If you’d have asked me before today how I feel about abortion, I’d have given you the same answer I’ve been giving my whole life; it’s neccessary to protect women that are victims of rape, but in any other case it’s totally inhumane. As a vegetarian, the thought of killing another being was totally inconceivable to me. That’s a child, and you’re taking its life away simply because it’s an inconvenience to you?! I’ve always thought myself an open minded human being, but when it came to abortion, I could not think beyond the murder of an innocent unborn child. I accepted the need, and of course did not judge anyone I knew who had to endure it, but as a general rule I could not get to grips with why anyone would do it.
Last night, whilst reading Caitlin’s ‘How To Be A Woman’ chapter about abortion, it occured to me that the stigma surrounding an abortion that wasn’t a result of rape was totally ridiculous. The idea that women exist on this earth to function primarily as mothers, is something that has embedded our culture for centuries. She compares abortion to miscarriages; miscarriages are the body’s rejection of a foeutus whilst an abortion is a mental rejection. I have always placed mental health equally to physical health, therefore this concept makes perfect sense to me; if you are mentally or financially unstable or simply do not want a child then why should you feel obliged to have one? Society judges women who have aborted and if you find yourself in such a situation, you will never discuss it with your peers. Giving up a child is not as easy as throwing out a pair of jeans, and the women who decide to do so do not do it with cruel intention.
Personally I can never judge what I would do in such situation until I am in one myself. If I find myself wanting an abortion, I dread it’s occurance purely due the pressure from society on top of the hardships of such a procedure in itself. What I do know is that I am disgusted in how I used to think and will forever stop judging woman for their life choices. I am also extra appreciative that abortion is legal in the UK, and that the option will always be there for me if I ever find myself in such a situation. I dread to think of the experiences of women all around the world that arn’t so lucky, who have to endure risky illegal abortions on top of all of the other emotional issues associated with it. Let’s lighten the load. Abortion is already shitty and hard as it is, without added dangers and pressures. Here’s to a future without women getting judged for making significant life choices that are none of our business!
If you’re interested in reading Caitlin’s argument, which is much more detailed and evidenced than mine, alongside other feminist issues then I recommend How To Be A Woman. Even though I was a feminist prior to reading, it still changed my life, opening up new outlooks I simply had not considered.
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