Blog For Choice Day

I just (barely) missed Blog for Choice day - but I've been reading some fab posts about choice:

Laura over at I'm Not a Feminist But...
Pippa at One Salford Feminist
Anji at Shut up Sit Down
Michelle at Lonergrrrl
Newt In a Teacup
Devious Diva

Although I think I've only read a few among many, but I think the above posts are definitely worth mentioning and are thought provoking.

My 2 cents are that yes, I think all women should have the right to an abortion. I feel that although it may be a difficult decision to make for some women, especially considering the pressure they get from religion, partners and family to not have an abortion (and guilt from pro-life groups), I feel that women who choose abortions as a gut reaction are given very bad press.

They are said to be 'taking the easy way out' - but what, I ask, is wrong with that? The choice is available to us in the West, and if needed, we should take advantage of it.

As Laura said, women should have the freedom to pursue their dreams, get the job they want, travel, study and so on without the hindrance of a child at that period of their life, or when they already feel they have enough children, or when they just don't want children at all. I support women's control of their own bodies and fertility.

I myself have thought long and hard about such a "controversial" subject and I normally come to the conclusion that yes, I would want an abortion because I am not ready at all to have the responsibility of a child. Let alone the fact that I would miss out on a lot of experiences, don't even having a paying job at the moment (I volunteer) and am planning to do an MA this October. I think when I have a child I would rather not be living at home and have completed my studying, travelling and experienced living with my partner for a while. There's nothing wrong with having a child, but I feel that abortion should be thought of as a valid choice for women.

People don't like it when women say they support abortion. All the old gems come out like 'but its a new life!' and 'you're murdering a child!' and so on. Women fought long and hard to get those rights and we're not giving them up so easily. People think abortion is only okay if the woman has a need to do it. I think it's important that society's perception of abortion is challenged. I also think it's possible to be pro-life AND pro-abortion, just like being anti porn and sex positive. Because I have a genuine respect for life, but not if it means the woman who gives birth to a child really doesn't want it.

So heres to women's right to choose abortion: long may it still be a choice.