Re: Women and Equality
Tiger74 said:
Can we please be very careful about the abortion discussion (if this is where this is going)?
Odds are there are at least a few posters who have had personal experience with the situation, and while its great to talk about it as an idealogical issue, for these people it is something much more personal.
I've split Dyer's post from your thread and merged it with previous discussion about abortion which interestingly, considering your comments above, you have actively participated in yourself.
Dyer'ere said:
This is why we use the raped victim example when discussing the other aspects of the issue, rosy. Stops the discussion of those aspects being sidetracked.
It's to minimise the controversy. So we can make clear judgements. One step at a time.
I don't agree with that thinking Dyer. There are many reasons for termination ( I hate the word abortion) and I'm sure each is as important as any other to the people involved in individual circumstances. A bill is never going to be passed to decriminalise termination solely on the basis of rape and I don't see how using the rape example minimises the controversy any more than discussing other aspects.
Possibly too much info for some but I was once faced with a very difficult choice when I was pregnant. Scans showed my baby had stopped growing and the option of termination was discussed in passing but I was told by the local GP to go home and let nature take it's course. With no knowledge of what was ahead for me, and no councelling or specialised advice, I opted for the second option. It was horrible going about day to day life for a few weeks with everyone asking about my pregnancy and having to explain that although I was pregnant there would be no joy.
I was alone in the middle of the night when I had my miscarriage and it very nearly cost my life. Luckily I managed to crawl to the phone before I blacked out, and somehow my father in law managed to get me into his car and to hospital where I was rushed into emergency theatre. It was a horrible experience, painful, frightening and heartbreaking.
If my daughter was ever in a similar position I'd advise her, without any hesitation, to have a termination. I'd like women to have that option without any burden of guilt in regard to social or moral stigmas or 'criminal' action that conjures up images of seedy back lanes and coat hangers.