Disclaimer: This may be more of a ramble than usual, somebody has taken 'sharing is caring' very out of context and given me their germs! Apologies in advance.
The term 'Pro-Life' has never sat well with me, in the context of it meaning anti-abortion. It's paradoxical when you look at it. Pictures have been flooding social media of protesters in Poland, mostly women, all dressed in black and taking to the streets against the proposed changes to already restrictive abortion laws; as well as messages of solidarity from around the globe, including a solidarity demonstration in Edinburgh (video from Emito.net). According to recent polls only 11% of the population were in favour of the proposed bill, opposed to more than 51% in favour of liberalising the current abortion laws.
The term 'Pro-Life' has never sat well with me, in the context of it meaning anti-abortion. It's paradoxical when you look at it. Pictures have been flooding social media of protesters in Poland, mostly women, all dressed in black and taking to the streets against the proposed changes to already restrictive abortion laws; as well as messages of solidarity from around the globe, including a solidarity demonstration in Edinburgh (video from Emito.net). According to recent polls only 11% of the population were in favour of the proposed bill, opposed to more than 51% in favour of liberalising the current abortion laws.
Today articles have surfaced saything that government officials are planning a u-turn on the proposed bill after the amazing show of direct action from citizens, with the minister for science and higher education saying that the women had "caused us to think and taught us humility". With such widespread contention for the proposed bill it would have been a dreadful move not to, leading to further strike action and escalating tactics. And who would blame them?? When a government tells you that you cannot have autonomy over your own body anybody would be pissed off. Whether you have a uterus or not, whether you would personally have an abortion or not, would you really want laws in place telling you that you cannot have a say in something that may risk your own life?
That's where the paradox comes in. When a woman's life is at risk because of a cluster of cells that is doing her harm, and she is told that she cannot have it removed, where is the pro-life sentiment there? When a teenage girl finds out her contraception has failed but the law says she has to give up on her ambitions of getting a good job that would provide childcare, so she can give her future children the best life possible, where is it then? Pro-Life campaigners aren't fighting for paid parental leave, better pre- and post-natal healthcare, support for parents of disabled children, or helping to ensure children in care, waiting to be adopted, are being properly cared for. No, they're standing there with pictures of aborted foetuses, telling women who are seeking a medical procedure that they should be punished for doing so. And the scary thing is that these people are in our governments.
While researching the topic I stumbled across the sickening statistic that because of current restrictions, legal abortions in Poland only make up around 10% of the total figure, leaving 90% of them being carried out in potentially dangerous conditions, threatening the woman's life and future health. Tell me again how riky medical practices are pro-life? It has always been the case that such laws will not stop abortion, they will only stop safe abortion. How many women will end up dying because of lack of access to safe procedures? And how many more would we have seen in prison if these laws came through, arrested for miscarrying like so many other women in the USA and South America have been? I feel physically sick thinking about it. Not to mention the number of appalling cases, including a woman in Ireland, where dead women have been kept alive on life support as nothing more than an incubator, because they were pregnant at the time of death. These cases go beyond disregarding respect for the deceased to treating these women as objects.
With only five days to go until Ireland's debate to Repeal the 8th we wish them the best of luck and solidarity. I urge you all to check out ROSA, the campaign for Reproductive rights, against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity, and send them your support. Polish women have kicked arse this week, now it's Ireland's turn!
That's where the paradox comes in. When a woman's life is at risk because of a cluster of cells that is doing her harm, and she is told that she cannot have it removed, where is the pro-life sentiment there? When a teenage girl finds out her contraception has failed but the law says she has to give up on her ambitions of getting a good job that would provide childcare, so she can give her future children the best life possible, where is it then? Pro-Life campaigners aren't fighting for paid parental leave, better pre- and post-natal healthcare, support for parents of disabled children, or helping to ensure children in care, waiting to be adopted, are being properly cared for. No, they're standing there with pictures of aborted foetuses, telling women who are seeking a medical procedure that they should be punished for doing so. And the scary thing is that these people are in our governments.
While researching the topic I stumbled across the sickening statistic that because of current restrictions, legal abortions in Poland only make up around 10% of the total figure, leaving 90% of them being carried out in potentially dangerous conditions, threatening the woman's life and future health. Tell me again how riky medical practices are pro-life? It has always been the case that such laws will not stop abortion, they will only stop safe abortion. How many women will end up dying because of lack of access to safe procedures? And how many more would we have seen in prison if these laws came through, arrested for miscarrying like so many other women in the USA and South America have been? I feel physically sick thinking about it. Not to mention the number of appalling cases, including a woman in Ireland, where dead women have been kept alive on life support as nothing more than an incubator, because they were pregnant at the time of death. These cases go beyond disregarding respect for the deceased to treating these women as objects.
With only five days to go until Ireland's debate to Repeal the 8th we wish them the best of luck and solidarity. I urge you all to check out ROSA, the campaign for Reproductive rights, against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity, and send them your support. Polish women have kicked arse this week, now it's Ireland's turn!
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