be the cream of the next generation. So, even though abortion may have denied America of some future heroes, it is equally true—and probably even more so—that abortion has saved America from a great number of future criminals and villains.
Of course, none of this is likely to sway the ardent anti-abortionist, who is just as likely to use thoroughly discredited arguments against abortion—like the non-existent link between abortion and breast cancer—but I think it’s always worth pointing out their half-truths and lies wherever you find them. If abortion was such a terrible blight on society then there would be no need to stoop to these dishonest tactics.
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33 Responses to Anti-Abortion Ad Distortions
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“I am not against abortion but sometimes, it’s just wrong for not letting a child to see the world or experience life. Though, it’s sometimes it’s a good idea for not letting a child live in this cruel world we live in. ”
I guess you’re right Adrianna. Sometimes in my life I’ve come to think and analyze that the world is full of lies that we couldn’t live peacefully. I am a person with no vice but I experience physical illness. I’m not a notorious person but still many people are looking for me to kill. I talk in a way that I couldn’t hurt people but still they misinterpret what I meant. I always follow rules and regulations but I still encounter accidents. So tell me, do you want your son/daughter to live in a world like this?
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This has becoma a war of ideologies, when the matter should always be faced from a practical point of view.
What would happen if abortion were banned? Some of its “victims” would grow up into a life with without opportunities, many others would be illegally aborted anyway, with a greatly increased risk for the mother’s health. And yes, there would be a whole new category of criminals that could be locked into a cell for years (a social tragedy for some, a juicy expansion of the market for others).
I always find it interesting to see how emotionally connected are to this topic, just like gay marriage and anything else that seems to divide people along religious beliefs. We have been shaped by the thinking around us, and debates like this rarely change opinions.
With that said, once you have a child yourself, it may influence your thoughts on abortion.
While this is a misleading ad, it’s not nearly as bad as the evangelicals that came to Tennessee and put up billboards on campus. Their well-thought out thesis was that abortion is genocide and compared abortion doctors to the KKK or Nazis!
First my stand here is anti-abortion. Secondly, I agree with you that distortion of facts in the anti-abortion ads is also misleading, or in any form of media. But I would also want to add this reminder that we could not right a wrong act with another wrong decision. At first, why engaged yourself with pre-marital sex when you’re not yet ready for the responsibility of the consequences this will bring you in the future.
I’m always frightened when I read statistics or results from studies because it makes me think of the impressionable people who make choices based on what they read. For instance, mothers who let their kids cry because they are told that babies need to develop their lungs.
But worse is when the statistics are not correct, which is just downright dangerous to the public.
Even those who are against abortion would have to agree that fudging the facts doesn’t support an argument. Besides, statistics don’t mean anything to a woman who feels like abortion is the best decision she can make.
I do agree with your opinion guys.Other woman think that it is through abortion they can run from the fact that they are now preggy and are not prepared to become a mom thats why they are trying to get rid of the child of their own through abortion, without considering that they are taking the chance of a child to see the beauty of the Earth.They become selfish and irrational , without knowing that aborting the baby could harm their own health and its against the law to kill an innocent one. Yet, we cannot blame any one else for each and everyone of us is entitled of our own decision.
@Jude: I’m probably beating a dead horse, but abortion is not only for women who have had premarital sex. Also, it is dangerous to describe anything as “wrong” when it just reflects your religious/cultural beliefs.
i cant believe we are still having this discussion. If you dont believe in abortion, dont have one and mind your own business, if you believe in God let him judge those who chose to have an abortion, I think he will do a better job at it then you. All these things that religious people spend their lives warning the rest of us about is such a waste of time. If you believe in God, enjoy it, do whatever you have to to make yourself happy, but stop forcing everybody else to live by your rules. If youre right we’ll pay for it when we die anyway.. in the meantime, we could have a happy exsistance here on earth.
I’d have to agree with the statement – “Even those who are against abortion would have to agree that fudging the facts doesn’t support an argument.” We have to come to terms with our own morality. Interesting post.
“Almost 80% of women having an abortion earn $10,000/year or less” — because they know they cant afford to have a child
I think the question of proper birth control education and options, should be investigated. Seeing that – “Over 50% of women who have abortions are younger than 25 years old”.