Define a woman's right to choose for me.

[Skidmore]

Have at it.

[Bunny]

1. Why don't you start by giving us your definition?

[Skidmore]

14. That a woman has complete and utter control over her body

including the right to either terminate an unwanted pregnancy or to give birth. Now the reason I introduced this subject is that I made a fairly inocuous observation about mandated safety requirements for children and automobiles in another thread that turned into a 100+ response monstrosity heavily laced with some pretty acrid commentary on having children I didn't expect on a board frequented by pro-choice people. I found it astounding that apparently choice for some means that women choose only to not have children, or that the number of children they choose to have needs to be somehow sanctioned by someone yet undefined. Burdens to the planet aside, to me, choice is is simply that. The woman decides what type of family she wants and what is best for her health. Choice, by definition, means more than one option. If not having children works for you, more power to you. If someone else makes the choice to have children, then they should not be the object of derision or disdain.

[noamnety]

18. One can be pro-choice and also be judgmental

I might deride someone for drinking Mountain Dew for breakfast, but I believe it's their right to make that decision for themselves. It's not the government's place, nor mine, to regulate it.

Pro-choice means defending people's rights to make their own reproductive decisions. It doesn't necessarily mean approving of those decisions.

The ACLU walks that sort of line also. They'll defend your civil rights, even if they don't like what you're doing with them.

[noamnety]

2. Define it yourself

It's not my place to tell you what to think.

;-)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. OK

A woman finds herself pregnant. She can choose to carry the child to term and deliver it in a safe environment or she can choose to terminate the pregnancy in a safe environment. Both options should be open to all women.

[Zinfandel]

4. Yes, Define it! "Have at it"

[_TJ_]

5. I'm all outta practice at this but...

The basis of a free society is having the ability to do things
you think are right - even if others think they are wrong.

Many women think it is acceptible to allow abortion. Even
if you don't agree with them, in a free country you must allow
them to choose their own path.

If you think abortion is wrong then don't have one - but don't tell
other people what they should think or do.

That's the gist of it.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

6. My, my. Someone's hitting all the hot buttons today.

[KG]

7. want extra butter with that?

:popcorn:

[Kathy in Cambridge]

9. I'll get the beers

:popcorn: :beer:

[MissWaverly]

8. my definition

when I was 5 years old, I saw my father pick up a golf putter and proceed to beat my sister with it, he was an old boy type, well loved in
my hometown, a guy's guy, the one you would want to go hunting, fishing
and drinking with. He was loved by everybody except his family. At that time, I came to the conclusion that some people should not be parents, that you could not make some one a good parent, this idea was re-enforced by his leather belt when he decided that he was going to give me something to cry for. So I believe that every one who is facing parenthood has to decide if they are capable of caring for that child and providing for its needs.

[gollygee]

10. It's about bodily autonomy

A woman is the sole owner of her body. She can decide if she will use her uterus to continue a pregnancy or not. The government has no ownership over her body and can't make that choice for her.

[Redstone]

15. Well, it's either this or post #3 or both that pretty much

answer the OP's question, I'd think.

If they don't, he or she doesn't rate any further discourse.

Redstone

[supernova]

11. Why do you not know by now?

:shrug:

[The Doctor.]

12. Ask Hypocrite Caron Strong...

She was an aspiring actress who terminated multiple pregnancies so she could achieve success without distractions.

Now that she has aquired that success, she tells everyone else that they shouldn't do it and the Roe v. Wade should be overturned.

She should have three kids and work in a diner - but she didn't want that... she wanted a better life for her and her new daughter, and that's what she CHOSE.

[expatriot]

13. My wife has "a woman's right to choose for me."

in all areas.... she has the right to choose what I wear, what I buy what I do. Yes, she has the right to choose for me. That is my definition of "a woman's right to choose for me."

[Erika]

16. The issue is the right to privacy

She has the right to privacy in her decision-making concerning reproduction. This is a private area not subject to invasion by politics, religion, etc. The 14th amendment guarantees this privacy.

[DELUSIONAL]

17. Bingo!

[leeroysphitz]

19. You are framing the question incorrectly...

It really isn't a "womans" right to choose. It is a "persons" right to choose. Narrowing it to a gender specific issue plays into the opposition's hands. All people have the absolute unquestionable right to do with there own bodies as they see fit. When it comes to men's health (condoms, vasectomy or whatever) their is not and never really has been (in modern times) any question. All controversy seems to be aimed exclusively towards the female end of the reproductive spectrum. If we are living in a society that truly values equality (and I guess, sadly, that we don't) then obviously there would be no question: Men are free to determine their reproductive future and so accordingly should women, or to put it another way ALL PEOPLE are free to reproduce or not as they see fit regardless of the opinions of boyfriends, husbands, Pat Robertson, parents, grandparents, foster parents, state run juvenile care facilities, congress or religious zealots (regardless of what their "God" may whisper in their ears). They have ZERO say so in the matter.

I gees the being able to make a choice while others who feel they can make the choice for you have "zero say so" is it.

[McCamy Taylor]

20. Legally can not be forced to carry a nonviable pregnancy , however...

she has to be able to pay for the termination, or prove that the termination is medically necessary in order to force insurance or the government to pay for it, so her right to an abortion is not absolute.

She can not be prevented from having a baby, however, she has to be able to pay for fertility treatments that will allow her to conceive and carry a fetus to term--at least until the fetus reaches viability. At viability, Medicaid will step in and absorb the costs, if necessasry. So, her right to bear a child is not absolute.

Basically, we have a two tiered system of Right to Choose just as we have a two tiered system of everything in this country, one for the Haves and one for the Hve nots.