Humanities › Issues All About Abortion Rights Print Issues Women's Issues Reproductive Rights The U. S. Government U.S. Foreign Policy U.S. Liberal Politics U.S. Conservative Politics Civil Liberties The Middle East Race Relations Immigration Crime & Punishment Canadian Government Understanding Types of Government View More By Tom Head Tom Head Civil Liberties Expert Ph.D., Religion and Society, Edith Cowan University M.A., Humanities, California State University - Dominguez Hills B.A., Liberal Arts, Excelsior College Tom Head, Ph.D., is a historian specializing in the history of ethics, religion, and ideas. He has authored or co-authored 29 nonfiction books, including "Civil Liberties: A Beginner's Guide." Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on January 02, 2020 The debate over abortion rights is ugly, the gap between pro-choice and pro-life too vast for meaningful dialogue, the differences too fundamental for compromise. This means, of course, that it's a perfect issue to be exploited by politicians on both sides of the aisle. This tempts all of us to tune out the abortion rights debate, but behind all this noise and demagoguery is the very real and very important issue of balancing personal rights with potential new life. Why is Abortion Legal? Mark Wilson/Getty Images News/Getty Images At this point in the United States, abortion is perfectly legal. But how did it get that way, and what is the legal rationale behind a woman's right to choose? Does the Fetus Have Rights? Photo: China Photos / Getty Images. The biggest problem with abortion is the fact that it involves killing an embryo or fetus. Certainly, women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies--but don't fetuses also have a right to live? Read More The Pro-Life vs Pro-Choice Debate By Tom Head What If Roe v. Wade Were Overturned? Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images. The abortion-rights debate in the United States centers on Roe v. Wade--the 35-year-old ruling that put an end to state laws banning abortion. So what would happen if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade today? Understanding the Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice Debate Photo: Alex Wong / Getty Images The abortion-rights debate is commonly misunderstood, with advocates on both sides attributing false motives to many good, deeply conscientious people. In order to understand and effectively communicate your own position on abortion rights, it is essential to understand why some people disagree with you. Top 10 Anti-Abortion Myths Photo: Marianne Todd / Getty Images. While the fundamental concern for the life of the embryo or fetus that undergirds the pro-life movement is both decent and commendable, some members of the movement rely on bad data and shifty arguments to make their point. Top 10 Pro-Choice Quotes Photo: Alex Wong / Getty Images. The most effective way to understand the pro-choice position is to listen to the voices of its most effective advocates. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Head, Tom. "All About Abortion Rights." ThoughtCo, Jul. 29, 2021, thoughtco.com/all-about-abortion-rights-721106. Head, Tom. (2021, July 29). All About Abortion Rights. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/all-about-abortion-rights-721106 Head, Tom. "All About Abortion Rights." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/all-about-abortion-rights-721106 (accessed April 20, 2024). copy citation