Why abortion should be taught in high school
Introduction
In teaching settings, educators do not address controversial topics such as abortion due to moral and ethical issues. First, it is crucial to understand that adolescents are victims of health issues due to unsafe abortion. For example, in Africa, 25% of adolescents aged 15-19 have unsafe abortion. In developing nations, 70% of adolescents aged 10-19 lack sexuality education. In general, high school students do not have full access to sexuality education and abortion services. There are no policies and programs that offer sexuality education, and this has contributed to adolescents'' pregnancies and abortions. An important point to note is that information is power, but it is difficult for teachers to provide abortion information at school. Opponents of abortion education argue that abortion should not be included sexual education in high school and in medical schools. They say that abortion is a sensitive topic, and they believe that it will cause harm, and it not the right time for high school young girls to have a baby. Also, many students, especially in Catholic schools, have pro-choice views that are against teaching on abortion and other complicated topics. Teachers are very cautious when teaching sexual education, and there are obligated to protect the students from inappropriate and counterproductive information. Pro-Life activists argue that parents are not taking their children to school to be taught about abortion. They add that abortion teaching will damage the adolescents' chance of having a pregnancy in the future. However, supporters argue that adolescents in high schools should be taught sex and health education, which include abortion and safe abortion services, and allow them to have pregnancies choice.
Opponents of abortion argue that the word 'abortion' should not be mentioned in the classroom due to social-cultural issues. Societies with oppressive anti-abortion norms pay little attention to abortion education. Despite the fact that some researchers say that abortion education is important and it should be included in reproductive health education, some countries such as Northern Ireland resist abortion education on the basis of values, law and norms ideologies (Fiona, et al, 712). Religious institutions, political parties, and anti-abortion movement silence abortion discussion. These organizations have power relations that are connected to social practices. They hold a conservative position that values dominant norms. Their argument is rooted in Catholic and Protestant values and patriarchal norms (Fiona, et al, 712). Women in Northern Ireland do not have control over their bodies. Abortion is not allowed in Northern Ireland unless under serious circumstances. In the education system, teachers adhere to moral conservationism and religiosity. If they offer sexual education, they only talk about anti-abortion and absistence as a way of reducing unintended pregnancies (Fiona, et al, 713). Educators are advised that they should only teach something related to morality and religion. Proponents of abortion education go beyond these norms and argue that there should be sexual education. The community, as well as the education system, should resist the oppressive power and the constructed social norms.
Recent research and studies have found that young women have an abortion due to many reasons. A recent study found that 40% of young women have an abortion due to financial struggle, 36% have an abortion because they feel the pregnancy was unintended, and 20% have an abortion because they believe that the baby will hinder them from achieving their future goals (Upadhyay et al, 1). All these reasons encourage young women to have an abortion so that they fulfill their future personal goals. For this reason, several scholars have supported the implementation of abortions and reproductive education. Two longitudinal studies found that young women who have abortion gain the opportunity to continue with education. Abortion also allowed young women aged less than 21 years to gain the education, economic, and social advantages (Upadhyay et al, 2). The study also found that young women who had unintended pregnancies and committed abortion continued with education than young women who did not have an abortion. These findings recommend that young women or in other words, adolescents should have abortion education and pregnancy decisions for them to achieve personal goals (Upadhyay et al, 3). Abortion education, as well as abortion services, will allow them to gain life satisfaction, happiness, and life stability.
Fergusson et al. (6) add that young women seek abortion due to reasons such as education, finances, and more. In a certain study, 75% of women young than 25 reported they want abortion so that they can continue with their education, while 50% said they wanted abortion due to relationship problems (Fergusson et al, 6). This suggests that abortion has possible benefits, and therefore education system should provide abortion education to mitigate educational disadvantages. Adolescents should be given greater freedom to have an abortion and to pursue educational goals (Fergusson et al, 8). The freedom to have an abortion need to be accompanied by sexuality education so that adolescents can learn about safe abortion to prevent physical and mental harm. Note that abortion contributes to maternal death, and therefore, it is important for the education system to create and implement reproductive health services.
Conclusion
Schools are the main settings where students can reduce sexual education. Teachers are the source of knowledge, and the school has the best environment that allows students and teachers to discuss complicated topics, including abortion. Sex education in school is important as it prevents young people from engaging in risky behaviors, which reduces unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and more importantly, education allows young people to make informed decisions. Some people hold a conservative position and argue that women are home keepers, their bodies are religious, and they should not commit abortion unless under serious condition. Education systems in countries that are against abortion do not include abortion in the lesson. Such countries adhere to cultural values and beliefs that are against abortion. They believe that abortion promotes promiscuity and it is an immoral issue that is against traditional values. However, proponents argue that it is the high to break the silence and resist the power relations and patriarchal norms. In addition, teachers have the responsibility to protect the well-being of young people by providing them with sexual education.
Work cited
Upadhyay, Ushma D., M. Antonia Biggs, and Diana Greene Foster. "The effect of abortion on having and
achieving aspirational one-year plans." BMC women's health 15.1 (2015): 102.
Fergusson, David M., Joseph M. Boden, and L. John Horwood. "Abortion among young women and
subsequent life outcomes." Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health39.1 (2007): 6-12.
Bloomer, Fiona K., et al. “Breaking the Silence on Abortion: The Role of Adult Community Abortion
Education in Fostering Resistance to Norms.” Culture, Health & Sexuality, vol. 19, no. 7, July
2017, pp. 709–722. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/13691058.2016.1257740.
Breaking the silence on abortion: the role of adult community abortion education in fostering resistance to norms
The effect of abortion on having and achieving aspirational one-year plans
Abortion Among Young Women and Subsequent Life Outcomes
