A Note On Roe V. Wade
As Roe V. Wade comes under threat, the rights and regulations around terminating a pregnancy have been questioned and challenged in an incredibly public, hypothetical way. But the reality of terminating a pregnancy is a huge, personal decision - and a difficult one to make, or even share about.
Chances are, we all know someone who has terminated a pregnancy. And yet one of the things that makes it so hard to talk about is the stigma that still so thickly circles a woman’s decision to abort - regardless of how pro-choice her social circle may be. It’s crazy how social norms that do not stem from our personal values can still so heavily affect how we feel or act. But more that we as a society make it safe to discuss hard issues like pregnancy termination, the easier it is for people to open up and share useful and helpful information.
So while there is still so much guilt and shame aimed at a woman or a couple who want to terminate a pregnancy, there also just shouldn’t be. And there are some very real reasons why it might be the best thing for everyone. Here are a few.
Weighing Up The Benefits
Do a google search and you’ll find an overwhelm of negatives of opting for pregnancy termination, but for many women in many situations, the positives are never really shared.
Avoiding The Financial Implications of Pregnancy
When we take into account the medical costs for a pregnancy, the birth, and the raising of a child, it makes sense to have an abortion if you are not ready. That shouldn’t need to be explained, really. If we can’t care for a child properly, we shouldn’t be forced to do it. And we shouldn’t be forced to ruin our own financial futures - and even the potential futures of children if we choose to have them later.
Gaining peace
For some women, the decision is partly based on concerns about how to care for the child should they keep the pregnancy. Some say they will never be able to protect them or care for them as much as they want to, and for others, there is a question over financial ability to give a child the right kind of life. All women aren’t inherently maternal and that’s completely fine. Biological, innate maternalness has been beefed up as a socialized concept that does a disservice to women and men alike.
Medical Reasons
In many cases, abortion clinics see patients who need to terminate a pregnancy on medical grounds, whether that is because the health of the fetus is compromised as such that it will not survive if the pregnancy continues, or that the health of the expectant woman is at risk.
In Cases of Rape and Abuse
Pretty obviously, as rape begins with a loss of governing your own body, an unwanted pregnancy is a continuation of such. Other women who have been abused may have horrible experiences with their partners, which include rape or physical abuse. In these cases, abortion may be the only choice they can make.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise in many countries, and believe it or not, having an unplanned pregnancy with the added issue of an STI can put a woman at risk.
How Termination and Infertility Options Affects Your Life
Ok, so we went over a few pretty devastating, no-brainer reasons to terminate. But truthfully, these are not the only reasons.
For many, it is simply a choice that is best for them and their life, even if it doesn't suit everyone else's standards. And that’s also completely normal and fine. The issue comes from when we make it feel like it isn’t.
Without safe and legal termination procedures available, not only would there would be an immediate increase in the number of unwanted pregnancies and babies who will be brought into the world, but an increased risk from illegal terminations carried out by people who are not professionals. After all, communities may be against these procedures on religious or moral grounds. But the truth is that even communities like this, unwanted pregnancies are often still terminated - just not safely. If child safety is a concern, legal termination is a part of the equation.
