course material

1. ANTH 2053 Life, Death And Culture
Answer:
Abortion Is Immoral?
Abortion is among the topics within the society upon which the social groups at all levels
are under serious debate. The presence of different viewpoints within society defines upon
the moral or the immoral nature of abortion (Muldoon, 2021). This discussion is focused on
justifying whether abortion is immoral in modern society. Focusing on the research study
being conducted by industry researchers and the key facts present the problem statement
to the immoral nature of abortion will be justified.
A study being presented by Bosire and Onyango-Ouma reflects that there are certain
aspects to abortion based on which its moral and immoral status can be defined. As per the
researchers, the key challenge associated with abortion is the presence of the socio-
economic elements and the thought process which affects safe abortion practices. From the
viewpoint of the researchers depending upon the situational needs such as to prevent
maternal mortality, abortion at an early level or stage cannot be termed immoral, but due to
legal access to abortion the individuals are not able to get safe access to abortion services
(Bosire & Onyango-Ouma, 2019).
T Gammeltoft has further supported the medical complication in abortion being defined by
Bosire and Onyango-Ouma. Accordingly, the researcher has defined that in the present
society there is a need to spread awareness about the immoral nature of abortion. The
researcher has defined that in the Vietnam society abortion rate has been increasing and
has led it towards the highest abortion rate in the world. Such has been due to the
unwanted pregnancy, lack of awareness among the youth in respect to the unmarried
pregnancy and to overcome the shame or risk of premarital pregnancy. The researcher has
defined that in the present society there is a need to have more focus towards influencing
the people to have a more unbiased understanding about the situation rather than just
aligning it with the social norms (Gammeltoft, 2003).
It has been claimed by scientists or medical professionals that abortion is immoral if it is
being done for the personal interest of the individual. Burtscher et. al. has defined that in
society there is a need to spread awareness in respect to the situational needs and

2. requirements rather than just claiming abortion to be immoral. The researchers state that
present individual viewpoint can be aligned with the proverb “Better dead than being
mocked”, as in the case where the women avoid the unwanted pregnancy due to the social
perspective towards the abortion to be immoral and unethical the girls or women prefer
unsafe abortion, rather than facing challenges from the society (Burtscher, et al., 2020).
The industry researchers support the fact that abortion is immoral as it leads to the killing
of life before it is born. But such is resulting in having a major impact on increased cases of
maternal death. Focusing on the case of the United States, Andaya and Mishtal have
reflected that in society, the social and legislative challenges are the key threat to safe
abortion and is being a key barrier for social development. The researcher claims that the
legal rules and regulations should be framed in a manner that evaluates the reason or the
approach for the abortion before defining it is as immoral or illegal (Andaya & Mishtal,
2016).
The discussion focuses towards the question that whether abortion is immoral in the
present society. Therefore, based on the study reports being presented by the industry
researchers, it can be reflected that based on the medical ground or complications such can
be moral, as abortion not only have an impact on the unborn child but also affects the health
status of the mother. Accordingly, it can be justified that abortion is moral from the medical
point of view but from a social perspective, it is an immoral and unethical act.
References
Andaya, E. & Mishtal, J., 2016. The Erosion of Rights to Abortion Care in the United States: A
Call for a Renewed Anthropological Engagement with the Politics of Abortion. Medical
Anthropology Quarterly, 31(1), pp. 40-59.
Bosire, E. N. & Onyango-Ouma, W., 2019. “Women’s Three Bodies”: An Anthropological
Perspective on Barriers to Safe Abortion Services in Kibera Informal Settlements, Nairobi,
Kenya. Journal of Maternal and Child Health, 4(2), pp. 97-109.
Burtscher, D. et al., 2020. “Better dead than being mocked”: an anthropological study on
perceptions and attitudes towards unwanted pregnancy and abortion in the Democratic
Republic of Congo. Sex and Reproductive Health Matters, 28(1), pp. 1-10.
Gammeltoft, T., 2003. The ritualisation of abortion in contemporary vietnam. The Australian
joural of anthropology, 14(2), pp. 129-133.
Muldoon, M., 2021. The abortion debate in the United States and Canada: A source book.
s.l.:Routledge.