i'm not a huge fan of using this blog to discuss political beliefs, but let's talk! this is important.
i am a feminist. this is what that means for me now: a woman's right to choose whether or not to be pregnant or have a child is a major hot button issue, and i'm proud to take a stand + share my opinions.
in my opinion, being able to choose whether or not to have a child is the right of every woman + girl around the world. religious beliefs + rhetoric aside, it is simply not the government's place to tell anyone -- woman or otherwise -- what can and cannot happen in or to their body. i think that's something a lot of people can agree on. whether or not you decide to have an abortion (+ i would never tell someone to go against whatever they know is best for them), i hope you consider that it might not belong in our laws.
when i heard about the passing of savita halappanavar, who died after being refused an abortion in ireland even though she was already miscarrying, i got really, really upset. savita was in her 30's, married, and she + her husband wanted a family, but she began to miscarry at 17 weeks -- that alone, an experience i cannot begin to comprehend. she went to the hospital, but there was still a fetal heartbeat. there was no chance of saving the pregnancy, but the doctors refused to give her a d+c (a standard procedure during a miscarriage that removes the fetus). she suffered for three days in the hospital until the heartbeat finally stopped, but by then it was too late. savita had developed an infection called septicaemia + lost her life.
anyway, i got very upset. i mourned for this woman + her family. i talked about her death with nearly every woman i know + lots of men too. because that's what we can do. we can remember savita + what was taken from her because an archaic law prevented her life from being saved.
i don't know whether to call this part gift guide, or part giving guide...let's call it an introduction. 4000 years for choice is an organization that i support + admire. please visit their website. support their shop. buy cards + posters. listen to what women who've had an abortion have to say about it. learn about how the right to choose has been around for, yes, 4000 years. thankfully our medical technology has advanced...now i'm just waiting for our laws to catch up.
i'm not telling anyone what to do. argue in the comments if you want -- i'm always grateful for intelligent, illuminating conversation with people who believe differently than i do -- but i'm not sorry for my opinions.
*this is not a sponsored post
