Table of Contents
Introduction 1
A Cluster of Cells
Chapter 1 Myth: Life begins when a baby is born. 19
Chapter 2 Myth: Even if it's technically a human life, the fetus doesn't feel anything or know what's happening anyway. 31
Chapter 3 Myth: There is a difference between a human being and a person. 50
Chapter 4 Myth: Abortion is a simple and safe procedure. 57
My Body, My Choice
Chapter 5 Myth: The constitution guarantees a right to privacy. Abortion is therefore a constitutional right. 77
Chapter 6 Myth: Abortion must be taxpayer funded. 85
Chapter 7 Myth: Women have the freedom to choose what they want to do with their body. 91
Chapter 8 Myth: Men do not belong in the abortion-debate. 99
A Positive Good
Chapter 9 Myth: Abortion is necessary in order for women to fully control their own bodies. 111
Chapter 10 Myth: Abortion empowers women. 119
Chapter 11 Myth: Planned Parenthood is not primarily an abortion organization; it is a women's health organization. 134
Chapter 12 Myth: Keeping abortion legal affirms the separation of church and state. 156
Lesser of Two Evils
Chapter 13 Myth: I'm personally opposed to abortion, but I don't have the right to force my beliefs on someone else. 169
Chapter 14 Myth: Abortion is never an ideal choice, but forcing a woman to carry out a pregnancy will cause her too much emotional pain. 177
Chapter 15 Myth: Outlawing abortion doesn't decrease the number of abortions. 190
Chapter 16 Myth: Abortion is necessary because of hard cases like rape, incest, life of the mother, and potential medical complications. 197
Better Off Dead
Chapter 17 Myth: The fate of babies born alive as the result of a botched abortion is a decision between a woman and her doctor. 217
Chapter 18 Myth: Research shows that the children who, would have otherwise been aborted usually become criminals, wreaking havoc on all of us. 227
Chapter 19 Myth: Unwanted children will be a burden on the welfare state. 237
Chapter 20 Myth: Unwanted children are better off not being born into this world. 245
Chapter 21 Myth: Bad things happen to a lot of people, and the aborted fetus is simply the victim of bad luck. 253
Conclusion 263
Notes 277
Index 295