I imagine this 15 year old girl, confused and scared. Battling with intense emotions of anger, shame,regret and helplessness. As tears run down her soft and tender cheeks, she unwrapped her new born child from her old piece of chitenge,pauses for a few seconds just to look at her baby for the last time. Then throws it inside the pit latrine. As she steps out of the improvised grave of her new born child, she looks around left and right to see if anybody saw her. She heads home running without looking back. She cries all night feeling terrible and horrified. She instantly realises that this day will haunt her for the rest of her life. As she lies on her bed that night, sleepless. She remembers all the events that led to her pregnancy. It doesn't matter the circumstances leading to her pregnancy but the reality remains that she was left with no other choice at the end of the day. In an ideal situation no woman would ever wish death for their child. This also applies to abortion, we spend so much time protecting and arguing about the fetus. When life begins and whether it's right to terminate. But the truth remains nobody critically wants to address the circumstances that led to that pregnancy nor the woman's psychological battle that led to her choice. Seemingly the only wise choice in her mind at that time. All these theories about what wrong women do to their offspring is as a result of the normalisation of women being unable to have an intire say on what they want to do with their bodies before then. I believe a woman owns her body and she should decide whether or not she wants to have sex at that given time and with whoever she pleases. Only her should decide whether or not she wants to have children and when. A woman should be left to decide whether or not she wants to get married and when. Most women never get the chance to have comprehensive information on their sexual health and let alone decide on the kind of services they want to access from the clinic including family planning methods. Imagine a world, where all sex was consented, where all girls would be protected from rape, incest and all forms of sexual abuse and access to sexual health and services was treated as a basic right for everyone then we would have less abortions and baby dumping. If you are pro life and are doing nothing to protect the women in your life from rape, incest and have never taken some time to expose them to comprehensive information and services on their sexual health, then you have no moral higher ground to begin blaming them for their choice during pregnancy or after giving birth. No woman should ever be placed in circumstances where its required to choose between her child and herself. I can never begin to imagine how difficult and heartbreaking that is. Let's begin to fight for all pregnancies to be wanted before we begin to support the new born. And finally if you are pro-choice, always remember the psychological trauma involved and find ways to address it. My deepest desire is to see women that are empowered and supported to live out their choices.
7 comments:
Its a tough issue,I wouldnt want abortion for myself but I think it has to be a personal choice. Yes we are quick to judge the cover without knowing the story.
It's really common in our communities, give life a chance..No to abortion,baby dumping and unplanned pregnancies....
Most people who are pro choice,do not take into consideration that abortion is psychologicaly very painful and traumatic for the women. It surely must be her choice but I wish we would do our best as society to address the root cause
Well written blog post. I specifically like the point that it has to start with the woman having choice with what to do with her body. Whether to have sex or not. Rape and other related sexual abuses should be considered isolated cases, though quite rampant and growing in Malawi. Nevertheless, a pro-life choice is best both ways.
Wow what a weave of creativity. I was welcomed to creative writing right at the door. Then I came face to face with self beliefs and one's experience in one pen...👍👏👏
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