The core of reproduction as it effects women’s lives is what we pay attention to in the movement for women’s freedom. It’s not only about rights. It’s about reality, responsibility, and respect. Rights are not enough. We need more. Last week I attended a heartening celebration in Denver called Don’t Rewind Roe, hosted by Protect Families Protect Choice, which is a coalition of major women’s organizations in Colorado. We listened to an inter-generational panel of three accomplished women, each of whom spoke with deep intelligence and sophistication about the importance of safe, legal abortion. They reminded us how far we’ve come and how far we have to go. Each presenter was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Each was calm and unapologetic.
The exchange centered in the lives of women from three designated generations–“pre-Roe,” “gen x,” and “millennial.” Each speaker offered her perspective about her own life, her family relationships, and her understanding of the impact of legal abortion. We were treated to film clips from the three eras, which augmented the dramatic changes that have taken place in the status of women. If you want to be reminded about how it was for women forty years ago–pre-feminist movement–take a look at those old movies and TV shows. As a pre-Roe woman I can tell you, it’s harrowing.
We have entered the fortieth year since Roe v Wade. Millions of women have been able to obtain safe, legal abortions when they needed them. Millions of lives were saved because women determined when and whether to carry a pregnancy to term. But we are under threat and the threat is increasing in volume and virulence. It’s looking like the rousingly hysterical anti-abortion rhetoric that has taken over the Republican party will dictate much what goes on in the presidential election.
Those who would make abortion illegal again have waged a relentless campaign to convince people that having a baby is always better than having an abortion, and that women have abortions because they don’t understand that it would be okay to have the baby. Neither of these is true of course. Women have abortions for all kinds of reasons, and underlying their decisions is a flashing light of clarity that having a baby with that particular pregnancy is not the right thing to do.
There is nothing wrong with having an abortion. There is no reason to feel bad about it or to qualify it in any way. It isn’t a “necessary choice” or a “sad choice” or an “unfortunate choice.” It is a good choice, as good a choice as continuing a pregnancy, just different. The defensiveness that some of us feel is a natural reaction to the nasty opposition that has been escalating in ferocity since Roe, but it is not helpful to women. At this point in the struggle it is crucial that everyone become absolutely clear that there is nothing to apologize for when it comes to abortion. That old idea that every abortion is a tragedy implies that there is something wrong with it, and there isn’t. This is one of the reasons I wrote Life Choices, to reclaim the legitimate place of abortion in life.
Lots has been happening with the book. I will be doing a WEST COAST TOUR in March, beginning in San Francisco, driving up to Ashland and Portland, and then to Seattle. This is being put together as we speak. Very exciting. Any and all help with contacts and connections is welcome. Please let me know if you can help, or if you want me to come to your area.
An essay I wrote was just published in the most recent issue of On The Issues magazine. It’s called A Counselor’s View: Embracing A Holistic Perspective of Abortion.
Last week I presented a webinar for the Abortion Care Network. I share their mission to de-stigmatize and normalize abortion.
More to come…
Blessings to you for all that you are and do.
Linda, Thank you for being so forthright and affirming about abortion as a choice, we really need your voice, now more than ever. I’m forwarding the link to this post to friends on the West Coast and hope they can meet you and hear you read from your excellent book.
Linda,
thank you for reminding me that there is nothing to apologize for with abortion. I too dislike the description of abortion as a “tragedy,” yet sometimes I get sucked into that mindset. It’s nice to be reminded that abortion has been part of women’s lives ever since the first woman figured out how to have one.
I’d like to know the factual basis behind this: “Millions of lives were saved because women determined when and whether to carry a pregnancy to term.”
Thanks – Louis
Louis,
Thanks for your question. I’m referring to the lives of over 50 million American women and by extension their born children. You can find statistics on pregnancy and abortion at http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html
You wrote that this statement is untrue: “…women have abortions because they don’t understand that it would be okay to have the baby.” Sadly, it is not untrue in far too many cases, particularly when it comes to ending the life in utero of a child who has a disability. It is a fact that more than 92 percent of women who find out they have a child who has Down syndrome, abort their pregnancy. It is beyond socially acceptable; it is actually socially expected to do so. I am sad that those parents don’t really know what they are missing. Here is an honest, respectful, responsible place people can go to gain real understanding that it is so much more than okay to have such a child: http://downsyndromepregnancy.org/.
Eliza,
The issue you raise is a good example of how difficult some pregnancy decisions can be.