barb@oliven.UUCP (Barbara Jernigan) (09/18/85)
I've been reading this newsgroup for several months now, and must
admit that I've seen little progress toward a resolution of the 'two'
viewpoints ('pro-life' and 'pro-choice'). Discarding the name calling,
the bulk of the argument has followed a general sense, and has flowed
from the keyboards of men (no, I'm not making a feminist point, I just
think that it's interesting). Well folks, I think it's well and fine
to discuss abstract philosophy, taking the 'high road' of making 'universal'
points (even the pro-choicers promoting situation ethics have been talking
generalities), but what I'm really curious to see is *WHY* females (women
and girls) do get abortions. Yes, yes, I know, promiscuous sex, ignorance
and all that falling under the general hat of Unwanted Pregnancy. But many
"unwanted pregnancies" have gone on to live fruitful lives -- and some have
lived damned miserable lives. No, what I am curious about is why a woman/girl
would CHOOSE abortion over the other options (adoption being one)? What
goes (or does not go) into her mind when making this decision?
I guess what I'm calling for is a series of case studies. For, let's face
it people, we can talk morality and civil liberties out the kazoo, but the
decision to have an abortion (legal or non-) always comes down to the
pregnant woman/girl (or someone intimately connected with her -- I am not
so naive to say there aren't forced abortions, even in the good ol' "free"
U.S. of A.) If we could understand the mechanics of that decision, the
awful emotional position of being faced with the untenable choice of bearing
an unwanted fetus to term -- or to terminate it. I'm not discussing 'Rightness'
and 'Wrongness', for I wonder how much those elements actually
figure in the decision? I cannot say, never having been personally faced
with an abortion decision, nor having talked with someone who has.
My ignorance has not prevented me from wondering -- or from reaching
conclusions of my own. And I do know of women/girls who chose not to
have abortions -- and the emotional consequences they faced. One, a
very young teenage pregnancy, faced the 'visit Aunt Margaret for nine
months' scenario (you know it, that's why Mary, mother of Jesus, was
sent to Elizabeth and Zechariah -- she was, after all, pregnant out of
wedlock) -- only Melissa NEVER came back. I wonder what became of her?
Another friend gave her baby up for adoption -- and the last, my sister in law,
WAS the baby given up for adoption. >Personally, adoption would be my
course -- if my life weren't threatened -- but, praise God and enlightened
parents, I never had to face that decision.< Was the emotional trauma -- and
social ostracism -- these women faced less, equal, or greater than that of
a woman/girl who aborts? But, you argue, at least the babies lived. What
about the acquaintance who abused her pregnancy, resulting in a baby so
badly damaged that it died in pain and trauma within six months of its
birth?
In sum, I would like to see some 'brass tacks' discussion about the WHY
of abortion -- it's one thing to take a position on moral -- and issue-
inexperienced -- grounds, quite another to argue from a point of intimate
knowledge.
I know there was one posting from a woman who had an abortion -- and she
was regrettably flamed, no doubt scaring off any others so inclined. But
is there anyone out there who does have firsthand -- or nearly so -- knowledge
they would share? And please, if people do share such, don't FLAME them;
it serves no purpose but to aggravate -- what was done was done, if you don't
agree, say 'I don't agree' and leave it at that -- PLEASE.
To those of you willing to take the chance -- I thank you in advance.
Barb Jernigan
But scientists, who ought to know
Assure us that it must be so.
Oh, let us never, never doubt
What nobody is sure about.
-- H. Belloccharli@cylixd.UUCP (Charli Phillips) (09/20/85)
In article <418@oliven.UUCP> barb@oliven.UUCP (Barbara Jernigan) writes: >but what I'm really curious to see is *WHY* females (women >and girls) do get abortions. The only reason I would consider an abortion would be a physician's declaration that continuing the pregnancy would endanger my life. However, the three friends I have had who have considered abortion all did so for the same reason: they had gotten pregnant out of wedlock and they did not want anyone to know they had been having sex with their boyfriends. They wanted to protect their reputations. When you start showing, after all, it's obvious to everyone what you've been doing. All three decided to carry their baby to term because they decided the life of their baby was more important than their reputations. Their decisions were, in fact, based on the moral issues involved. charli