When I began to look at the readings, I was actually pretty surprised by Hawkins stance on abortion. Hawkins begins by stating that “environmental considerations are relevant to the abortion debate and, conversely, that the abortion dispute ought to enter into a discussion of “feminism and environment”” (Hawkins, 690). Basically, Hawkins believes that we need to look at the “moral implications, from an environmentalist perspective” (Hawkins, 690) and see how life can ruin our planet. In the last few decades,  the human population has grown between 5 and 6 billion people and is still growing to this day (Hawkins, 690). The problem is that the projected maximum number of people is between 10 and 12 billion and it’s coming up a lot faster than it should. We should not be able to have 10-12 billion on our planet until the end of the next century but “the links between population growth, poverty, and environmental degradation, however, are becoming increasingly well documented, resulting in what has been called a “downward spiral”” (Hawkins, 690). “With the destruction of habitats and fragmentation of population, entire species are dwindling and disappearing as a result of human activities… The changes are so enormous that conservation biologists… have been discussing a possible end to evolution” (Hawkins, 691). To combat this, Hawkins begins by saying it would be useful to begin limiting the population. Many people would agree that this is necessary but that it should only be for the Third World nations and not a wealthy nation (Hawkins, 691). The best way to limit the population is abortion but “abortion is seen as isolatable from the larger picture, not an “acceptable method” of birth control” (Hawkins,691). Abortion plays a huge role in the long-term welfare of developing countries and by “limiting the ecologically damaging effects of the human population in all parts of the globe (Hawkins, 692). The birth rate in developing countries has lowered which is great but “the environmental toll taken by each new human born within the “developed” world will be very much greater than that of one born elsewhere.” (Hawkins, 692). To help with this, those living in “industrialized nations can lower our overall destructive effect on the natural environment both by reducing the amount and nature of our consumption and by reducing the number of us that consume the planet’s precious resources” (Hawkins, 692). Hawkins stated that all of this material is meant to educate others about the “practical importance of ecological concerns to the abortion debate… It also suggests the theoretical importance of ecological concern to the abortion debate” (Hawkins, 693). I stated at the top  that I was surprised by Hawkins stance on abortion and it’s due to the ecofeminist stance on abortion. Abortion is “viewed as a “masculine” response to unwanted pregnancy that “fails to respect the interconnectedness  of all life”” (Hawkins, 693). However, Hawkins does not stand by this view and explains that “at the time, recognition of our connectedness with all other life on the planet reinforces the need for abortion. When the interests of life in this larger sense are taken into consideration, the prochoice position is the one most deserving of the adjective “profile”” (Hawkins, 693). 

Hawkins stance on abortion is significantly different compared to others. There are three main views on abortion: the extreme conservative view, the extreme liberal view, and moderate views which lies somewhere in-between both (Gordon). Conservatives see abortion as murder and they claim that personhood begins in the womb, this often comes from a very religious standpoint. Even though it often comes from a religious standpoint, some religions are all for abortion. I am Jewish and in my religion, we believe life starts after birth and that abortion is okay. I took a class last year at my old college where my professor was a world renowned Rabbi, he went into great detail about how abortion is allowed in our religion and how we do not have the right to tell others what to do with their bodies. Liberals claim that personhood begins after birth and moderates believe they are both wrong and right.When reading, I saw something that I did not agree with. I read that although feminism is linked to abortion rights, it’s not necessarily connected and I have to disagree with that. I view feminism as equal rights for all and that includes the right to choose what you do with your body and when. For myself, abortion and feminism go hand in hand and if someone claims they’re a feminist but not prochoice, I cannot see them as a feminist. Personally, I would have to agree with Hawkins/extreme liberals on this. I am all for abortion if the person carrying the child wants or needs one but I also see how abortion can help us preserve our planet for future generations. 

Works Cited:

Gordon, John-Stewart. “Abortion.” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, www.iep.utm.edu/abortion/.

Jaggar, Alison M. Living with Contradictions Controversies in Feminist Social Ethics. Routledge, 2018.