Comments on Jump off the Bridge: On Underground Abortions, Anti-Choice & Pro-Life

I use 'anti-choice' because I know some people who...

2008-09-11T06:17:00.000-04:00

I use 'anti-choice' because I know some people who are against leglisation who still describe themselves as 'pro-life' because they'd never have an abortion.

But I have met someone who was both pro-abortion and anti-choice: the doctor I consulted about an IUD after I was raped, who bullied me to tears in her consultancy room when I said I didn't want the coil.

I still get angry when it's implied that all pro-abortion people are anti-choice, like she seemed to be, but I'll never forget the feeling that she didn't think I should have a choice in the matter.

Thanks for sharing the link, hysperia!

I c...

2008-09-10T15:59:00.000-04:00

Thanks for sharing the link, hysperia!

I completely agree with you about the reality of women being scared away because of the stigma of abortions. The one thing I've heard really gets to people is that the fetus can feel pain after however many weeks. As soon as they get the image in their heads of a baby (even though it's a fetus, people always picture a baby) in pain, it really reinforces all of that hesitation and anxiety they are likely feeling.

Here's an example of what I meant:

http://w...

2008-09-10T13:26:00.000-04:00

Here's an example of what I meant:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/13/2188181.htm

If young women are exposed to nasty images (and warning, there is one at that news link) I can imagine it really has a negative effect on how they understand the view society has of abortion.

A number of my feminist friends were a bit upset w...

2008-09-10T12:55:00.000-04:00

A number of my feminist friends were a bit upset with the movie "Juno" because they thought it represented an "anti-abortion" viewpoint. Your post reminds me that I read the movie differently. I though the very young woman was understandably turned off by the lone anti-abortion kid demonstrating outside the abortion clinic and telling her the fetus had fingernails. And frankly, I do know women who found it highly upsetting to be confronted with anti-abortion demonstrators outside clinics carrying signs with pictures of fetus parts. A woman who wants or needs an abortion is being abused if she is forced to confront these inaccurate but grisly images of what some people think abortion is about. Recently, a young niece of mine became pregnant and really did want an abortion, but for awhile, was overcome by nightmares about fetus parts. These images are so ubiquitous that most women have seen them. At the very least, that kind of propoganda may increase shame and guilt and at most, stop some women from getting abortions entirely, as in the movie. And other times, it just keeps women away from the public spaces outside abortion clinics and possibly press them into taking matters into their own hands, privately. At least, this is a notion that concerns ME.

Thanks for the heads up Habladora! And for the com...

2008-08-24T17:25:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the heads up Habladora! And for the compliment! Always appreciated =)

Also, Ann linked to this piece for Feministing's w...

2008-08-24T14:08:00.000-04:00

Also, Ann linked to this piece for Feministing's weekly reader... so lots and lots of people are reading and thinking about your insights. Hopefully this serious problem will start getting the thought it deserves.

I thought I'd mention over here too that this is a...

2008-08-22T23:43:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd mention over here too that this is an excellent post which brings up some often ignored truths about abortion. Good work.

Great post! Thanks especially for the Guttmacher ...

2008-08-22T14:48:00.000-04:00

Great post! Thanks especially for the Guttmacher link - I've been trying to follow the state by state differences and that helps a lot.

Our health care system needs an upgrade. Stat. Abortions are expensive and many lack the resources to get abortion. Combine that with the fact that doctors can refuse to give you an abortion, and you've got a whole lot of obstacles hidden in the fine print.

Definitely. Trying to figure out what health care covers (if you have it) is so difficult and confusing, and combine that with trying to figure out what's legal in your state, and you end up with a big mess.

Great point Renee! So we've got a group of people ...

2008-08-22T14:30:00.000-04:00

Great point Renee! So we've got a group of people (with power) against sex ed., birth control, abortion, socialized daycare, and government assistance of any sort really. Ugh, maybe we should call them anti-choice/anti-mother. Or we can keep it simple and call them anti-woman. Perhaps that best encapsulates all of these issues.

If an abortion is what is desired women will find a way. What we need to do is make the option safer so that the mother survives the procedure.
I personally refer to people who claim to be pro-life as pro birth. I like this because it addresses the fact that they don't care what happens to the child after it is born. Notice how the pro-birth fundies never advocate for things like socialized daycare, job training for mothers, education subsidies..yeah they things that would make it easier for a woman who decided to keep her child. Honestly they make me sick.