Abortion
Definition
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus before it can survive outside the uterus.
Analogy
If a pregnancy is like building a house, abortion would be deciding partway through construction that you no longer want to complete the project for various reasons.
Related terms
Pro-Choice: The belief that women have the autonomy to decide whether or not to terminate their pregnancies. It's like believing that homeowners should have the right to stop construction on their property if they choose.
Pro-Life: The belief that all potential human life is sacred and must be protected, including fetuses. This would be akin to arguing that once construction has started on a house, it must always be completed.
Roe v. Wade: A landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court in 1973 that established a woman's legal right to an abortion under certain conditions. It’s as if there was a court case deciding homeowners do indeed have the right to halt construction projects at their discretion.
"Abortion" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (1)
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.