Finding Where I Stand on the Umbrella of Abortion

I was unable to be in class this week, but I would like to share my thoughts on the article that we read on the 2 to 1 abortions. I have always been, and still remain, a staunch advocate for a woman’s right to choose. It is her body, not that man’s, and she should have every single right to decide exactly what and when things happen to her body. No questions asked. I have spoken to congress on behalf of this right, and am more than happy to share my knowledge with others when the topic of abortion comes up in conversation. And yet, I found that I really struggled with this article. To be honest, I don’t know what made me more uncomfortable –the article or my discomfort with the article. I truly believe that as women, we have every right to choose, so why should this differ when a woman is choosing to have one baby or two or none? The answer, is I’m not sure. I should put in a warning here, this post will not have a definitive answer from me, but merely the beginnings of what I am sure will be a lifelong conversation with myself. Why does it bother me? I guess I feel as though either you should have a baby, or not have a baby. But to have half of the pregnancy, that is more difficult for me. I can understand the rational behind it, if you have enough money to have a child, that doesn’t mean that you necessarily have the means to have twins. If you have 2 children already, and you don’t think you have the time to devote yourself to 4 kids, you do to 3, I can understand it. If you have health problems, but carrying only one baby to term will raise your chances to survive, I understand it. I understand all of these reasons. I can understand the rational behind all of these situations, and I am sure that I can understand the rational behind any other reason that I might be presented with. But at the same time, it sits uneasily with me. Maybe part of it is that these women invested an exorbitant amount of money and time to have these children, and then they only want half of what they worked towards. I’m not sure. I am sure that in another 10 to 15 to 20 years, when I am going through the process of having children, I will have a totally different outlook on this situation, but for now, I can’t quite wrap my head around this. The only thing I can firmly say, is that it is none of our business what these women choose. I can have my thoughts on what they are doing or should do, but it doesn’t matter. Until I am these women, my thoughts need and should remain solely my thoughts