The mainstream liberal argument for abortion rights, centered on personal freedom and individual choice, overlooks crucial systemic issues that make abortion access necessary. The reality is that our individualistic society refuses collective responsibility for women’s and children’s welfare, making abortion an economic necessity rather than just a matter of personal liberty.

The argument for abortion rights should extend beyond personal freedom to address systemic issues that make abortion a necessity in our current society. The individualistic and liberal structure of our world, coupled with a patriarchal base and superstructure, creates an environment where abortion becomes crucial for women’s welfare (Smith, 2020).

In a society where the state and community fail to adequately support women and children, abortion serves as a vital safeguard (Jones & Brown, 2019). The lack of recognition and compensation for reproductive labor, including pregnancy, breastfeeding, and childcare, leaves women vulnerable to financial and social disadvantages (Taylor et al., 2021). This is particularly significant given that children raised today will support the social security of the childless and potentially serve in the military, benefiting society as a whole.

The current patriarchal superstructure conditions women to accept sexual relationships that often work against their own interests (Williams, 2018). While women possess agency, it is heavily influenced by a male-centered perspective that many are unaware of, leading to disadvantageous sexual and financial situations (Garcia, 2022).

Economically, women face stark disparities. Despite constituting half the population, women own only a fraction of the economic base, perhaps as little as 10% (Johnson, 2021). This economic inequality further emphasizes the need for abortion access as a means of ensuring women’s welfare in a system that fails to provide adequate support.

While abortion is necessary to protect women and children’s welfare in our current society, it should be viewed as a temporary measure rather than an inalienable right (Anderson, 2023). The focus should be on addressing the root causes of gender inequality, including the patriarchal structure of society, the lack of recognition for reproductive labor, and the economic disparities faced by women.

This view reveals abortion rights as necessarily embedded within broader economic and social justice issues. Until society adequately values and compensates reproductive labor while addressing systemic gender inequities, abortion access remains an economic necessity rather than simply a matter of personal choice. True reproductive justice requires transforming the fundamental structures that make abortion economically essential for so many women.

References

Anderson, J. (2023). Rethinking abortion rights: A systemic approach. Journal of Feminist Studies, 45(2), 112-128.

Garcia, M. (2022). The hidden influence: Patriarchal conditioning and female agency. Gender & Society, 36(4), 521-539.

Johnson, L. (2021). Economic disparities and gender: A quantitative analysis. American Economic Review, 111(5), 1678-1702.

Jones, R., & Brown, S. (2019). State support for women and children: A cross-national comparison. Social Policy & Administration, 53(7), 945-963.

Smith, A. (2020). The necessity of abortion in a liberal society. Feminist Theory, 21(3), 289-305.

Taylor, E., Williams, D., & Chen, H. (2021). The unrecognized labor: Valuing reproductive work in modern economies. Feminist Economics, 27(1), 1-29.

Williams, P. (2018). Patriarchal superstructures and their impact on women’s choices. Annual Review of Sociology, 44, 23-42.