The Pro-life movement and the impact on female sexuality, motherhood.

My thoughts on the subject.






This image came up on my newsfeed from the Facebook page The other 98%. I had to share it of course, and added these words. 

"Exactly! The pro-life movement fails to realise the implications of their views on just having a child saved from abortion. What happens next? Are any of them there to support the Mother in raising her child? I highly doubt it. If anything the Mother is shamed for having sex before marriage and being a single Mother. So much ugh!!!"

I have been pro-choice for awhile now. Ever since I read this article about how one woman Lost faith in the pro-life movement. I highly recommend reading it, if you get the chance. From reading that article I was linked to some thought provoking further reading. 

How does this relate to my sexuality? Hugely! Taking away my choices surrounding my reproductive rights affects my sexuality. It means that I as a woman am seen as less than a man, when we should be equal. That my sexuality is tied with my fertility and chances of conceiving, it is, but it is viewed negatively. It is connected with the purity culture. It is connected with patriarchy. They are all connected, and affect how women are seen and treated regarding their sexuality, fertility, birth and motherhood. Women are blamed for getting pregnant. Where is the man who had sex with her? He is just as responsible. Women are blamed for the trauma they experience regarding birth. What about the fucked up obstetrics system and how it treats women as incubators, not people? Women are shamed for not being virgins and for sleeping around. What about the men they are having sex with? Single Mothers are shamed and blamed for contributing to the Fatherless generation. What about the Fathers? How is any of that helpful to blame us as women for societies problems? Men are just as much to blame, along with how governments are run, rape culture and slut shaming, and many other detrimental views towards women, our sexuality and fertility.

It is for this reason that I take my sexuality, fertility and my son's birth into my own hands. I had a homebirth for my son. There is no fucking way I was going to a hospital to be treated like an incubator by professionals more focused on following policies than connecting with a person. Unless there was a real emergency, and even that is debatable. The clamp down on homebirth is just a sign that the system does not want women to trust themselves and empower themselves by educating themselves. We are not stupid! All the women I know who have had homebirths are well educated, intelligent, critical thinking women. They do not consider it lightly and have a back up plan for if something goes wrong. I had a hospital back-up booking in case of emergency. It was all fine, as most births are. My Midwife told me that we would know well in advance if something was going to go wrong and head to Hospital way before it became a drama-fest emergency.

Back to my original thoughts about pro-choice and pro-life. The pro-life movement strongly advocates for all babies being born and having a chance at life. But...what kind of life will it be? Do they ever stop to consider what life will be like for the unborn child once they are born? Do they offer support to the Mothers who are considering abortion but are talked out of it after their child is born?  Is it really fair to bring a child into the world when the Mother is not prepared to be a Mother? These are questions worth asking and trying to find the answer to. This goes beyond morality and how Christians view abortion. This is real life and a woman having to be a Mother to a child who she does not really want. Is that fair on both Mother and child? I think not. The pro-life movement needs to take responsibility for the implications of their views. I am not sure how. 

All I ask is that women are allowed to make their own educated and informed choices regarding their sexuality, fertility, relationships, and where/how they give birth. We are not children who need managment. We can think for ourselves. That is all. Pro-choice.