Running head; SOCIAL EFFECTS OF ABORTION IN TEXAS

Literature Analysis: Social Effects of Abortion in Texas

Marcos Cobos
University of Texas at El Paso
English 1312
Professor Salome

Running head; SOCIAL EFFECTS OF ABORTION IN TEXAS

Abstract
The Purpose of literary analysis is to be able to acknowledge what social effects has
abortion caused in Texas. Through the paper the states of Texas would be set as a whole while
still being part of the United States. It would be an analysis of how the people living in Texas
behave towards what has become an issue over the years, abortion. The author of this analysis
would not have any bias toward abortion, it will all be based on facts and comments the people
have given through interviews, surveys, and publications by various media. All of the opinions,
thoughts, or believes are not from the author but from what the people of Texas have responded
to. To have the best analysis possible, the paper would give points of view or actions conducted
by average people, medical people, and politicians/organizations.

Running head; SOCIAL EFFECTS OF ABORTION IN TEXAS

Introduction: Defining Abortion and Texas

When it comes to the word abortion a huge battle what is the definition for it always breaks up.
Abortion is a word that comes out in dictionaries, health vocabulary, religion, and in our
everyday life. The definition of abortion on the medical field would be something like a
premature stoppage of a natural or a pathological process(Dorlands Medical Dictionary). But
when the term abortion was looked up in the Merriam Webster dictionary is stated a medical
procedure used to end a pregnancy and cause the death of the fetus(Merriam Webster). Similar
to the definition of the medical, but with addition of the strong word death in it. A word that
someone who considers themselves as Christian/Catholic would use to describe abortion. For
example, on a Christian website the definition found for abortion is a deliberant murder of
precious human life(ChristiaNet). So in general all of the definitions are very similar just with
different words in order to have them favor more what the author thinks towards abortion.
The practice of abortion was only settled legally in the United States in 1973 when the Reo v.
Wade case reached the Supreme Courts attention. The constitution does not allow the states
overwrite it there decisions. Yet it does not impede the states to regulate the law for what they
prefer. That being said the state of Texas has the right to impose laws that directly affect the right
to abortion. For that reason keep in mind that Texas is border town with a unique mix culture
from both Mexico and the United States. Not only that but we must consider that Texas was its
own nation for about 10 years who fought its own battles and created its own laws. Making the
people of Texas have pride in themselves. So with these two facts over Texas, the analysis will
intend to answer the following three questions.
1. How has the society in Texas reacted to the topic of abortion?

Running head; SOCIAL EFFECTS OF ABORTION IN TEXAS

2. What are the people in power are doing about this?

3. What events have occurred in Texas due to abortion laws?
How has the society in Texas reacted to the Topic of Abortion?
Although no two people are the same, having similar life styles and believes could make
them behave or react under certain circumstances alike. When it comes to the topic of abortion it
is very difficult to not be informed about it. Therefore The Texas Abortion Survey was held out
to twenty random people living in Texas on the first week of October 2014 to view their thoughts
to abortion. The following graph would demonstrate the result to what these twenty people
answered to the survey and would be elaborated throughout the review.

Texas Abortion Survey

20
15
10
5
0

Have you
heard
about
abortion?

Yes

20

Should
people
have a
right to
abortion?
14

Should
Health
Insurance
cover
abortion
15

Should
Best case Worst case
anyone
scenerio,
scenerio,
elsebe
would you would you
notified/co
have an
have an
nsidered? abortion? abortion?
4
0
2

No

15

20

11

Depends

Figure 1. The comparison on how the people answer to the survey of abortion in Texas.

Every single one out of the twenty answered that they have heard about abortion at least
once. Not only that but out of those 20, 17 said that they hear about it very often through media,
lectures, and conversations. Giving a sense that a vast majority of the people that live in Texas

Running head; SOCIAL EFFECTS OF ABORTION IN TEXAS

know about abortion at least the broadly. In the survey everyone agreed that abortion was
clearly an issue that has not been solved and only gotten tenser in the past decade. When asked
at what level has abortion gone to? The responses where in a very large scale, but with
justification of why they believed that. Nine out of twenty responded that the abortion issue had
reached state level. Though many said it only reached that far because that is what the politicians
want. That they did not really care what the people want, according to the survey comments.
Therefore when Dr. Leyser was asked, why does the society think this? She supported them on
having that mentality. Well you know those laws were enacted for political and not health
reasons. Not saying that the intention was this, but that unfortunately their laws motivate the
people to think they were the guilty on this issue. Another huge portion (11/20) of the people
answered that abortion is such a big issue that is over passed the national level into the
international. Many using the excuse abortion was being practiced around the world. And since
religions that crashed with abortion are also practiced worldwide is why it becomes an
international conflict. But although this could be true, the controversy came when Dr. Leyser
made a point when she relate religion-abortion with religion-slavery. Many years ago Texas was
a slave state, and its people would use the bible or the word of the lord to justify slavery. But to
present time own[ing] slaves is completely against the law (Personal interview w/ Dr. Leyser).
Demonstrating how people would ignore or adjust religion to whatever satisfy them more.
After discussing if abortion was an issue and to what magnitude had it reached the focus
shifted to what was the opinion of the Texans on the right to have an abortion? As mentioned
before the people of Texans have quite some pride on their decisions. When asked if anyone has
the right to an abortion? Six options where given but only two choices where being selected. It
seems that health, economy, or sexual assault does not influence on their perspective towards

Running head; SOCIAL EFFECTS OF ABORTION IN TEXAS

abortion. Fourteen out of twenty chose the answered that no one should have the right to have an
abortion while the other six said that everyone has the right. But no none of the twenty gave a
reason or a comment for why they had chosen there answer. After that they people of the survey
where asked if abortion should be covered by health insurance? And although no one gave a
concrete yes apparently they realize that abortion is sometime necessary when health is in danger.
Out of the twenty, fifteen agreed that if health was in risk due to the pregnancy, and they were
already paying for health insurance, should cover the abortion. One commented that it should
only by allowed if the situation was becoming life threatening. The other five answered that
insurance should never cover an abortion under any circumstances. But even though most of
them were made their decisions based on morals Dr. Leyser describes the society somewhat
uninformed. Health insurance companies are based on a profit model and not based on health or
morality. So from their perspective they should provide for it(Personal Interview with Dr.
Leyser). Later they were asked if should anyone else (aside from the person having the abortion
and the people conducting the abortion) be notified and/or have their consent when someone is
having an abortion? Answers like the male partner and parents, were selected by five people
while the rest answered that no one else should have the right to know about the procedure.
Possibly because they think similar to Dr. Leyser. She also stated that no one should be notified
and justified it by saying that the clinics are not able prove that the anyone else who is notified
about the abortion be there to help out the person having the baby and throughout the babys
growth. For that reason, the person that should be notified anything having to do with the
abortion is the person having the abortion.
Now for the final stage, two questions where asked. That would put the surveyed people
on spot light in order to acknowledge towards what side did they are most leaned to. The first

Running head; SOCIAL EFFECTS OF ABORTION IN TEXAS

question was, considering the best case scenario in life with no health issues. Would you
consider having an abortion? Here is where all 20 agreed that they would not have an abortion.
Demonstrating that if there is no reason for abortion, then they wont have one. Being pregnant
and having a baby is not an issue for a majority Texans. The following question then would
have the purpose to see if the opinions or thoughts changed on the people that took the survey.
The following question they had to consider them being in the worst circumstances in the future.
Would they ever consider having an abortion? An astonishing change in numbers came when
only 11 remained firm on not to have an abortion. While two actually choose that they could
have an abortion in the worst circumstances. But the rest, which added up to 7 did not have an
answer to this. Although some did leave comments like, I would have to be living it, or I
cant imagine me in those circumstances, and it would be a decision that would not only be
mine. Clearly demonstrating that their way of thinking and viewing things changes dramatically
in most Texans when going from 3rd to 1st person.
What are the people in power doing about the issue?
Being realistic about the way people life is considering what the people in power do. It is
true the when living in the United States you are free. As long as one lives according to the laws
implemented by those in power. Or else be punished if found guilty for violating them. So as
mentioned before abortion is legal in the United States, but each state has the right to regulate the
law. So depending on how the politicians view the issue is the way they make the laws. In Texas
it seems that politicians are not in favor of abortion as they created obstacles or alternatives for
people who want an abortion. The whole Roe v. Wade case was taken to Supreme Court because
a women and Her attorneys alleged that the abortion law in Texas (the state in which she lived)
violated her constitutional rights and the rights of other women (Alters., 2012, p.52) not being

Running head; SOCIAL EFFECTS OF ABORTION IN TEXAS

allowed to have an abortion. Since then a great number of proposals, cases, and laws have
occurred due to the Supreme Court favoring the women to have an abortion. A great example is
the law that took effect on September 1, 2011 in Texas in which it states that at least 24 hours
before an abortion is performed, women must undergo a sonogram, a procedure that uses
ultrasound to create an image(Castillo., 2011). Which then the doctor must in a manner
understandable to a layperson, [give] a verbal explanation of the results of the sonogram images,
including a medical description of the dimensions of the embryo or fetus, the presence of cardiac
activity, and the presence of external members and internal organs(Castillo., 2011). Which
according to Lucy Nashed the law was created to ensure that all Texans are fully informed
when considering such an important decision(Castillo., 2011). Contradicting that statement
Yvonne Gutierrez, vice president for public affairs at the Planned Parenthood Trust of South
Texas, mentioned What no one is focusing on is that this is a mandate to humiliate women who
want an abortion"(Castillo., 2011). Later on Planned Parenthood a postage stated that there is no
medical reason for requiring women to come 24 hours in advance(Texas Abortion Laws). The
only thing the law did was requiring multiple visits [to the clinic, which] makes things more
inconvenient for women during a stressful time in their lives(Texas Abortion Laws). Quickly
becoming a conflict between politicians and an organization that protects womens rights.
Another law that recently came out August 2014 was when a federal judge in Austin,
Tex., struck down one of the toughest restrictions in the abortion law a requirement that all
abortion clinics in the state meet the same building, equipment and staffing standards as hospitalstyle surgical centers(Fernandez., 2014). A great obstacle that again the state of Texas has put
on in front of those who want to clear the road for abortion. It was estimated by Abortion
providers [that] the requirement would force a number of clinics to close because they could not

Running head; SOCIAL EFFECTS OF ABORTION IN TEXAS

afford the estimated $3 million to build a new facility that met the standards or the $1.5 million
to retrofit an existing clinic(Fernandez.,2014). Which many considered the law to be
unconstitutional as it was prohibiting licensed physicians to work on what they something legal
they know how to do, because almost all the clinics are closed. Aside from the professional
doctors view, women are also seeing this law as unconstitutional because if they really need an
abortion due to health issues they must then drive more than 150 miles [to get] to the nearest
facility(Fernandez., 2014). Which aside from being inconvenient and unnecessary, it makes it
dangerous and expensive as either driving long distance or having to pay somewhere close to
stay close by after the abortion is done, are huge issues.
Issues that are damaging the health in the body of the women. If a women is pregnant at
a young age before their body has developed to one of an adult can affect their health negatively.
Reason being that as Young adolescents do not yet have a fully developed pelvis(Facts for
Life) until they are around above the age of 18. For that reason if a young women has a
pregnancy to the time giving birth to the child can result in serious consequences. Health
consequences like eclampsia, fistula, anaemia (thin blood)(Facts for Life) among many
others. But even then, the politicians do not let the women of this age have control of their own
body to protect their own health. On the Texas legislature on chapter 33 the law states that A
physician may not perform an abortion on a pregnant unemancipated minor(CH. 33). Unless
that the physician who will be doing the abortion gives at least a 48 hours actual notice to the
guardian who must the give the consent to the abortion(CH. 33) in order to proceed.
What events have occurred in Texas due to abortion laws?

Which becomes very controversial as some protest that law does not allow the young
generation to take care of their health. While others justify that if they were concerned with

Running head; SOCIAL EFFECTS OF ABORTION IN TEXAS

health they wouldnt have ever even gotten pregnant. For example when the law that intended to
close many abortion clinics in Texas went onto review by the Supreme Court. Eleven
members of the pro-choice activist group Stop Patriarchy were arrested(dailycaller) for
protesting the revision in a non-peaceful manner. It seems that the fear of the Supreme Court
over ruling the Texas law that every abortion is clinic to be equipped as an emergency hospital
made them act in an non peace full manner. Another dramatic event that went on was the
writing down of license plates on those involved with abortion. As posted by the RH Reality
Check news a group of Anti-choice leaders told their trainees to write down the license plate
numbers of abortion-providing doctors and abortion-seeking patients( Texas Abortion Clinic),
which created fear in many doctors and their patients. Because even when all the records are
kept confidential, having the license plates written down by strangers can cause them insecurity
for now knowing what people are capable of.

But the pro-choice people are not the only ones making public events which expressing
their perspective towards the abortion laws when they come out. For example on July 1, 2013
group of Thousands of demonstrators descended on the Texas Capitol expressing their
opposition to new abortion restrictions [which had become effective a week before] that a
Democratic filibuster and raucous protests derailed(Protesters Face Off). They were expressing
that the law had nothing to do with protecting the health of the women. The whole objective
they feel the law had behind it was to shutter the states abortion clinics(Protesters Face Off).
The protest was so big that the rally on the Capitols south steps was the largest seen in Austin
for years(Protesters Face OFf) that even television stars along with Natalie Maines where
cheering the crowd.

10

Running head; SOCIAL EFFECTS OF ABORTION IN TEXAS

Conclusion
In conclusion the issue of abortion has not been set, even though the law contradicts it.
Other laws and events make the conflict reappear in the society of Texas without having the
people come to an agreement in which the majority would be satisfied. As Dr. Leyser mentioned
the only way to have the majority of the happy with abortion is still legal will be if the number
of abortions done goes down, to the numbers other countries have. And the way to achieve that
is by the society of Texas adapted to the way other countries have in order to lower those
abortion numbers.

11

Running head; SOCIAL EFFECTS OF ABORTION IN TEXAS

References
The Worldwide Christian Community: Definition Of Abortion. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19,
2014, from http://www.christianet.com/abortionfacts/definitionofabortion.htm
Abortion. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2014,from
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abortion
Alters, S. (2012). Abortion: An Eternal Social and Moral Issue (2012 ed. ed.). Detroit, MI: Gale
Cengage Learning.
Castillo, M. (2011, May 20). Texas las required sonograms, explanation before abortions.CNN
Polotics. Retrieved October 6, 2014, from
http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/20/texas.abortion.sonogram/
Texas Abortion Laws. (n.d.). Retrieved October 6, 2014, from
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-center-for-choice/texas-abortionlaws
Fernandez, M. (2014, September 12). Both Sides Cite Urgency in Court appeal of a Texas Law
on Abortion. New York Times. Retrieved October 6, 2014, from
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/13/us/both-sides-cite-urgency-in-court-appeal-of-atexas-law-on-abortion-clinics.html?_r=0
CHAPTER 33. NOTICE ON ABORTION. (n.d.). In FAMILY CODE: CHILD IN RELATION
TO THE FAMILY: LIMITATION OF MINORITY. Austin, TX: Texas State Legislature.
TIMING BIRTHS. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2014, from
http://www.factsforlifeglobal.org/01/1.html
Associated Press. (2013, July 1). Protesters face off at the Texas Capitol over abortion bill.
Retrieved October 23, 2014, from
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20130701-abortion-demonstrators-arrivingearly-for-texas-capitol-rally.ece
Grimes, A. (2012, August 12). Texas Abortion Clinic Protesters Told to Track License Plates .
Retrieved October 23, 2014, from http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2014/08/12/texas-abortionclinic-protesters-told-track-license-plates/
Abortion Activists Arrested After Texas Abortion Law Trial. (2014, August 14). Retrieved
October 23, 2014, from http://dailycaller.com/2014/08/14/abortion-activists-arrestedafter-texas-abortion-law-trial/
abortion. (n.d.) Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. (2007). Retrieved October
30 2014 from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/abortion

12