Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Cloning Individualism - 2073 Words

Results May Vary: Adam Phillips’s Theory of Cloning and The Paradoxical Apotheosis of Individualism Adam Phillips’s essay â€Å"Sameness Is All† takes the form of a dialogue with two children to introduce the fantasy of cloning in which everyone is identical. Specifically, Phillips observes that cloning is a â€Å"denial of difference and dependence† which leads to a â€Å"refusal of need† (92). However, Phillip remains mindful that such fantasy of physical or psychological sameness is implausible as everyone is different - even clones. One then questions the significance of such wanting of sameness, or if the sense of sameness serves any purpose. Using the concept of Self and Other that Joanne Finkelstein examines in â€Å"The Self as†¦show more content†¦The reader sees that the Self and the Other appear to exist in an obligate symbiotic relationship, where both the Self and Other are dependent on each other for continued existence, and elucidates the reader on the interdependency of the Self and Other. After highlighting the interdependency of the Self and Other, Finkelstein uses this association between Self and Other to delineate the adverse consequences of this symbiotic relationship. By identifying the halo effect as a source of social pressure to conform, Finkelstein allows the reader to see Phillip’s theory of cloning as a feasible solution to the inherent issues of social injustice and despair in this concept: DeJong and Kleck (1986:66) maintain that†¦the overweight not only do not have an acceptable physical appearance but are also perceived as characterologically flawed..the halo effect, which explains why attractive people are gratuitously assigned other valued attributes, can be seen to work in reverse for the overweight who are instead attributed with deficits of character. (181) The halo effect mentioned by DeJong and Kleck refers to individuals being perceived as having socially desirable personality traits on the basis of desirable physical attributes, and thus â€Å"gratuitously assigned other valued attributes.† Conversely, an unattractive individual will be perceived as having sociallyShow MoreRelatedIs Cloning Be A Debate Of Morals And Human Privileges?1477 Words   |  6 PagesHuman cloning is unethical since it steps back from human identity. In addition, it brings emotional mental damage for the cloned kid and absolutely discards the basic biological gene selection. For the most part, not a single person can manage to ignore the procedure that is made in science today. Whereas scientific research, for instance grants us information and the procedure of being able to clone human beings, which is something nobody ever assumed could be possible. After watching the movieRead MoreThe Cloning Of The Sheep1749 Words   |  7 PagesName: Lanster Ya ng Teacher: Mrs. DeGregorio Course: English III Date: 8 May 2015 Human Cloning Cloning of Dolly the Sheep was a first on many fronts. First, it represented the first mammal ever to be cloned from a somatic cell. It also sets a benchmark on which to evaluate other animal cloning experiments going forward. Secondly, her cloning was the start of controversy and panic in regards to animal cloning, as it raised the question of whether scientists would seek to clone humans too, and theRead MoreEssay on An Argument Against Cloning1198 Words   |  5 PagesAn Argument Against Cloning Increase in genetic knowledge has created challenges in our society. Daniel Callahan focuses on these challenges and expresses his worry about the society (soil) on which this genetic knowledge is growing. Callahan asks the question of what kind of society (soil) is most likely be hazardous and introduces three patterns: 1) societies that demonize death and illness; 2) those societies that want to find biological solutions to social problems; and 3) societies with postmodernRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Human Cloning1532 Words   |  7 Pagesindividual’s perspectives, human cloning is something that I feel is unjust. Human cloning is fallacious and immoral due to lack of positive results and lack of liberty to the individual being duplicated. In this paper, I will discuss why human cloning should no longer be considered a means of reproducing and also discuss why the numbers themselves should deter someone from wanting to be cloned. As Leon R. Kass states in his article, â₠¬Å"Cloning of human beings†, the cloning of a human being takes away fromRead More Attack of the Cloning Regulations Essay2139 Words   |  9 PagesAttack of the Cloning Regulations Better and new technologies and ideas are constantly introduced through the passage of time, most of which are just for the convenience of modern life. There is usually not much of an objection when they are introduced into society because the pros of the idea greatly outweigh the cons; however, this is not the case with the discovery that human cloning is now practically possible. When a breakthrough like cloning comes about regulations must be set forthRead MoreThe Cloning Debate On Cloning1227 Words   |  5 PagesEva Gaetz Sec 09 Kanchan Hulasare The Cloning Debate According to Mosby’s Medical Dictionary, the term â€Å"cloning† is defined as â€Å"a procedure for producing multiple copies of genetically identical organisms or cells or of individual genes.† Researchers have conducted several cloning experiments over the years, replicating tissues, organs, and even full organisms such as Dolly the Sheep in 1997. The history of cloning dates back to the early 1900’s when Hans Adolf Edward Dreisch studied the resultsRead MoreThe Limits Of Scientific Limits1306 Words   |  6 Pagesthat scientists should be forbade to perform experiments that â€Å"play god† in order to ease their curiosity. Furthermore, the issue is derived from a conflict of ethos; thus, Guinan believes in stronger regulations toward unethical experiments such as cloning and stem cell research. With the intention of playing god, scientists attempt to manipulate certain pathogens that are directed toward a specific people. In an attempt at ethically swaying his audience, Professor Guinan discusses the idea that aRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1192 Words   |  5 Pagesdirect cause of the political tribulations that were polluting the civilized world. When asked about the idea behind her novel Anthem Rand exclaimed â€Å"I got the idea in my school days, in Soviet Russia, when I heard all the vicious attacks on individualism, and asked myself what the world would be like if men lost the word â€Å"I† (Anthem). Rand’s own personal experiences with communism and collectivism helped her to create her main character Equality 7-2521. Intelligent and curious about the lawsRead MoreAlcohol in Our Society; Huxleys View in Relation to Brave New World833 Words   |  4 Pagesboth the good and bad sides of cloning and mass production of humans through science. Huxley’s book, published in 1932, conveys his well-developed and disturbingly accurate ideas about human behavior in what was then the distant future. In addition, his writing measures the capacity for which humans can obsess over not only having a perfect society, but also having total control over everyone and everything in a world where nothing is wild and untamed. Individualism is seen as a cause of instabilityRead More The High Cost of Stability in Aldous Huxleys Brave New World3892 Words   |  16 Pagesfollow the tracks preset for them. Stability is a goal in every society. It may be achieved by the cloning of citizens. Advances in biological research in the new world allow one embryo to separate into ninety-six individual embryos by means of the Bokanovsky Process, an advanced method of cloning. Embryos destined to be the lower classes (Gamma, Delta and Epsilon) are cloned, and the cloning ensures social stability of the lower classes. Essentially †¦ bokanovskification consists of a series

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Education Is It Worth It Essay - 701 Words

Furthering Education. Is It Worth It? It has always been instilled in the minds of children at a young age by their parents to pursue a college education. Innovations in technology have come a long way and education is no exception to such advancements in how material is taught. Jobs nowadays require more than just a high school diploma, trade school/vocational school certificate, or even a GED. The significance of investing in post-secondary education comes with the added benefits of having increased chances of securing a job, earning higher salaries, and having the necessary knowledge and skills to become a productive member of the ever changing society. Having a college education not only increases the chance of getting a job but also broadens the choices of what jobs and opens the door to ample work opportunities. As opposed to those with a degree, people without a degree are limited as to what positions they qualify for and instead have to rely on their prior work experience for employment. One main reason why people should further their education is so that they are able to determine their interests in life and develop a career around what they have a passion for. People with an educational background beyond that of high school are much more marketable to employers scouting for prospective employees. College graduates have opportunities for advancing within their workplace, and in turn earning more than they initially started with. On the other hand, college is notShow MoreRelatedIs A College Education Worth It?1018 Words   |  5 PagesIn today’s society, the idea of receiving a college education has been pondered quite a bit as to whether or not it is actually worth it. According to Michelle Adam, many people â€Å"†¦today believe that getting a good education is key to success in our society, this revealed surprising issues that challenge the notion of higher education being worth its price tag† (59). Naturally, many high school gra duates apply for college right before or after graduation. Others decide to go into the work force, armedRead MoreIs College Education Worth It?1366 Words   |  6 PagesIs College Education Worth It? Have you ever wondered how much some of our nation’s top college presidents are paid? If not, then the CNN documentary Ivory Tower is a good starting point. The continual increase of college tuition and student loans has made headlines in the news recently, mostly because of the alarming amount of student debt in the United States. According to the College Board, in 2010, students graduated from college owing an average of $25,250 in student loans; the highest amountRead MoreIs College Worth A Education?1140 Words   |  5 PagesIs college worth attending? Many graduating students are leaving college today with enormous amounts of student’s loans debt. Sometimes they do not obtain the college degree that they were going to school for. Today many induvial believe that getting a good education is the key to success in our society. There are issues that challenge the notion of higher education being worth its price. While in college, many students suffer stress from all the school work and responsibilities that is requiredRead MoreIs A College Education Worth It?1443 Words   |  6 PagesMarch 2016 Is a College Education Worth It? Is the American dream just a dream?The worth of a college education is arguably one of the most controversial topics in the country. Over the years, the American education system seems to emphasize and underline the importance of college education. The reality of the situation is that a college education can be appreciated through looking at the statistical numbers of people that have enrolled in to college education. A college education is valued because ofRead MoreIs Higher Education Worth It?856 Words   |  4 PagesIn recent discussions of is higher education worth it?. A controversial issue has been whether studying in colleges or universities is necessary to be successful in life. On the one hand, some argue that higher education is too expensive and waste of time and money. From this perspective, there are many arguments about if higher education is good for this generation of students. On the other hand, others argue that adults should have a good quality of learning and sho uld get a certificate from aRead MoreIs Higher Education Worth It?930 Words   |  4 PagesIs Higher Education Worth It? When young adults finish high school they are driven to enroll into a higher education program. With the constant talks of soaring tuition costs, in addition to the massive student loan debt, taking this step can be worrisome. Reyna Gobel, a journalist on financing college and repaying student debt, states. â€Å"It’s easy to stop believing that a college education is worth it when the nation has over a trillion dollars in debt, but college graduates still earn more overRead MoreIs College Education Worth It?1460 Words   |  6 PagesIs College Education Worth It? Have you ever wondered how much some of our nation’s top college presidents earn as compensations? If not, then the CNN documentary Ivory Tower is a good starting point. The continual increase of college tuition and student loans has made headlines in the news recently, mostly because of the alarming amount of student debt in the United States. According to the College Board, in 2010, students graduated from college owing an average of $25,250 in student loans; theRead MoreIs A College Education Worth It?1533 Words   |  7 PagesIs a college education worth it? While it is important to get a college education, there are many people who cannot afford to go to college. Going to college leaves adults in millions of dollars in debt for many years. This results in adults working most their life to just pay off their education. However, starting work right out of high school instead of going to a 4-year college has been more appealing to some people. Going to a trade school is les s expensive and less time consuming. However, notRead MoreHigher Education : Is It Worth It?977 Words   |  4 PagesHigher Education – Is It Worth It? Everyone always says that college is what you’re supposed to do after graduating; College has become an â€Å"expected† part of life. Everyone always says that you’re degree or â€Å"academic qualifications† is what will lead you on the road of success and help you achieve your goals. However, is it actually putting you on the road to success? Are your academic qualifications indeed important to your chances of a successful career? I think so. I find that a higher educationRead MoreEducation Is Worth The Cost2023 Words   |  9 Pages Findings â€Å"We can’t allow higher education to be a luxury in this country. It’s an economic imperative that every family in American has to be able to afford.† - President Barack Obama The majority of American students graduate from high school with hopes of continuing on to higher education. Getting a degree is part of the American Culture, yet it is becoming more difficult to achieve. Recent graduates have incurred an average debt of $35,200 with incomes remaining still. This has caused many Americans

Monday, December 9, 2019

Public Health Analysis

Question: Analysing the impact of operating vegetable and fruit garden on the students fruit and vegetable intake behaviour in the low socio-economic Australian schools. Answer: Research questions What is the impact of having vegetable and fruit gardens in low socio-economic schools on the dietary intake of students in that school? How effective are the existence of vegetable and fruit gardens in improving the dietary intake of children studying in low socio-economic schools of Australia? What is the difference in students dietary intake of schools having gardens and schools not having the gardens in the low socio-economic zone of Australia? What are the challenges related to enhancing the fruit and vegetable dietary intake for students in low socio-economic schools of Australia? What are the suitable recommendations for improving the fruit and vegetable dietary intake for students in low socio-economic schools of Australia? Background Since ancient believes along with scientific evidential support it is proven that fruits and vegetables are one of the essential dietary elements or foods that help in controlling poor health effects by increasing immunity, providing essential nutritions, and minimizing the risk to diseases[1]. In the recent era, there are more and more interventions and activities to improve the health diet consumption that includes fruit and vegetables as major components of the nutritious diet. As per WHO studies, food and vegetables can minimise the risk factors related to obesity, hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and several types of cancer producing elements. The low fibrous diet (no fruits and vegetables) is one of the top ten global mortality risk factors[2],[3]. While studying the social determinants affecting the dietary behaviour of people it was proven that poverty, low income, unemployment and lack of proper health education are major social determinants that lead to poor dietary consumption in adults as well as children. It was also indicated that low socio-economic regions persist the habit of poor diet resulting in high rate of infections and diseases in these regions. The children living in low socio-economic zones of developed countries like Australia, Untied States and the United Kingdom show a very low daily fruit and vegetable intake with only 224g/day due to bad eating habits containing foods like chips, chocolates, biscuits and trans foods[4]. The school-based community gardens are one such practice that helps to re-establish the traditional practice of eating and developing health food relationships for children[5]. The viewpoint of feeding children with good eating habits and diet along with education in schools, there are school gardens established by public and private sector to maximise the healthy eating habit in initial ages of life. The school gardens containing fruits and vegetable targets to improve the eating habits, enhance nutritious diet, minimise risk to diseases and pollution to overcome the increasing mortality rate for future generations[6]. As per biological and behavioural aspects the overall physical, mental and psychological development of humans occur at the age of 5 to 17 years, therefore, the behaviour developed within this period becomes a lifetime habit of the individual. Hence, getting children involves in healthy eating habits will assure an increased life expectancy1. The research of indicates that school-based health programmes and interventions are working as good measures to control health inequalities in children. The existence of school-based vegetable and fruit gardens help to enhance the fruit and vegetable dietary intake in children. However, developing school gardens persist potential to improve the eating habits of children but there is a lack of research and experiments confirming the impact of this practice[7]. As school gardening is an innovative practice there are missing literature sources to confirm the positive impact of school gardening on the dietary habits of children. Secondly, there is less focus on analysing the dietary behaviour of children living in low socio-economic zones. There are very less random controlled trials that analyse the impact of school gardening on the dietary impact of specific regions childrens especially belonging to the low socio-economic group. Further, there are researches only comparing the dietary habits of boys and girls living in remote regions 3 or only analysing the lunchtime vegetable intake habits of children, a recent study 6implemented researches on either fruit or vegetable intake, not both together [8]. In the research field, the low socio-economic regions somehow due to unclear reasons, get neglected in health promotions studies related to dietary habits. However, even the available research data on school gardening and dietary behaviour of children limit sample size as well as time duration for research 1,[9],[10]. All the above-mentioned literature gaps are governed in the current research making it a unique and exception research work. A comparison of student dietary habits of low socio-economic schools having vegetable and fruit gardens with schools not having such gardens will provide a complete outlook on the impact of the effective gardening practice on the food eating habits. Further, an appropriate sample size and workable research time also implemented in this research. Rationale of research Due to lack of specific research sources on analysing the impact of fruit and vegetable gardens in low socio-economic schools of Australia as well as lack of experimental research on the impact of school gardening on the dietary habit of students in low socio-economic schools, the research focuses specifically on analysing the effect of fruit and vegetable garden presence on the fruit and vegetable intake habits of children studying in low socio-economic schools compared to intake habits of children in low socio-economic schools not having fruit and vegetable garden. Research plan Study design The research method will involve the use of descriptive study design to perform a comparative analysis on the basis of the survey. The descriptive design is supported with positivism research philosophy and deductive research approach that will initiate an objective based research along with a hypothesis development to observation making study[11]. Participants and sample size The Non-probability sampling technique will be employed in research to select low socio-economic schools from the two major low-socio economic locations in Australia[12]. These regions will be selected as per the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA). The five selected regions are Belyuen and Napranum that belongs to the Northern Territory and Queensland of Australia that is considered as most disadvantaged areas of the country[13]. The participants of research will be ten low socio-economic schools randomly belonging to these two regions. These ten schools will be distributed into two research groups that are Research group I, 5-low-socio economic schools having fruit and vegetable gardens existing minimum from last 1 year and Research group-II (control group), 5- low socio-economic schools having no fruit and vegetable gardens. The schools having independent and existing vegetable and fruit gardens will only be selected as Research group-I and schools having an absence of such gardens will be selected as Research group-II or control group. A large sample size of (n=200) students from each group belonging to age group 7 to 10 years will be taken as research sample to analyse their fruit and vegetable dietary intake habit. It means the testing sample group (Research group-I) will have n1 =200 participants and control sample group (Research group-II) will have n =200 participants. The overall sample size will be 400. Study procedure and participant recruitment For the purpose of initiating the research, a letter will be forwarded to the respective authorities of participating schools as well as parents of the sampled children to gather informed consent. Further, a permission letter from specific area councils of all the ten schools will be collected to obtain a legal permission for performing research activity. After obtaining permission from schools and parents an information sheet containing research details will be forwarded to the authorities that will provide authenticity to the research work. After recruiting the research participant a demographic analysis will be performed to determine the average age, height, body height, sex and gender of the participant children (Test-1, baseline measurement). The statistical tools will be implemented to measure the average dynamics and dimensions of both the research group (control and experiment group) separately. The measurement of dietary intake using specific tools will provide quantitative data that will be collected and managed for further analysis by the researchers. The researchers will collect data itself in participating school premises. The research will be performed in two experiments, the first experiment will be baseline measurement and the second experiment will be dietary measurement within seven days for next 24-hours. As the research involves human participation as a sample population, therefore, the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research Guidelines will be followed to provide ethically reliable research. These guidelines procedures will protect the autonomy of research participants and will provide beneficence understanding to researchers. There will be no forceful participation and participants will be accomplished with sovereignty to vacate research at the time as per their will. Further, the participants consent will be an ethical priority of research as per National Statement Content. Lastly, the confidentiality of research data will be maintained as per the Data Protection Act 1998 because research contains biological and personal information about participants. The research monitoring process will involve checking the reliability of source information, the validity of measuring instruments, and collecting evidential proof of research conduct to support the overall ethical p rinciples in research. Measures and Instruments Measurement Tool Age-group of participants Measurement outcomes Assessment method A Child Nutrition Questionnaire (7-day food checklist)[14] 7-10 years 1) Fruit and vegetable intake and noncore foods and beverages 2) Environment, knowledge and behaviours associated with these foods 1) Seven-day diet checklist 2) Brief nutrition questionnaire completed by child The measurement tool for experiments in research is A child Nutrition questionnaire that will be used in research is a 14-item questionnaire developed to fulfil the purpose of getting a dietary pattern of participants as well as knowledge on attitude and behaviours related to healthy eating (Test-2). This tool will help to measure the key nutritions and noticeable increases in any specific food consumption that can be vegetables, fruits, water, sweetened beverages etc. The response pattern involves the use of five-point Likert scales and frequency difference between the current and previous intake. A twelve score is involved for questionnaire distributed in five categories. The participants will be directed to complete the 7-day food checklist that will determine the consumption of vegetables, fruits, water, sweetened beverages, noncore food items and food plus parameters. This test will be completed by the participant (students) themselves within provided time duration[15]. Validity and reliability There are three most effective dietary intake measurement tools for children belonging to age group 5- 15 years that are A child Nutrition Questionnaire, Childrens Dietary Questionnaire (CDQ) and School Checklist. These three tools can be considered effective as per research requirements but the School Checklist involved the purpose of determining the energy gain from consumed food that is not suitable for the present research purpose. Out of other mentioned tools that are Child Nutrition Questionnaire and CDQ, where the CDQ test is usually performed parents or children but the Child Nutrition Questionnaire is more reliable and efficient performed by children themselves. Further, CDQ holds face, construct, concurrent validity but the Child Nutrition Questionnaire persist face, criterion, concurrent validity as well as reliability. The reliability of child nutrition questionnaire was estimated using 95% confidence intervals and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the baseline measures Test- 1(demographic analysis) and Test-2 (questionnaire test) of participants[16],[17]. Data analysis The collected research data will be analysed using SPSS to determine the mean, median and standard error indicating statistical significance and error in the data obtained from Test-1 and Test-2. Further, the average score of fruit and vegetable consumption within seven days duration by two research groups will be compared by using T-test and chi-square test determining the difference in dietary intake patterns of two research groups. Significance of study The research on analysing the impact of vegetable and fruit gardening in school on the dietary intake habits of students will help in determining the possible outcomes of school gardening effect on the overall healthy eating habits as well as the impact of environmental changes on the attitude of children. This study is essential to understand the importance of school gardening in low socio-economic zones. The expected outcomes of study should involve a better fruit and vegetable dietary intake by students having availability of fruits and vegetables in school campus indicating a cost effective, reliable and healthy approach. This will help to understand the importance of school gardening for improving the dietary habits to students. Hence, the research persists potential to improve the dietary habits of low socio-economic children. Further, the research will work as valuable literature source for future researches related to this research topic. The research will add a good literatu re source for studying the impact of school gardening practice in low socioeconomic schools of Australia. References [1] Brownson RC, Baker EA, Leet TL, Gillespie KN, True WR. Evidence-based public health. Oxford University Press; 2010 Nov 3. [2] Du Pre A. Communicating about health: current issues and perspectives. [3] Hoelscher DM, Springer AE, Ranjit N, Perry CL, Evans AE, Stigler M, Kelder SH. Reductions in child obesity among disadvantaged school children with community involvement: the Travis County CATCH Trial. Obesity. 2010 Feb 1; 18(S1):S36-44. [4] Craig LC, McNeill G, Macdiarmid JI, Masson LF, Holmes BA. Dietary patterns of school-age children in Scotland: association with socio-economic indicators, physical activity and obesity. British journal of nutrition. 2010 Feb 1; 103(03):319-34. [5] Oxenham E, King AD. School gardens as a strategy for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. J Child Nutr Manag. 2010; 34(1). [6] Ratcliffe MM, Merrigan KA, Rogers BL, Goldberg JP. The effects of school garden experiences on middle school-aged students knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors associated with vegetable consumption. Health promotion practice. 2011 Jan 1;12(1):36-43. [7] Nutbeam D, Harris E, Wise W. Theory in a nutshell: a practical guide to health promotion theories. McGraw-Hill; 2010. [8] Blas E, Kurup AS. Equity, social determinants and public health programmes. World Health Organization; 2010. [9] Christian MS, Evans CE, Nykjaer C, Hancock N, Cade JE. Evaluation of the impact of a school gardening intervention on childrens fruit and vegetable intake: a randomised controlled trial. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014 Aug 16;11:99. [10] Gibbs L, Staiger PK, Johnson B, Block K, Macfarlane S, Gold L, Kulas J, Townsend M, Long C, Ukoumunne O. Expanding childrens food experiences: the impact of a school-based kitchen garden program. Journal of nutrition education and behavior. 2013 Apr 30; 45(2):137-46. [11] Saunders, M., Lewis, P., and Thornhill, A.Research Methods for Business Students, (6thed.) London: Pearson; 2009 [12] Truscott, D. M., Smith, S., Thornton-Reid, F., Williams, B., Matthews, M. A cross-disciplinary examination of the prevalence of mixed methods in educational research: 1995-2005,International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 2010; 13(4), pp. 317-28.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Misconceptions In Dealing With Abortion Essays - United States Law

Misconceptions in Dealing with Abortion The dispute on abortion has become one of the most heated debates in today's society. It is a subject that can instigate incredibly strong emotions on either side of the argument. Since the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, which legalized abortions in the United States, women have had the individual right as people to decide the fate of their own bodies. This right can not be negotiated. People are not merely a means to an end, but ends themselves. A woman treated as an incubator of a fetus by the law is simply a means to an end, therefore disregarded as a person. There are many misconceptions about abortion. These misconceptions can potentially lead to the loss of women's individual and necessary rights to choose for themselves whether or not they want to bear a child. Most of these common misconceptions can not only be easily identified, but also utterly refuted. One of these common misconceptions is that human life begins at conception. This conclusion simply does not follow. As affirmed by Thomson in her article A Defense of Abortion: "Similar things may be said about the development of an acorn into an oak tree, and it does not follow that acorns are oak trees, or that we had better say they are" (356). There is no scientific consensus as to when human life begins. It is much more a matter of philosophic opinion or religious belief. Human life is a continuum; sperm and eggs are also alive, and represent potential human beings, but virtually all sperm and eggs are wasted. In addition, two-thirds of human conceptions are spontaneously aborted by nature. Another extremely disputable Pro-Life argument is that a fetus should have rights under the law. If fetal rights were enshrined in law, women's bodies, rights, and health would be subordinated to the protection of embryos. The legal consequences of such a law would be simply catastrophic. The best way to protect the fetus is to promote the health and well being of women. Moreover, the right of the unborn to live can never supercede a woman to control her own body. As said by Margret Sanger: "No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her own body." More than anything else, bearing a child totally alters a woman's life. Other women's rights are in-effect hollow if women are forced to be mothers. Being born is a gift, not a right. People do not ask to be born, and in some cases even wish that they weren't. Another common misconception is that making contraceptives and abortion readily available will ultimately encourage teenagers to have sex. In society today, teen sex has many complex societal causes including sexually oriented TV shows, movies, and ads. Studies have shown that where birth control, abortion, and comprehensive sex education programs are offered, such as in the Netherlands, teenagers have less sex, not more, and abortion rates decrease. Furthermore, abstinence-based sex education programs in schools don't' stop many teenagers from having sex, instead, they the likelihood of unsafe sex. Reality dictates that birth control and abortion must be available to help prevent teens from becoming parents. In addition, it is also true that many of the same people who oppose legal abortion are often to opposition the availability of contraceptives as well. This position is both hypocritical and irresponsible. If anti-abortionists used their well-funded organizing power to help prom ote contraception and sex education instead of fighting women's individual rights to legal abortions in the United States, they would likely be able to cut the teen abortion rate in half within just a few years. Misconceptions about Abortion have disillusioned many people on the topic. It is absolutely necessary that the individual right of women to decide what is right for themselves and their bodies. If these common misconceptions about abortion aren't dealt with and refuted women may ultimately loose one of the most important right they will ever have; the right to choose.