Editing Sex-selective abortion (section)

== Sex-selective abortion in the context of abortion ==
MacPherson estimates that 100,000 sex-selective abortions every year continue to be performed in India.<ref name=macpherson /> For a contrasting perspective, in the United States with a population {{frac|1|4}}th of India, over 1.2 million abortions every year were performed between 1990 and 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0101.pdf | title = Abortions—Number and Rate by Race: 1990 to 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923235255/http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0101.pdf | archive-date=September 23, 2015 | work = US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2012 }}</ref> In [[England and Wales]] with a population {{frac|1|20}}th of India, over 189,000 abortions were performed in 2011, or a yearly rate of 17.5 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/213386/Commentary1.pdf | title = Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170328212931/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/213386/Commentary1.pdf | archive-date=March 28, 2017 | work = Department of Health | publisher = UK Government | date = May 2012 | page = 3 }}</ref> The average for the [[European Union]] was 30 abortions per year per 1,000 women.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Life-stages/sexual-and-reproductive-health/activities/abortion/facts-and-figures-about-abortion-in-the-european-region | title = Facts and figures about abortion in the European Region | work = World Health Organization | date = 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140814103838/http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Life-stages/sexual-and-reproductive-health/activities/abortion/facts-and-figures-about-abortion-in-the-european-region | archive-date = August 14, 2014 | quote = Summary Note 4 }}</ref>

Many scholars have noted the difficulty in reconciling the discriminatory nature of sex-selective abortion with the right of women to have control over their own bodies. This conflict manifests itself primarily when discussing laws about sex-selective abortion. Weiss (1995:205) writes: "The most obvious challenge sex-selective abortion represents for [[pro-choice]] feminists is the difficulty of reconciling a pro-choice position with moral objections one might have to sex selective abortion (especially since it has been used primarily on female fetuses), much less the advocacy of a law banning sex-selective abortion."<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Weiss G | title = Sex-selective abortion: a relational approach | journal = Hypatia | volume = 10 | issue = 1 | pages = 202–217 | date = February 1995 | pmid = 11865874 | doi = 10.1111/j.1527-2001.1995.tb01360.x | s2cid = 27987147 | jstor = 3810465 }}</ref>
As a result, arguments both for and against sex-selective abortion are typically highly reflective of one's own personal beliefs about abortion in general. Warren (1985:104) argues that there is a difference between acting within one's rights and acting upon the most morally sound choice, implying that sex-selective abortion might be within rights but not morally sound. Warren also notes that, if we are to ever reverse the trend of sex-selective abortion and high sex ratios, we must work to change the patriarchy-based society which breeds the strong son preference.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Warren MA | title = Gendercide: The Implications of Sex-Selection | publisher = Rowman and Allenheld | date = 1985 | isbn = 978-0-8476-7330-8 }} {{page needed|date=March 2020}}</ref>

Laws against sex-selective abortion, especially those that exist in some [[U.S. state]]s, are controversial, because it is not clear how they can be enforced, and [[pro-choice]] activists argue that such laws are brought by [[anti-abortion movement]] forces who are using this as a [[pretext]] to restrict women's access to safe and legal abortion and to harass doctors who perform abortions: [[NARAL]] states that "For many years, anti-choice lawmakers have tried to ban abortion using every possible reason and excuse –including, now, on the grounds of purported concern about race or sex selection."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/4.-Race-and-Sex-Selection-Abortion-Bans-A-False-Solution-to-the-Real-Problems-of-Racism-and-Sexism.pdf |title=Race- and Sex-Selection Abortion Bans: A False Solution to the Real Problems of Racism and Sexism |access-date=June 10, 2017 |archive-date=March 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312165542/https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/4.-Race-and-Sex-Selection-Abortion-Bans-A-False-Solution-to-the-Real-Problems-of-Racism-and-Sexism.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> There is concern that such bans may put women who seek sex-selective abortions in danger because they may seek unsafe abortions, and that these bans do not address the root cause of sex-selective abortion, including the pregnant women's fear that they or their future daughters will suffer abuse, violence and stigmatization.<ref name="nwlc.org"/>