Abortion In Brave New World Essay

In January 1973, the United States government ruled that the Constitution protects the right of any woman to get an abortion. In June 2022, almost fifty years later, that rule was overturned. In the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, the topic of abortion is not clearly discussed, however, the concept of reproductive rights is central to that society. As a dystopian society, the government has complete control over citizens’ lives and bodies, restricting any woman from getting pregnant; if a woman does become pregnant, she is required to get an abortion. In the real world today, a nearly identical scenario is taking place where the government is restricting women’s rights. However, unlike in Brave New World, women are denied an abortion,

One of the primary reasons behind the legalization of abortion is to prioritize the emotional health and well-being of all women. As indicated by the differences observed among women’s reasons for seeking an abortion, most of the time, it happens due to socioeconomic status, age, parity, and marital status (Biggs et al.). In fact, out of all factors, financial problems and struggles were the reason for abortion forty percent of the time. This is quite reasonable, considering the fact that, on average, the combined cost of taking care of a newborn can reach upwards of $200,000 (Biggs et al). That price could be impossible for many young parents. Therefore, women denied an abortion are forced to go through more economic hardships, including worse credit scores, frequent bankruptcies, and higher chances of living in poverty (Abrams). Because many know of the economic hardships that await in the future, according to the Turnaway Study, which analyzed the effects of unwanted pregnancies, women are more likely to stay linked to a violent partner

This means that a woman should have the right to decide whether or not she is willing to end her pregnancy. However, in order to make that decision, all women should be educated on that topic in the first place. In fact, countries where women have the right to termination of pregnancy and are provided with access to information and all methods of contraception have the lowest rates of termination of pregnancy (“Women’s Autonomy”). Overall, “because of the deep and lasting impacts of pregnancy on an individual’s life, the right to reproductive autonomy is grounded in the life, liberty, and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment” (“The Constitutional Right”) of the United States. This means that any woman should be guaranteed the right to an abortion in case of unplanned or unintended pregnancy without receiving judgment or punishment in any form or shape. Guaranteeing all women their right to obtain an abortion is highly important in order to provide equal health and well-being rights and prevent unsafe practices, therefore emphasizing the personal choices of a