While President Obama may have been criticized for his political stances this election, when it comes to women’s issues, he is receiving praise and approval.

Recently, in response to Richard Mourdock’s comment regarding abortion President Obama expressed his opinion on the matter by stating that male politicians should not make decisions for women. Instead he feels the decision should be made after the woman has spoken to her partner, doctor and family.

Abortion is a heavy topic that arouses every time new elections are plastered through the media, but this year the focus should be altered. Instead of candidates being concerned with how to choose which factors of abortion to ban they should try to figure out how they’ll find ways to support women to have the babies that they want.

Most societies that do more to support the mothers during their childbearing have been proven to display fewer abortions.  According to David Frum, a CNN contributing writer, abortion is a product of poverty. Women choose abortion because of their economic insecurities, such as the fear of losing their job or potentially their homes.

A large percentage of the abortions that occur are done by women that are young and from a poorer family life. Young women tend to feel scared and helpless when they find out they’re pregnant, which is why most resort to abortion. To them, at the time it may seem like not only the easiest way out, but the only way.

In order to lower abortion rates women need to feel as though they have a helping hand in this country. They need to feel supported throughout their societies, rather than looked down upon for being pregnant in the first place.

Some women that resort to abortions do so because they were inseminated through rape. Rape is a big issue when it comes to exceptions for abortion. Another exception that’s been considered is when the baby’s life puts the mother’s in danger.

According to Senate candidate, Richard Mourdock, rape victims should be required to carry the rapist’s child to term because it was what God intended to happen. He based his beliefs off his faith and for him all aspects of life should be preserved. This is a common feeling amongst republicans, despite the anger that it may have stirred in women activists.

Many raise questions regarding the negative effects the government will inflict on women if they’re forced to carry the heavy burden of bearing a child through rape. Will the government make up for time lost at work? Will the government pay for her medical expenses or for the child’s educational upbringing?

By demanding women to have their babies, the government must be ready to endure the financial responsibilities that may need to be facilitated to the women in return. If economic conditions were improved and financial situations throughout society were strengthened then fewer women would feel the need to resort to abortion.

Right now, the current economic position that our generation is in makes it hard for anyone young to want to bear a child. These young women have their own lives to worry about let alone the sufficient resources to properly raise a baby.

At the beginning of the 1900s abortion rates had declined rapidly, and even continued to do so in the early 2000s just at a slower rate. In 2008, when our country was hit with its economic downfall, abortion rates increased rapidly and they’ve continued to do so since.

Maybe if candidates focused more attention towards improving prevention solutions as opposed to the after effect of sexual interaction, there would be more opportunities for women to avoid pregnancy. Although again this raises the issue of rape, and how in that instance prevention could not have been obtained because it was out of the woman’s control. Education reiteration centered on contraception, and how to obtain it should be made more effective and understandable to young adults.

For women to feel more supported the government has to infiltrate more paid maternity leave for employees in the work place, as well as compensate them for unemployment if they are forced to leave the work place after the child’s birth. Governments can also consider paying allowance to parents for the child’s education for as long as they attend school.

Instead of backing women into a corner where they feel like they have no way out, provide them with options in order to help assist them in making the right choice. President Obama was right, as I previously mentioned before, when he said he believes men should not have a say in making decisions for women, but if the government isn’t making these decisions and the women are struggling to make it for themselves then where are they to turn to for beneficial solutions for all parties involved?

For political candidates their challenge when discussing abortion is the difficulty to decide whether or not making abortion illegal would be considered an invasion of privacy and unconstitutional. The majority of the countries beliefs and life choices need to be taken into consideration, and new solutions need to be constructed before any new laws or regulations are put to paper.  

According to CNN, most Americans think abortion should be considered safe, legal and rare. What do you think the government should do in order to support child bearing and women? Do you believe abortion if acceptable? And if so, under what conditions? What aspects of abortion should be banned?

These are questions on everyone’s mind, especially the women, yet the issue still continues to repeat itself without providing any answers or solutions to the problem.