Lawson: Choice does not mean anti-life or anti-religion

By Joy Lawson

Monday, April 17, 2006

One thing that I took away from my Science Wars class was: when encountering scientific studies, you must remember that most research is funded or completed by an organization with a specific desired outcome. Erin Wisdom provides overwhelming evidence swaying her argument toward the “right to life” argument without giving the choice stance a fighting chance.

Even as we look at the terminology of the right to life movement we see that in our society there is overwhelming power assigned to the word “life.” Choice stands as the antithesis of the “right to life movement,” and as it assumes this position the word automatically takes on a negative connotation. Choice does not mean anti-life and it does not mean anti-religion. Choice means the ability to decide when, how many, and if you want to have children.

The mixed messages we receive in sex education and socialization concerning our sexuality and our reproductive systems coupled with the shame that society places on asserting control over our own futures and our own bodies is outstanding. Wisdom’s piece cites mental instability and physical harm as side effects of abortion. Sonograms and statistics from the Mayo clinic force us to assign a fetus human status and to assume a submissive, self-sacrificing role placing our health, needs and desires in a secondary role.

What the article does not state will hurt women the most. Yeah, women deserve better than abortion. But what is the anti-choice movement doing to prevent pregnancy in the first place? Instead of putting an ideological band-aid on the issue of abortion we need to address WHY it is women are utilizing these services. If we really want to reduce the numbers of abortions being performed, we need to engage preventative measures through which we educate and create access to methods that would prevent pregnancy. Wisdom states that 27 percent of abortions end in infection, but fails to remind the reader that because abortions are performed in safe, clean, medically sanctioned conditions they are safer than wisdom tooth extraction. We should value women’s lives enough to not allow our government to restrict access to abortion.

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