QuestionHi there. I was wondering if I could get your opinion on something. How do you feel about laws that would prohibit the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to pregnant women?
I will admit that I am torn over this. Let me say that I am one hundred percent pro-choice! No one has the right to tell a woman what to do with her body, and I think that in some cases abortion can be the most humane and compassion decision a woman can make.
But on the other hand, I feel that if a woman has made the decision to have her baby(there are options available to her) then she has an obligation to that potential child AND to society to do everything in her power to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
After all, drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes can cause long term harmful effects, that could affect that child for the rest of his/her life.
I read an essay by a feminist writer about this issue that concerned me though. She made the slippery slope argument.
She said that such laws could lead to pregnant women being treated as second class citizens, and living like prisoners. For example, what would stop the government from passing other laws governing a pregnant woman's behavior? And if a woman were to violate the law, what would we do? Throw her in prison? Could a woman be forced to endure childbirth without pain medication or to have a cesarian section against her will, if the doctor determined that is what was best for the fetus?
But if these children are born with disablilities, not only will they suffer, but society will too. It will be the government(tax payers) who must absorb the financial AND social cost.
It's a tough one. What do you think? I would really appreciate it if you could share your thoughts with me. Thank you for your time.
Heather
AnswerHi Heather :)
You're right, this is a tough one. I would say outlawing the selling of these items wouldn't stop a pregnant woman from using them if she wanted to. And she could be purchasing them for other purposes. If we outlaw her buying cigarettes, wouldn't we have to outlaw people from smoking around her?
For women in general, especially concerning reproductive rights, there is always a slippery slope. There are laws where if a woman used drugs during her pregnancy, and the baby is stillborn, she will be jailed for murder, which i find unjust. What she does during her pregnancy is her business, and if she's aware of the consequences, then she's choosing to live with them. If laws were passed prohibiting the selling of alcohol and cigarettes, laws could be passed for jail sentences for pregnant women who do purchase or use these things. And in a country where rapists get light sentences if any, as well as confessed murderers, I'm not cool with pregnant women being jailed longer or at all. Exactly, the slope would become much too slippery, and it opens the door for more restrictions. Lots of things can be harmful to the fetus, including medications the woman may need to take, and those hypothetical laws would get her in trouble for taking care of her own health and well being. She comes before the embryo/fetus.
She can have tests performed to see if the fetus is developing abnormally. And the government spends so much on the war, that if they stopped, the cost for these special needs babies wouldn't affect anyone besides the child, who needs extra care. The government already pays very little in way of support, they should really do more. If every pregnancy could go well in terms of health needs and care, that's be so great, but it's just not the reality. Harm can be caused by many things, and if these women want to have the baby, they should be given all the support they need, just like those who need abortions should likewise.
But we all have our own opinions, and I hope i could provide a little insight :)
