“Abortion” from Latin abortiōn-, abortiō, from aborīrī “to miscarry.” : Synonyms
- abandonment, calling, calling off, cancellation (also cancelation), dropping, recall, recision, repeal, rescission, revocation
To dive deeply into the meaning of abortion, I looked at these synonyms from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. The common element of these synonyms is that they stopped (“miscarried”) something that was supposed to happen and that was planned to happen.
The term “abortion” suggests something that was intended to go to completion, but, in fact, many women decide not to carry a fetus the moment they realize they are pregnant, before they self-identify the fetus as a “baby.” This decision is nothing like “murder,” which pro-life supporters claim is taking place, even in early pregnancies. The woman’s decision is based on all the contingencies that make pregnancy undesirable. It is more an “interruption” of a process than an “abortion.”
The term “abortion” should be applied to late-term cessation of pregnancy, which is usually to save the life of the mother or to prevent consequences to the baby. In such cases the pregnancy was planned or accepted from the beginning. The conditions for birth are healthy and welcome until some problem is discovered. Therefore what was planned is now “aborted” (canceled), as the meaning of the word implies.
The “interruption” of pregnancy suggests that the fetus is not fully developed and should not be considered a “baby,” as pro-life advocates insist on calling any mass of fertilized cells. Prior to six weeks’ development most women are not aware they are pregnant, and therefore cannot be considered “mothers.” The fetus cannot be considered an independent life form, and the “interruption”of that development can not be considered “abortion.” When is the exact moment that a life form becomes a baby is the cause of rancorous debate, but it is certainly not before six weeks, which is how many current laws define “abortion.”
If the terms “abortion,” “baby,” and “fetus” are properly defined, then the discussion of the woman’s choice can be productive. The choice to “interrupt” a pregnancy can be realistically discussed, without using provocative language, such as “murder.” The language itself can force decisions on a woman that undermine her freedom. Her rights dwindle immediately, even with the use of the term “abortion.”
We know that the legislators who insist a fetus must go to term are predominantly men with no stake in pregnancy. Until now procreating men do not even have to take responsibility for the baby, unless a paternity suit is successfully prosecuted. The burden is entirely on the woman.
Even if we accept that men have never consciously plotted against women, we may perceive that the culture, from the Romans forward, has stacked the deck. Women are just vessels for something more important than they themselves are. They are expected to carry their charge to the end of pregnancy or they will have “aborted.” At no point in the pregnancy are they given a choice in the matter. Even if they are raped, they are expected to bear the burden of life to the expected end. Therefore they have less authority over life than the fetus they carry.
If would be hard to imagine a man accepting this burden without demanding “freedom” or “liberty,” the blessings of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. These terms are sacred to our democracy, but, from the beginning, not applied to women. They have a sacred duty that overrides their sacred freedoms. How is that Constitutional? How is that respectful of “inalienable rights” of women, to their “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”?
The era of The Handmaid’s Tale, where women are no more than vessels, is upon us. Yes, women have voting rights, Title IX, and Planned Parenthood, but no longer “Roe v. Wade.” Dwindling reproductive freedom, which has had the full attention of conservative men, must now be the concern of all voters, to respect the rights of more than half the population of this country. It is not the right to abort life, but the right to control the natural processes of women’s bodies that is at stake.