As human development science progresses, the nation is learning more about what a fetus is capable of throughout the gestation process. As a result, political opinions on the Pro-Life versus Pro-Choice debate are reflecting new, fundamental understandings about growing fetuses and what value they may have. We are forced to confront decisions about the human soul which were more easily swept under the rug 30 years ago. Perhaps, we are finally realizing that fetuses are more than "parasites" growing in-utero? (Even if we collectively don't believe in the soul, surely they aren't just parasites are they!)
Feminists in the United States turned pregnancy into a women's rights issue in the1920's (clearly it is linked to those rights but is it an exclusively female issue?). However, after years of outrageous claims by hardline feminists (e.g. growing infants are no different than cancerous tumors) their has been a backlash of public opinion. Scientific knowledge has advanced a long way since 1920 and these incredible claims no longer carry weight with an educated public. Yet, still, some of these arguments persist. (Lets not forget the group of individuals recently advocating for post-birth abortion, i.e. infanticide, because, in their view, there is no difference between a fetus and a newly born child.) TCD anticipates that over time, these positions will be very faux pas in the Pro-Choice movement because they are not received well by the public at large, though, it seems, many Pro-Choicers still firmly believe that fetuses aren't "human."
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