Prochoice is not pro-abortion.
I don't know how anyone could get the two things mixed up. Prochoice is about sooo sooo sooooooo much more than just abortion. It's about a woman's right to choose. It's about reproductive choices and freedoms.
For me, being prochoice is about a woman's right to choose whether she wants to be pregnant in the first place. That means having access to contraceptives and the education on how to use them, as well as information about abstinence and how to refrain from sex when you're pressured to do it.
Prochoice is about a woman's right to choose whether she wants to stay pregnant. That means having access to abortion and prenatal health care, as well as a support system for the woman regardless of which choice she makes.
Prochoice is about a woman's right to give birth how and with who she wants. That means access to health care, midwives, OB/GYNs, doulas and information for all the above choices. That means education (not just 1 day hospital classes) about childbirth, the interventions offered and their risks, and how to fight for your own well being as well as the well being of the child.
Prochoice is about being able to choose whether to actually be a parent, or to give up a child for adoption. That means access to information about adoption and parenting. That means fighting for adoption reform so that adoption isn't so expensive and doesn't take so long to happen. It means recognizing that there are waiting lists for some types of children and an overabundance of other types of children.
Prochoice is about choosing HOW you parent. Do you want to breastfeed or formula feed? Do you want to co-sleep or allow your child to sleep in it's own room? Are you going to use cloth diapers or disposables? Are you going to babywear? What are your rights as a working parent? ALL these choices require the person to be INFORMED about their rights and their choices.
Where does all this education come from? Hopefully parents play an important role. But we cannot ensure their participation. Education must happen where it can be controlled as science-based and factual; in the schools. And the education must extend beyond the topic covered here. It must go into gender roles, marriage, respect, puberty, and so much more.
Prochoice is about a lot more than just abortion.
Reflecting on Privilege
10 years ago
Well said. It irritates me greatly when people say that pro-choice forces women to have abortions. I just had this conversation a few hours ago on Twitter. The point is, we want women to have the choice to keep or abort, whichever they would like to do - that's hardly "forcing".
ReplyDeleteThank you... I got just a spam from a christian friend of mine for the pro life tee shirt. I get sick of it. This is exactly what I mean when I say I am pro choice. While I may not agree with your choice, it is still yours to make.
ReplyDeleteI'll repost this and hopefully you can respond this time instead of removing it. You began by saying " pro choice is not pro abortion." Then you go on to say "prochoice is about a woman's right to choose whether she wants to stay pregnant. That means having access to abortion." and this makes sense how??
DeleteWhat a joke. Love the way you pussyfoot around the subject by harping on about all the other things that are meant by pro choice. Who gives a rats ass. I chose what to eat for breakfast this morning and what to wear. Who cares? Why can't you say right out that think a woman should have the right to kill her own child for any of no reason at all. Nothing wrong with it..right?!
ReplyDeleteany or no reason at all
DeleteI didn't realize being honest was called "pussyfoot" now. Who cares about what prochoice means? Lots of people. People who actually care about other human beings.
DeleteGet real. Pro choice means you support abortion. End of. If we were to list all the choices we are in favour of we would be here for a long time. You say you care about other human beings, not the unborn ones though :-(
DeleteAnd by pussyfooting I mean avoiding the real issue, not talking plainly. It's an expression where I come from, I can understand you might not be familiar with it.
DeleteYou must be confused about what the real issue is.
DeletePro choice= supporting abortion as a choice.
DeleteThat is common knowledge.
You are a Christian who supports killing innocent human beings. That's the real issue.
You can't put abortion in with all those things you mentioned and label it pro choice. Abortion is a VERY separate issue.
Why do you want to reduce the need for elective abortions if there's nothing wrong with it?
ReplyDeleteI want to reduce unplanned pregnancies, which is the majority of the need for elective abortions. There's nothing wrong with abortion.
DeleteYou didn't say you wanted to reduce unplanned pregnancies. You said you wanted to reduce the number of elective abortions. So you didn't really answer the question. Abortion is not the only option when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. In fact it should never be an option. Abortion affects women in a negative way and is something they carry with them for the rest of their lives. There is ALWAYS a better option.
DeletePlease quote and link to where I said I wanted to reduce abortions. Thank you.
DeleteAbortion affects women in many ways, but most often it is a positive experience. For some women, it is the best option.
You don't have to look far, it's right at the end of this page on your introductory "about me". It says " I'm a pro choice Christian who wants to reduce the need for elective abortions..."
DeleteIf abortion is such a positive experience then why do you want to reduce the need for them?
DeleteYou say you want to do this through sex ed, reformed adoption and better supports. So glad you agree that these are better options.
Funny that I have to keep showing you where you wrote things on your own blog.
DeleteGlad you quoted it. Because it clearly does not say I want to reduce abortions.
DeleteI want to reduce the NEED for abortions, because unplanned and unwanted pregnancy is not a pleasant experience.
Reducing the need is reducing the number.Only one (i.e sex ed) out of the three things you mentioned works to reduce unplanned pregnancy.
DeleteThe other two things (adoption and better supports for pregnant women) don't prevent unplanned pregnancies.
They are alternatives to abortion, therefore with the aim of reducing the number of abortions.
Why bother trying to reduce it then? From the prochoice perspective shouldn't it be the "choice" of the women involved. I think in your heart you know that it might even be just a LITTLE bit wrong ya??
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure you understand what the term "unplanned" means. If you choose to get pregnant, then you wouldn't have an *unplanned* pregnancy.
DeleteAnd no- there's nothing wrong at all with abortion. There is something wrong with forcing a woman to do what she doesn't want with her pregnancy.
Again, if you could be more direct, if there's nothing wrong with it then WHY are you trying to reduce the need for them??
ReplyDeleteAs for forcing a woman to do what she doesn't want with her pregnancy? You mean "forcing" her to carry her child to full term. Once you are pregnant another life has begun. There is something more profoundly wrong going on when you force the death penalty on that innocent life. I'm sorry that as a Christian you can't see that.
By the way just curious, seeing as it doesn't become a person until it takes it's first breath (according to you) would you support abortion right up to full term?
Why am I trying to reduce unplanned pregnancies? Because they're an emotional and financial drain. Because they're unnecessary with proper sex education and contraception access. Because they can cause emotional trauma. Because unplanned pregnancy can cause regret.
Delete"You mean "forcing" her to carry her child to full term. "
No, I don't just mean that. Stop assuming.
Please tell me where, according to me, that's when a person comes into existence. Thank you.
It's on your "Christian prochoice links" page.
DeleteIt's the last link on there. So if the unborn din't become living persons until they take their first breath does that mean you support abortion right up to birth? Would seem so.
DeleteI see that page has been taken down now. Why is that?
DeleteSo...do you support abortion up to full term?
DeleteAnd obviously "unplanned" means you didn't "choose" to get pregnant. But come on!!! Everyone knows that babies are made by having sex. It's pretty basic biology.
ReplyDeleteIn other words it's not about choosing to become pregnant or not. Yes you can try to prevent pregnancy but no method of contraception is perfect. You "choose" to have sex, you may or may not become pregnant as a result.
DeleteExcept not everyone knows that. Some people think you can't get pregnant the first time, or if you do jumping jacks after, or if you pull out, or any other number of things.
DeleteYou have sex ed and contraception in your country so those people are few and far between and I doubt make up a significant number of those having abortions. So enough of the excuses and stop killing babies.
DeleteYou've proven over and over again that you're no Christian. You are actually embarrassing yourself.
ReplyDeleteJust another pro choice abortion advocate. Nothing new.
Thank you for judging me.
DeleteSorry if I offended you but am just giving my honest opinion. As Christians we can judge behavior and attitudes of others. It is a spirit of fault finding that Jesus warns against. Honestly I don't think you can be a Christian in the true sense and support abortion at the same time. It just doesn't make sense.
DeleteIt is biblical to correct and rebuke those who wander from the truth. You may have a form of godliness but your worldly attitudes are so inconsistent with basic Christian values that I can only conclude that you are not truly a Christian.
DeleteSo do you only condone abortion when the woman is totally ignorant of the facts of life and/or had no access to contraception ?
ReplyDeleteChristian prochoicer do you support abortion right up to full term?
ReplyDelete