Does abortion really help poor women?

I greatly admire those who wish to improve the lives of the poor, and who work to accomplish such a noble goal. Gaylon Alcaraz of the Chicago Abortion Fund, in her Feb. 21 Fence Post letter, sees her organization as one which improves the lives of women and their families by helping them to obtain the abortions they otherwise could not afford.

Although her heart seems to be in the right place, the assumption that abortion improves the lives of woman and their families flies in the face of the facts. Research has shown again and again that abortion hurts, not helps, women. It often sends them into a downward spiral of depression and unhealthy behaviors. It often interferes with bonding with future children, and in most cases, it destroys the relationship of the mother of the aborted baby with the father of that baby.

If women are not ready to parent, as Ms. Alcaraz suggests as a reason for abortion, there are others who are ready to adopt and dedicate their lives to being the best parents they can be. In addition, women who at first feel they are not ready, find that with support they can be excellent mothers. Pregnancy helping centers exist to offer that support.

Women do have options — positive ones. Ms. Alcaraz states that abortion is a legal procedure that has been stigmatized and polarized by those who are against it. Slavery was also a legal practice that was stigmatized and polarized by those who were against it. Slavery dehumanized black people. Abortion dehumanizes babies in the womb, and the babies of black women are being destroyed and thrown away in much greater percentages than those of women of other races. Is this how we help poor, black women?

Barbara A. Smith

Naperville