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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Pro-life / Pro-choice

335 replies

Drowz0r · 12/12/2011 13:37

Admittedly usually something argued accross the atlantic than in the UK anymore... I am curious to know how it ranges in the forum.

Anyone here pro-life or pro-choice? Any specific reason?

OP posts:
SinicalSanta · 12/12/2011 14:06

'It's my body' is a very good reason though. I don't think it's limited, I think it's just uncomplicated (in that sense)

Bodily autonomy is huge and a very fundamental right.

It can't be taken from a woman. You can say What about the baby? But an early foetus doesn't have bodily autonomy anyway, being totally dependent. That informs my feeling that the age of viability limit is on balance a good thing.

I say this as someone who hates abortion. Don't we all, says everyone.
But since having two children I know what's involved in childbearing and mothering. It's not a decision that anyone can force on another.

HandDivedScallopsrgreat · 12/12/2011 14:05

What is "limiting" about it being my body?

Actually don't bother answering that. I'm not engaging in an argument with a man on this subject.

Malificence · 12/12/2011 14:01

I'm absolutely pro choice, to insist that a woman / girl continues with a pregnancy she doesn't want, is beyond barbaric.

I don't think that all killing is bad either, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I would be capable of killing another human being if they were endangering my life/ the life of my family and my DH is too, with the added advantage of being trained by the military to do so. Killing someone in self defence is entirely justified.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 12/12/2011 13:59

Hmm, not sure it is helpful to compare US and UK politics. I'm not keen on the argument 'we have very few problems in comparison to so-and-so' - you can virtually always find somone less well off than yourself, so it becomes a lazy argument about not doing anything much.

I think there are huge issues in the UK about this. A big one being that it is still very taboo to talk about abortion. Another being that if women's bodies were more respected, I truly believe we would need far fewer abortions. And of course, although I won't begin to compare the risks of abortion to the immense risks of an unwanted pregnancy, abortion is not risk-free and therefore, must be an issue for women's health.

I don't see how the reasoning can be anything but 'it's my body'. What other argument could be advanced? Confused

Drowz0r · 12/12/2011 13:53

Well we tend to be a little further ahead in our politics than in the US, generally. Gay marrage being a good example. So in comparison with the US - which you see arguging a lot on the net, we have very few problems.

Do you think there are issues in the UK on this?

My opinion, seeing as I was asked, isn't so black and white. Sorry! I would run with pro-life as a general rule but I'm not sure it covers all eventualities... part of asking is the helping towards the formation of my own view of course.

I do find that most feminists are pro-choice too. Regretiblly the reasoning for why is often very strong (good thing) but very limited to "It's my body!". I'm hoping for something a little more than that though. Not implying that it's not a valid reason of course. I just believe even simple questions like "Is killing bad?" can be answered "Yes" - but there is a huge reasoning behind that simple answer.

OP posts:
LRDtheFeministDragon · 12/12/2011 13:52

I'm pro choice but have serious reservations about abortion as it is provided in the UK.

You?

Asnowflakeisforlife · 12/12/2011 13:50

What do you think?

SinicalSanta · 12/12/2011 13:43

Most feminists would be pro choice, on the grounds that bodily autonomy is a human right and women are humans.

HandDivedScallopsrgreat · 12/12/2011 13:43

What is your opinion?

fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 12/12/2011 13:40

What makes you think this isn't an issue in the UK?