The reproductive rights of women

The reproductive rights of women

Introduction

Various countries around the world have different legal rights and liberties that relate to reproduction and reproductive health in general. The reproductive rights are built on the recognition that couples and individuals have the right to their own number, timing and spacing of their children. The reproductive rights also acknowledge that they have the right to information concerning their reproductive health and to be provided with the best standards of reproductive health services. It is the responsibility of every government to uphold the reproductive rights of individuals and ensure that they are not violated.

The reproductive rights of women give them the freedom to have safe and legal abortions if they do not wish to keep the pregnancy due to personal or health issues. The women also have the right to decide for themselves if they want to take birth control measures and to select which ones they prefer to use. The women cannot be coerced into using birth control methods they do not agree with, and they are entitled to high-quality healthcare services. The rights are essential to the socio-economic wellbeing of the individuals and their overall health. Studies conducted to investigate the benefits of reproductive rights on women have indicated increased satisfaction and stable relationships when women are allowed to make decisions concerning their reproductive lives.

Reproductive rights granted to women has also been associated with improved salaries, and increased working experience among the women. Most of the violations towards the reproductive rights of women usually occur because society values women based solely on their reproductive abilities. Incidences of women being married off at young ages and being forcefully subjected to pregnancies that are too close together is devastatingly affecting the women.

The legal right to abortion was granted in the United States by a supreme court ruling in the year 1973. There is, however an ongoing battle by legislative and executive bodies on issues about abortion. One of the problems that still causes controversy is parental consent and the amount of time that a person has to wait after giving the notification. Another issue that is harshly contested is funding from the state for abortion procurements. The federal law of America has prohibited use of funds from public coffers to cater for abortions. The state funds can only be used if the woman is a victim of rape, incest if the pregnancy carries significant danger for the expectant mother.

The state has been making efforts to limit access to abortion services. Between the year 2013 and 2014, the state formulated and implemented a wide range of legislative measures aimed at restricting the rate of abortions in the country. Some of the steps include bills that require an ultra soundcheck before one can obtain abortion, strict rules and measures for the abortion experts and making health insurance coverage for abortions illegal. The government also banned the procurement of abortion during later stages of fetal development.

Reproductive rights for women are meant to protect them from an array of health and psychological problems associated with their sexuality. The women have rights to decide when they should have babies and how many they want to have. The right to quality medical care also ensures that they get the right services and products from the relevant healthcare institutions that are helpful and beneficial to their health. In my opinion, there are still many areas that still require improvement so that rights can be more benefits to individuals and couples. The bill that makes it mandatory for parental consent in the case of minors who wish to obtain abortion services is a good move by the state to ensure that parents are consulted before an abortion is done. Parental involvement is crucial because they can provide valuable information that would help in ensuring that the exercise is conducted safely and without adverse consequences.

Individuals have the right to have control over and freely decide on matters that to do with their sexuality and reproduction. Before the conception of the reproductive rights bills, individuals would be coerced into using contraceptives and reproduction control methods that were against their will. The introduction of reproductive rights also ensures that women are not sexually assaulted in their relationships and marriages since they have the final say on their sexuality. The pressure that used to be put on women to have pregnancies in quick succession to produce children of a specific gender is also addressed because the women are now aware of their rights and can stand up against anyone who tries to violate the rights.

In conclusion, reproductive rights and access to abortion by women has made it easy for women to take charge of their sexuality and reproductive health. The women are now empowered to say no to contamination of any kind and can make their plans on how and when they can take contraceptives. The women can now also legally have an abortion to remove unwanted pregnancies, unlike during the times before the implementation of the rights where they would be forced to act against their desires.