In light of the ever constant discussion surrounding the abortion debate, I feel it necessary to voice my opinion after counseling women from varying backgrounds and circumstances. Some of these women choose abortion, some do not. No matter what they choose, I support and trust them. Ultimately with every woman I speak to the issue is the same at its core. This debate transcends discussion of unborn babies, genocide, potential life or murder. It is about dignity, respect and the basic human right to control our lives. This debate is about women.
It is about single moms living on welfare while singlehandedly raising families.
It is about the ability to control our bodies.
It is about not going back to a time of back ally procedures or the end of a dirty coat hanger.
It is about the option for a woman to have a child when and if it is best for her.
It is about being a person and not a tool for reproduction.
It is about hearing the voices of young women silenced in our society.
It is about trusting women to do what is right for them, their families and communities.
It is about women.
To frame this argument any other way is an injustice to the experiences of the women at the center of this debate. We so often forget these women in the midst of our political banter. We forget their fears, hopes, futures, thoughts, concerns and tears. We forget this is a legal medical procedure done—or not done—to someone’s body. We forget women deserve respect. We forget the reality of choice.
Our society has come to politicize women’s health and ultimately their bodies. My body is not a political tool. My experiences are not yours. My health care is not your business. Do not forget my voice or the voices of your friends, mothers, partners, sisters and neighbors. Our voices are the reality of this debate, not empty political jargon or hateful, uninformed rhetoric. We must remember when we get caught up in politics that the abortion debate is and always will be about women.
One Comment
Any abortion debate is necessarily about women. No one should ever, ever deny that women’s freedom, autonomy and health are at stake during an abortion debate.
That said, we should be careful not to become our enemies. Those fools who deny that abortion debates are fundamentally about women are fools, but if we would be equally foolish if we totally ignored their perspective in a debate.
This is ESPECIALLY important in the abortion debate, because the goals (or at least, the stated goals) of the two sides are totally compatible: pro-choicers want women to have the freedom to determine whether or not they have a child; pro-lifers want the highest percentage of fetuses as possible to be carried to term, rather than aborted. The government can achieve BOTH, simultaneously, by providing better access to and knowledge of birth control to the public. This point is almost always overlooked and/or ignored during these debates, which is really tragic.