Is abortion really just a 'woman's issue'?

For decades, mainstream culture has framed abortion as solely a “woman’s issue,” telling men to simply “mind their own business.” As a result, countless pro-life men have abandoned their convictions, while a staggering number of younger men never form any opinion on abortion at all. As a pro-life woman, I see this apathy all too often when talking with men about abortion. Here’s why abortion is an “everyone issue.” 

1. The unborn child is inside a woman’s body, not part of her body. 
   

Most people would agree that it’s reasonable to tell a pregnant woman not to harm her child by drinking alcohol; by the same logic, shouldn’t we be even more willing to say that the child's life shouldn't be taken? When an innocent human being’s right to life is being violated, everyone is obligated to speak up, regardless of where that injustice is taking place. 

2. Studies show that women value their male partner’s input when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. 
   

One study performed by Lifeway Research found that women who have abortions say their male partner was the most influential factor in their decision, even more than their family members or doctor. According to another study, 48 percent of women cite fear of single motherhood or relationship problems as a reason for choosing abortion. If all men proved themselves as trustworthy and dependable partners, abortions would dramatically decline. 

As a man, you may never experience an unplanned pregnancy with someone, but you can make a difference by sharing your pro-life convictions with other men in your life so they’re grounded in truth if ever faced with that situation. 

3. Abortion affects men more than you probably realize. 
   

Many people assume that because abortion takes place in a woman’s body, she’s the only one in the relationship that’s affected—but did you know that abortion impacts men too? In fact, research shows that 71 percent of men, regardless of abortion views, report adverse changes in themselves after a partner undergoes the procedure. Combined with the statistic that 20 percent of men experience abortion in their lifetime, that means that approximately one in seven men live with negative impacts because of the loss of their unborn son or daughter.

As we’ve established, abortion affects three different people—the unborn child, the woman, and the man. Yet, as a young woman who has been active in the pro-life movement for several years, I’ve begun to see a pattern: men are a small minority among the numerous women committed to the cause. When it comes to ending abortion and restoring a culture that values human life, strong men who speak the truth about abortion are vitally important. Men, I urge you: be pro-life, teach your friends and family to be pro-life, and raise pro-life children. You’re part of the solution.