AborttheStigma

Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights | Katha Pollitt

Post 1/3. Today is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which is particularly apt after yesterday's #WomensMarch. Women's healthcare & reproductive choice are stigmatized even when access to healthcare leads to decrease in abortions. Well-meaning pro-choice women often add to stigma. To honor Roe v. Wade, here are books that discuss reproductive choice to #AborttheStigma. No matter where you stand, these books are a great place to expand your mind. 🚺

BookishFeminist #womensrights #feministbooks #feminism #diversebooks #readwomen #humanrights 7y

DyAnne Love Pro. Got to see Pollitt in Seattle. 7y

Laura317 I'm a pro-life. I am sorry, but I just can't see calling the termination of a pregnancy a human right. 7y

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literarymermaid Thanks for the list! This is one of those subjects I am woefully behind on. 7y

BookishFeminist @laura317 Reproductive choice is a human right. This encompasses far more than abortion. Have you read up on circumstances where women's lives are physically endangered by carrying a pregnancy to term or where the baby would not survive birth? This is why choice is important & it isn't a choice women take lightly. I don't agree with regulating what women should do with their bodies bc they will be the ones to undergo bodily & emotional harm. 7y

BookishFeminist @Laura317 I am only trying to open up discussion here not attack your viewpoints. There are many levels to this discussion and I do not agree with equating "pro-choice" with "pro abortion," and that's what it sounds like you're saying, and while access to abortion is part of it, choice is the crux here. Letting women decide what is best for their lives and bodies. I also believe access to quality adoption/foster services needs to be part of it. 7y

BookishFeminist @DyAnne Politt is wonderful. I would love to see her in person and keep having my eyes open for events. I have a copy of the book @beaniebankbeth got for me when I see her next! 7y

BookishFeminist @StoredFeminism Of course! I need to do more reading on it too because it's incredibly complicated. 7y

Laura317 @BookishFeminist I love a good discussion. We have reproductive choice, don't we? We have access to birth control, and thanks to President Obama, we have affordable health care. Abortion to save the life of a mother was legal BEFORE Roe vs Wade The % of abortions performed to save the life of the mother is less than 1% - a rarity. The overwhelming majority of abortions performed are on an elective basis based on economic reasons and convenience. 7y

Laura317 @BookishFeminist It would seem to me that no ones reproductive rights are violated. If you want to talk where reproductive rights ARE in jeopardy, let's discuss China - where there are forced abortions and forced sterilization. I totally agree with you on foster care/adoption. That's why we adopted two children. I like that we can have civil and thoughtful discussions about issues like this and still be friends at the end of the day. 7y

BookishFeminist @Laura317 I don't agree with China's law either. Abortion was illegal w/o exception in 30 states prior to Roe v. Wade incl life/health of mother. Many anti-choice policies are against preventative care, & those rights are threatened & deeply stigmatized. What about rape? That's something that has very strongly not held up legally. Anti-choice & forced abortion laws both place the lives of women inferior to other lives of pre-viable fetuses. (edited) 7y

BookishFeminist @Laura317 but this is the kind of stuff that adds to stigma. In a world where our resources are already strapped to provide for the population we currently have, I don't think economic strain & women's health aren't legitimate reasons to terminate a pregnancy. Women's lives matter as well, & their decisions and choices should be protected because they should have access to any type of decision that is best for their life and family. (edited) 7y

BookishFeminist @Laura317 Not to mention it is a painful procedure. It's not a decision one makes lightly. Access to options and choices decreases the number of abortions, whereas regulating it harms women. Abortion rates are at an all time low & have declined steadily for 3 decades. Abortions will always happen whether you agree with it or not, but providing services that allow them to happen safely and with proper education is a health and life-saving measure. (edited) 7y

thealidoyle @Laura317 Many states are enacting laws that severely restrict access to not just abortion services, but all services. When states enact laws where only 4 places in the state are allowed to perform abortions, this limits access, particularly for poor women we cannot afford the travel to get a safe abortion. These women may turn to self abortive methods that impact their safety. 7y

thealidoyle @Laura317 and I don't think it is fair to judge someone for their choice based on economic standards. Children are expensive. Birthing children is expensive. Many many insurance companies only cover 70% of the cost of pre and perinatal services, leaving women with thousands of dollars in medical bills that they cannot afford to pay. Even if they put the baby up for adoption in the end, they can end up with upwards of 30k in medical bills. 7y

thealidoyle @Laura317 That is NOT convenience, that is life or death for some. I have never been in the position of having to choose between going to the doctor and eatong but I know people who have. And that is just going to the doctor for a cold, let alone an ultrasound. 7y

thealidoyle @Laura317 Beyond that, some people really do not WANT to be parents. They should not be shamed for that. That is also not a choice of convenience. 7y

thealidoyle @Laura317 if I were to get pregnant, I would likely choose to have an abortion. I am on necessary medication that would cause severe birth defects. I am bipolar and know I would not be able to cope with the hormone changes related to pregnancy. Post partum depression or manic episodes are almost a guarantee for me and those are dangerous for me and any child I birth. 7y

Laura317 @thealidoyle So what you are saying is that it's ok to kill a person because someone doesn't want to be a parent. Poverty, rape, and disability does not justify the killing of a baby. And yes, that human embryo is human. It's a different degree of human - at no time are they non-human. As for states enacting laws to protect the ones that truly have no voice, I applaud them. The right to not be killed is not equal to the right to not be pregnant. 7y

Laura317 @thealidoyle No states are restricting women's healthcare. There are thousand of doctor's, clinics, all over the USA. That argument is invalid. 7y

BookishFeminist @Laura317 That came across pretty disrespectfully, Laura. I don't condone that. You don't have to agree but do not attack or shame others for their viewpoints when they are expressing opinions and reporting facts. 7y

BookishFeminist @Laura317 Plenty of states are restricting women's healthcare. See: South Dakota and Texas. Congress is also currently trying to. Ohio tried to last year. So legally speaking, your statement is false. Not attacking but please do not insert false facts. (edited) 7y

BookishFeminist @Laura317 I find it very disheartening you think that a rape should ruin a woman's life beyond the trauma she already faces after the event. I will never agree with that stance and it is directly harmful for victims of sexual assault and forcing them into a life they have not chosen. Your arguments go counter to accepted science, and that's fine, but I ask you also recognize and respect the harm that causes women & their children. 7y

Laura317 @BookishFeminist I have not put any false facts out there. There are 13,540 federally-qualified, high quality health care clinics that give women choices to health care. That is a fact. As far as shaming, I never shamed anyone at any time. All I did was put forth my opinion and valid facts. It's obvious that I won't change your opinion or heart on this. You won't change mine either. Perhaps it's best to let this thread die. 7y

BookishFeminist @Laura317 You did state incorrect facts, Laura. States do restrict healthcare & you stated to the contrary. Existence of health clinics does not mean it isn't also restricted in many respects, & it's a logical fallacy to continue down that path. You stated that @thealidoyle's argument is invalid. That's a shaming tool. I can't speak for her but I never set out to change your opinion but feel you tried to do that when you could have ignored my post 7y

thealidoyle @Laura317 1. States have shut down clinics. Texas tried limit abortions to 4 providers in the entire state. I don't know if you have realized this but Texas is massive and women would need to travel hours to get to a clinic. Indiana closed enough clinics that people had to drive 50+ miles to get to one and it caused an HIV epidemic in the state. 7y

thealidoyle @Laura317 Embryos are not people. Fetuses are not people. Are you against IVF because not all the embryos get used? 7y

thealidoyle @Laura317 You cannot gaslight or shame us for our opinions about which you clearly do not understand facts or science. You are trying to use "alternative facts." Like Chuck Todd said yesterday. "Alternative facts' are fallacies 7y

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