Wednesday 14 November 2012

OUR BODIES, OUR CHOICE



Savita Halappanavar, 31, died after being refused an abortion. photo source: irishtimes.com

Following the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar, who died of septicaemia in Ireland last month after she was refused an abortion, it's time to challenge the whole notion of 'pro-life'. This woman died needlessly and could have been saved if only she had been offered an abortion. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/14/savita-halappanavar-medically-unnecessary-death

In the UK, we falsely applaud a government that supposedly gives women the right to choose, but her choice is ridden with biases and patriarchal outdated laws. There have been proposals to reduce the time limit from 24 to 12 weeks. I have a huge problem with people who oppose abortion and want to further restrict a woman's choice. Contrary to right wing views, women do not use abortion as a form of contraception, but as an informed, intelligent decision over their bodies. I had a heated debate with someone who argued that abortion is used as a compulsory tool in China due to its overpopulation. Also, in Russia, abortions are handed out freely due to the high levels of exploitation when a boss coerces young females into sex and unwanted pregnancies. But surely the issue is that in China it's not a choice, while in Russia it masks the coercive nature of male exploiters. 

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt backs abortion limit from 24 to 12 weeks. source: guardian.co.uk
Back in March, I remember reading an article in Saturday’s Guardian, regarding abortion. I was appalled to read that children were being told that conceiving a child out of rape can be a positive experience. This outrageous assertion has no insight into the trauma experienced by the mother or the child. Children should be born because they are wanted. 
source:http://thehpalliance.org
This paternalistic government with its neo conservative/neo liberal agenda is intolerable. Woman need to prove that they are mentally unfit in order to be granted an abortion, which is absurd and hypocritical and another way of stigmatising/ controlling women’s bodies. We are regressing to a state that wants to control and regulate women’s sexuality and reinforces the notion that sex is an act solely for procreation. As past histories have shown, the unsafe practises of back street abortions, and the serious implications to women’s health, is something we do not want to go back to. Only a woman has the right to choose what is right for her. We need to act now and support pro-choice on a global scale. Let's spare a thought for the
Savitas of this world.