Before I start these theses, I want to make one thing clear: as a man I have very little right to discuss the issue of abortion. The same is true for all men. Obviously, men still have a say in the debate especially those men who conceive a child with a woman who is questioning an abortion. However, the opinion of women is essential in topics of abortion especially in a society that overwhelming relies on conservative family hierarchies. Women are disproportionately affected by pregnancy by merit of having uteruses, and thus to have two men argue on this topic is extremely misguided. With that said, I have had multiple women on campus read and give their opinions on this piece before I submitted it. In addition, I have tried to avoid a debate over the merits of abortion and question of life focusing rather on fact-checking certain claims over the past 3 weeks of op-eds. Enjoy.

I: The argument that abortion is racist is based in racist ideology.

The argument is based in the idea that black citizens are unable to understand what is correct for them. This is a direct historical result of colonial ideas that dehumanized blacks on account of their “inability to have rational thought.” These arguments have been justifications for slavery, discrimination, and general oppression because Western settlers believed that they had to “civilize” the black man. Now many people use the “abortion is racist” argument which is based in the very same supremacist ideologies.

II: The argument that abortion is racist fails to address the problems that truly plaque minority communities.

There is always a cause that leads to abortion. While America has a storied past with eugenics and genocide, there is not a conspiracy to make black Americans get abortions. Rather, abortions are a result of major socio-economic problems that cause people to be unable to care for the child they are bearing. If you want to end abortion, focus on fixing the major economic issues which plague minority communities including, but not limited to: health care, education, food, work, policing, wealth inequality, gentrification, etc. Adding to this, America has one of the highest maternal death rates of any industrialized state at 26.4 deaths per 100,000 births (Propublica, 2015). This number is inflated for minority women who witness above average infant mortality rate. All of these things make abortion much more common out of necessity.

III: Planned Parenthood is not the boogieman.

Planned Parenthood is not “single-mindedly devoted to promoting abortion and undermining Christian values and the institution of the family.” Rather, Planned Parenthood is dedicated to “the revolutionary idea that women should have the information and care they need to live strong, healthy lives and fulfill their dreams — no ceilings, no limits.” The previous quote is pulled directly from planned parenthoods own mission statement. Planned Parenthood is not trying to destroy the family, it is trying to give people of any gender necessary medical care in a nation that refuses to ensure they have adequate healthcare. Ask any person who has been to Planned Parenthood for a medical service (they offer many services beyond just abortion if you didn’t know), I will guarantee that they will be able to share a story of how they were scared and unsure of what to do, and how the kind medical professionals at Planned Parenthood were able to help them. Planned Parenthood isn’t trying to abort fetuses they are trying to help women.

IV: “Pro-Abortion” doesn’t exist.

No one is getting pregnant with the intention of carrying the fetus to term only to terminate it at the last moment. People get abortions because they have real reasons to get an abortion. Its not a hobby it’s a serious medical procedure. This is why people are not pro-abortion. No one is going out of their way to get an abortion. Stop acting like people are carrying a baby to term just to abort it because they simply aren’t. Third trimester abortions only happen in the most extreme of circumstances where both the child and mother are at serious risk of death. Making abortions easier to get only serves to help people who are out of options, it is not going to cause people to go to term only to get an abortion.

V: Fourth trimester abortion doesn’t exist.

Trimester denotes three parts. Fourth trimesters don’t exist. But, aside from that simple fact, the idea of fourth trimester abortion speaks to the murder of born children, but the idea of people actually doing this is simply absurd. To debunk this claim all we have to do is return to the last point and ask, “why would someone actually carry a baby to term and pay for the birth only to kill the baby?” People don’t do this and it’s absurd to think they would.

VI: They switched bitched.

America political parties switched in the mid-1900s. Stop peddling this complete lie that the Democrats are the party of racism. Either you’re ignorant of history or purposely misinforming your readers. Its abhorrent no matter the answer.

 VII: Most “pro-life” advocates aren’t pro-life.

 Pro-life indicates that one cares for the social condition of children who are born. However, a majority of pro-life advocates won’t advocate for increased social support for children born to mothers who don’t have the means to support them. Unless you are willing to increase the support given to children, don’t call yourself pro-life call yourself what you are: “pro-birth.”

VIII: Every woman has the right to the medical care she needs without question.

I want to end this article with a piece of dialogue from what I believe is the best piece of media to ever discuss the topic of abortion: Bojack Horseman Season 3, Episode 6 “Brrap Brrap Pew Pew.”

“How are you feeling?”

“I feel shitty. I mean physically. I’m glad I did it, but mostly I just felt old. There were all these teenagers there twenty somethings. I know from the outside it might seem like I should be ready for kids, but I can’t…”

“Diane. You don’t need to explain anything to anyone.”

This is why I, as a man, decided I had to be the one to write this piece. A woman should never have to explain herself. To anyone.