American Questions: Do You Support Abortion? Even after 20 Weeks? And the Right Not to Be a Father?

Brazil does not allow abortion. But in the U.S. it has been legalized for decades. Nevertheless, the debate continues. On one side are the “pro-life,” those who are against this practice. On the other side, the “pro-choice,” those who defend the mother’s right to decide if she wants to have the baby.

The limit for abortions in the U.S. is 24 weeks. After this term, the baby theoretically would be able to survive outside of the mother. Members of the Republican Party, who tend to be more pro-life — while the majority of Democrats are pro-choice — have begun to defend a limit of 20 weeks for abortion. Some states have already succeeded. Of the 1.2 million abortions performed every year on U.S. territory, only a small fraction occur after the 20th week. But this change has a strong symbolism.

The larger part of the American population is pro-choice. However, a majority also defends the establishment of a 20-week boundary. In Cuba, the maximum term to abort is only 10 weeks. Around the world a series of nations have already approved abortion, such as Uruguay, very recently, while Tunisia, with an Arab and Muslim majority has [allowed abortion] since the 1960s.

Little by little, in the U.S. a debate has begun to emerge about the right to not be a father. That is to say, the woman can choose to be a mother or not, but the man, on the other hand, cannot abort and at most he can only influence the woman. Electing to not be the father, in this case, would be a distinct action. The child would be born, but the man has the right to abdicate all obligations of paternity: It would be a “male abortion.”

And here there are three questions: 1) Do you defend the right to abortion? 2) If yes, what should be the maximum term? 3) Do you defend the man’s right to abdicate paternity?