There are a lot of reasons why I’m pro-choice. I’m pro-choice because I’m a woman in a society that’s, to be generous, conflicted about sex. I should be the one to have a say in whether or not I want to have children, how many I have, and what I will do if something unforseen happens. “Unforseen” as in birth control failing, having a child to an abusive partner, rape – not planned for.

I’m an adoptive parent. Adoption should be only one of many available options for dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Many people say that adoption is preferable to abortion. It’s been my experience that many of these people are the same ones who are not only uneducated about adoption, and refuse to be educated about adoption, but who say the most idiotic things to adoptive parents. I’ve ranted about this on more than one occasion, so I’ll spare you for now. I will also say that a choice made under duress or coersion is not a choice either.

I’m the parent of a daughter. My child is still young, but old enough now to make me worry about her future long into the night. I don’t want her to have sex until she’s emotionally ready and has a steady, reliable partner. I am also a realist. Therefore, I want her to have real, live, comprehensive sex education and access to birth control. Including – gasp! – abortion, if it’s ever needed. Which leads me to another reason why I’m pro-choice.

Today is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that both allowed women to obtain legal and safe abortions and establishing a Constitutional right of privacy, allowing other judgements to go forward. Judgements like Lawrence and Garner v. Texas, repealing the Texas anti-sodomy law, 30 years later. There are a lot of people who would like to go back in time. Back to the days of back-alley abortions, homes for “wayward girls”, and having babies because that was the only available “choice”. Back to the days of heroes named Jane, who were called outlaws and worse for helping women in need. It’s interesting to read about history. It’s not so much fun to relive history. When Roe V. Wade happened, I was a little too young to be directly affected by it. Later on, I benefited from it. I’ve never had an abortion, but it’s been available to me if I ever needed it. I will not go back to the days when the only choice is to have a baby, whether or not that baby is wanted. I won’t take my child back there, or her friends.

Just a few reasons why I’m pro-choice. Not all of them, but some.

UPDATE: Check out some much better writing by Baggage, Dawn, and Deborah, Shakes Sis and Litbrit at Shakespeare’s Sister, among many, many others. Click on the button at the top of this post to find a bunch more.

Posted in Parenting Politics
4 Comments Posted by spyderkl