Women's rights arguments against abortion

Not all who support women's rights support abortion, and many of them are active in trying to promote practical solutions to the causes that drive women to abortion.

Some join other pro-life advocates and say that the right to life should always outweigh the right of an individual to equality or to control their own body.

But others raise arguments that are specifically related to women's rights:

Abortion does not free women

Some argue that abortion does not liberate women, but allows society not to cater to women's needs.

They say that what women need for equality is not free access to abortion but to be given what they need to survive financially and socially as mothers:

inexpensive, readily available childcare

a workplace or school that acknowledges the needs of mothers, e.g. providing flexible scheduling and maternity leave,

state support that helps to reintegrate a woman into the workforce

They say that if women couldn't have abortions so easily, governments would have to invest more money in supporting mothers.

Abortion sidesteps oppression of women

Others oppose abortion because it provides a way of side-stepping other real issues that should be addressed. One writer put it like this:

There are women who are raped and become pregnant; the problem is that they were raped, not that they are pregnant. There are women who are starving who become pregnant; the problem is that they are starving, not that they are pregnant. There are women in abusive relationships who become pregnant; the problem is that they are in abusive relationships, not that they are pregnant. Megan Clancy

Abortion damages women

Some people oppose abortion because it can damage the long-term physical and emotional health of women who have an abortion.