Counter-arguments
“The fetus is still a human and/or life”
The fetus being a “human” or a “life” is a widespread argument. However, this argument can be countered with 80.9% of abortions happening within the first 8 weeks of gestation, according to the CDC. But what does this exactly mean? Well, at 8 weeks, an embryo becomes a fetus. (Cleveland Clinic) If 80.9% of abortions happen before or at 8 weeks, this means that the embryo hasn’t even turned into a fetus and is still a clump of cells. Many pro-life people argue that “the fetus has organs, arms, hands, fingers, feet, and toes at 10-12 weeks” but most abortions don’t even occur at 10-12 weeks!
“The baby/child can just be put
up for adoption”
Putting the baby up for adoption is another very common argument pro-life people tend to use. However, the treatment of children in foster care is awful. A study done with 2998 foster children in the U.S. showed heartbreaking results. With 61.1% experiencing physical abuse, 52.3% experiencing sexual abuse, 74.3% experiencing physical neglect, and 69.1% experiencing parental mental health or substance use issues. (Semantics Scholar) There are many more ACEs that children in foster care experience but these are the bigger numbers.
But how do these experiences affect children’s mental and physical health in the long run? Children who experience ACE in their life are more likely to have “toxic levels of stress hormones can interrupt normal physical and mental development.” (Child Trends) These affects don’t just affect the child during childhood but it can go into adulthood too. “Alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, suicide, poor physical health, and obesity.” are just some common mental and physical health issues of adults who experience ACE as a child. If children in foster care experience ACE they are becoming more vulnerable to these mental and physical health issues. As a child, during their development, and into adulthood.
All in all, foster care is simply just not a better option than parents would treat the child badly. This has been proved with some long term affects of adults with childhood ACE like alcoholism, drug abuse, suicide, poor physical health, and poor childhood development.
