“If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.” – Florence Kennedy
Today is the 36th anniversary of Roe vs Wade, the United States Supreme Court case that basically deemed abortion a fundamental right, and for the last couple of years this has been celebrated by NARAL pro-choice America with blog for choice day. Now, I am not American, so this day might not mean something to me – but a woman’s right to choose does, which is why I have decided to write about why I am pro-choice and why I don’t think any politician is authorized to negotiate the disposition of my uterus.
Now, this is sort of a tricky subject to approach. It is nearly impossible to find someone who doesn’t have an opinion about abortion and probably a strong opinion at that, so first of all – let me explain what being pro-choice means to me..
In short my view on abortion could be summed up really quick: “If you are against it.. Don’t do it.” I don’t think anyone is pro-abortion and no one wants to be put in a position where they have to make that kind of decision. I could wish that abortions wasn’t needed – that every single pregnancy would result in happy parents and a healthy baby – just like I could wish for world peace and a body like Jessica Biel. But that’s probably not going to happen, and making abortion illegal won’t stop abortions from happening, it will only stop them from being safe.
Now, since I believe that nobody has the right to impose their morals on me I would never do that to anyone either; I will not make claims on the morality of abortion – that is a choice for each woman faced with an unwanted pregnancy and I don’t see why a woman should have to face all the consequences from something she did not do alone.
I believe that the single most important factor for women’s advancement in society is the ability to control our fertility. Now women go to college at the same rates as men and we are able to define ourselves as something other than mothers, or as mothers and something else.
Men don’t get pregnant and men don’t bear children. Men just make laws. Think about it – would abortion even be an issue if men also had to face the possibility of giving birth to and raising a child because of a single night of failed contraception? If it was their bodies and their futures that were on the line?
I am not anti-choice, because to me this option is simply poisoned with misogyny. I trust and I respect women enough to let it be their own responsibility. I firmly believe that abortion is not a form of birth control and it shouldn’t be treated that way, but if there’s someone out there abusing the system – someone who has unprotected sex, gets pregnant and don’t even care, because she can just get an abortion – would you really trust her to take care of a child?
To me the worst thing about the “pro-life”-movement is, however, that it doesn’t seem to stop there – often it goes toward contraception, science and the even sex itself. To me it seems like this movement doesn’t really have any interest in actually lowering the abortion rate; but to control women’s sexuality – evidenced by 1) the opposition to contraception and 2) the belief that there is only one way to live: to abstain from sex until you’re married (with someone of the opposite gender, of course), and then have as many children as God wants for you. This might be the life some women choose, but it is just not for me.
So, to sum up: Legally, I am 100% for the right to choose. Morally, I couldn’t do it – but I am quite lucky and a child wouldn’t ruin my life.
With that said: Believe whatever you choose to believe. In the words of Edgar Alan Poe: “Convinced myself I seek not to convince!” and you are of course now able to comment on this entry with whatever thoughts you have on the subject. But let me just say that “God” is not a reason – just like “because I said so” isn’t either. And before you say that abortion is a sin, just answer this: Who are you to say? Is it not blasphemous to judge the sin of any other person?
Well, I feel exactly like you. Your words seem mine. I’m pro choice and I’ll always be, yet I do everything necessary to avoid finding myself in need of an abortion. I don’t wanna do it, nor do I wanna go through it, but it’s MY right as a woman to decide over MY life and MY body.
Amen to your words!!!!
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:24 pm
I’m ridiculously pro-choice. I also agree with your words. However, if I was ever in a situation where I would decide whether or not to keep the child – I’m not sure what I would do. But I think it’s best for women to have that choice in order to prepare for the child’s future life and theirs.
Pro-life terrifies me – although the intentions to keep a child living are noble, it strips a woman of her right to live the life she wants to live.
I loved this post. Got me thinking right before school!
Much love!
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Thanks for this great post Cecelia.
Fertility/pregnancy control is what is at stake in any consideration of Roe V Wade.
One of my favorite lines from your post:
“If there’s someone out there abusing the system – someone who has unprotected sex, gets pregnant and don’t even care, because she can just get an abortion – would you really trust her to take care of a child?”
So true.
It is about our right to determine FOR ourselves how we use and inhabit OUR OWN BODIES!
Well said.
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:13 pm
I completely agree with you 100% especially this line: “making abortion illegal won’t stop abortions from happening, it will only stop them from being safe” Oh my gosh I always think about that!
You wouldn’t believe how amazed I was when you mentioned that because what many people think is that when abortion is made illegal all procedures to end their pregnancies will end. It will become worse just like when alcohol was prohibited and illegal industries flourished in a supposedly “dry” United States. I think that laws like prohibition or anti-abortion only increase the risks people take on their health and increases the level of ignorance to what is really occurring.
I am completely pro-choice because I believe that no one has the right to control a woman and her fertility and if a woman is not ready to become a mother and has a child under misconstrued circumstances she should not be a mother. Although some of the best blessings come when we least expect them, I believe God will not fault them if they were not ready. I think he is definitely more merciful than the common man.
Also, thank you for writing this entry, I am definitely saving you to my blogroll. You’re amazing!!!
January 23rd, 2009 at 5:31 am
I believe in a woman’s right to choose, because it is her body. I don’t think abortion should ever be illegal, but I just don’t think I could ever do it. :)
January 23rd, 2009 at 5:23 pm
You have described your view in the best way I’ve every read/heard anyone comment on this subject. I personally agree with pretty much everything you’ve said. It is each person themself that has to choose what they would do in this -or any other- situation. I also do think that you can’t say either way until you’re in that situation what you would do. I’ve had friends who have had their minds changed in the face of that choice.
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:29 pm
I think that in the US, there has been a lot of stepping in the way of freedom and basic rights. Choosing to have an abortion is as clear as choosing to vote or choosing to drink. However, the government feels it necessary to put these statutes to control people on some level. I agree with you that abortion is not a form of birth control. Frankly, I would prefer a woman to just have the child and give the child to adoption as there are people that desperately want children but are biologically unable to do so. I also agree that those who abuse should not be trusted with children. I have already had one son and that was never a decision I considered for myself…however, as I said… that is a choice.
What choices will we be able to make in the future if own rights are being argued and squandered and voted by a bunch of pompous idiots in the government. I did not vote for some of them and I have a clear conscience. I did not vote for Obama either because I did not like the point that medicare was possibly phase out medicare supplement insurance which are the thin line between the elderly getting medical insurance or dying destitute on the street.
January 24th, 2009 at 5:13 am
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