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Some states will be including initiatives stating that a human life begins at the moment of fertilization, "personhood initiatives", on ballots this fall. If they are passed, fertilized eggs will be considered people with all constitutional rights.
The anti-choices hope abortions will be banned as a result; a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade. According to Feminist eZine, the source for this article, this law would put a woman’s right to certain forms of contraceptive in jeopardy, which would include the IUD and emergency contraception. Stem cell research and in-vitro fertilization would also suffer repercussions.
In 2008, the Colorado Personhood Initiative was defeated by 73 percent.
The egg-as-person amendments were approved to be on the ballots this fall in Mississippi and Colorado, and anti-choicers are trying to get them approved in California. They failed in Nevada, but Personhood NV has appealed the decision to the Nevada Supreme Court; a decision will be made on May 18.
In North Dakota the House passed an egg-as-person bill last spring, but it was defeated by the Senate. In the Dominican Republic, fertilized eggs are being given constitutional rights, thus effectively banning abortion in this underdeveloped country. This lack of reproductive choice will have a tremendous effect on the poor women of this nation.
Feminist eZine says, "If you tell people that an egg is a person and should have constitutional rights enough times, people will start to believe it."
This initiative is the anti-choicers’ newest tactic, according to Feminist eZine.
“Anti-choicers want this to be an expensive fight for us. They want us to use all of our time and resources fighting something that probably doesn’t stand much of a chance at this point anyway.”
They are encouraging students on campuses, the majority of whom are pro-choice, to fight this egg-as-person initiative. The eZine says, “If you are in Colorado or Mississippi don’t waste any time! Set the stage for major defeat this fall."
Add a Comment32 Comments
Hi,
April 30, 2010 - 7:33pmYou raise an excellent point that this egg-as-person concept will make more women unhappy. We don't need it. Women face all kinds of struggles in their reproductive choices and don't need self righteous individuals or legislation telling them what to do. It is up to women to decide what is best for them.
I really appreciate your very insightful comments and the compassion you show.
Anna
This Comment
I am sorry but i have a major problem with this egg as person thing...i don't care if a fertilized egg, human or otherwise, has the dna and the possibilty of becoming an individual whatever....it is not going to happen without being nurtured by being kept at the right temperature and moisture or by being kept in the womb until it matures enough to be a separate life. Therefore unless it can survive without it's mothers body it is not a person and cannot be given its own rights as it is still part of its mothers body and not a separate entity. i am not pro abortion by the way but i am fully convinced that a woman has the right to the ownership and control of her body and no one can tell her what to do. she can consult her loved one and doctor but when it comes to contraception or if necessary abortion...the woman has the right to decide on her health..mental and physical..and her future. I really sometimes believe the attitudes would be far different if it were men getting pregnant...and that some of these people who are supposedly pro life are simply carrying on the male attitude of the control of women.
April 30, 2010 - 3:02pmThis Comment
Hi,
April 30, 2010 - 3:24pmI definitely agree with you in that many people have the male attitude which involves controlling a woman's body. I have said that men are entitled to their opinions about abortion, and that is all. They have no right in making laws that restrict a woman's reproductive choice. And, yes I think it is very likely that attitudes would be different if men were the ones getting pregnant.
Anna
This Comment
I don't normally expect pro-aborts to be persuaded anyway. Anyone who worships at the altar of murdered preborn little boys and girls will most likely never be. I see you have selective reply syndrome. I didn't call anyone a liar, I'm only assuming they are but they may not be. You conveniently ignored my point that they may be extremely ignorant of biology. The fact is, if you refer to a newly created embryo as "egg-as-person," you are either ignorant of human biology or a liar. If someone knows better but still chooses to use the term "egg-as-person," what would you call them?
April 26, 2010 - 8:48pmThis Comment
Anonymous, you may be right, but it doesn't help to call people liars. Obviously there are people who come from a different perspective, and they won't exactly be convinced by hateful speech. I doubt you would be persuaded of anything if someone called you a liar...
It's better to try and express this as a really beautiful, positive, amazing reality: that this little microscopic thing has everything it needs to reach human adulthood the millisecond the egg and sperm join.
Catherine
April 26, 2010 - 4:38pmThis Comment
You raise excellent points.
April 23, 2010 - 7:30amAnna
This Comment
Egg-as-person? That's laughable. Lots of animals lay eggs but not human beings. Once fertilized, the egg from a female human being is no longer an egg. He is a human being in every sense of the word with all the DNA to determine his height, eye and hair color, facial features, fingerprints, etc. Calling them "egg-as-persons" shows you are either extremely ignorant of biology or liars. I assume the latter.
April 23, 2010 - 7:00amThis Comment
I would like to correct something I wrote. The only excellent point you make is that the egg-as-person argument is laughable. Another thing...we no longer say "he" in reference to humans in general, we say she or he.
April 27, 2010 - 7:21amAre you a biologist?
Anna
This Comment
I say "he." I don't care what you say. No, I am not a biologist. Are you?
April 27, 2010 - 6:59pmThis Comment
Using he to refer to all humans is not done nowadays. Humans can also be shes. No, I am not a biologist and don't pretend to be. One last question. Are you a man?
April 27, 2010 - 7:10pmAnna
This Comment