Chapter Ideas: Involving Youth in the Pro-life Movement Now Is the Time! Youth are More Pro-life than Ever.

A March 30 New York Times article entitled "Surprise, Mom: I'm Anti-Abortion" revealed the progress the pro-life movement has made with young people. The gist of the article is that, much to the chagrin of their "pro-choice" parents' generation, more and more young people are identifying themselves as pro-life.

The article's author, Elizabeth Hayt, points out, "Teenagers and college-age Americans are more conservative about abortion rights than their counterparts were a generation ago." Following a high school speech class on topics of the students' choosing, one startled parent commented, "I was shocked that there were that many students who felt strong enough and confident enough to speak about being pro-life. The people I associate with in town are pro-choice, so I'm troubled - - where do these kids come from?" (emphasis added)

As a pro-life woman born after Roe v. Wade, I can't help but grin when I hear that reaction. The other side is completely befuddled by the "ingratitude" of our generation for the "right" to abortion. Yet, young people recognize that harm has been done to each of us as a result of losing 42 million peers. And by seeing family and friends that have suffered following their own abortions, we know that abortion also hurts women and that we would not recommend it. The New York Times article also indicated another important change in thinking between our parents' generation and our own. "The most commonly cited reason for the increasingly conservative views of young people is their receptiveness to the way anti-abortion campaigners have reframed the national debate on the contentious topic, shifting the emphasis from a woman's rights to the rights of the fetus," according to Hayt. "A student who opposes abortion, and who says her views are more conservative than those of her parents, put her argument succinctly: `It's more about the baby's rights than the woman's rights.'"

Pro-abortion leaders have always tried to focus the debate only on the pregnant mother and to ignore her unborn child. Thanks to pro-life educational efforts, like partial-birth abortion awareness, and scientific advancements, especially ultrasound technology and a better understanding of fetal development, Americans cannot help but recognize the unborn child as a victim in an abortion.

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