AIBU to be absolutely furious at the bloke on Abortion on Trial (currently on BBC2)

[RestlessTraveller]

He the only bloke in the debate. He was pro-choice until his partner had one against his will, so now he wants it recriminalised.

Dick.

I watched this today and thought that it was great, from the point of view that abortion should be talked about, it isn't talked about enough!

I had an abortion at the age of 23, I had just started a relationship with someone who was 30 and he already had a little girl of 18 months old. I certainly didn't aim to get pregnant, we used precautions and I also took the morning after pill when we thought a condom had split. Nevertheless I became pregnant a month or so into the relationship, I knew that I really didn't want a baby at that point in my life and felt that having an abortion was the right thing for me. I do remember feeling the shame though and even thinking that this is what I deserved for doing it, even though it was my choice and I have a right to my own choice, it's the horrible stigma that is attached to it.

This programme made me want to go out into the street and say "I'm that person, I've had an abortion, that doesn't make me a bad person!" It made me quite tearful, listening to the individual stories, it is such a personal and emotional thing but it also made me feel empowered, that it's ok to share your story and gain strength from listening to others experiences, that you are not alone. Only a few close friends know what I went through, time passes and you meet new people and it isn't exactly a topic that comes up easily in conversation. And it's those odd times when it does come up and you find yourself going quiet because you are afraid that you will be judged by people.

I really am grateful to Anne Robinson and the women that appeared on this programme for highlighting just how common abortion is and that you don't have to feel ashamed for having one, in my view if you do not want a child and you find yourself pregnant it is the responsible thing to do.

There’s a dichotomy. A man should have equal responsibility for his child as a woman but no say in the pathway to birth

If a man decides he doesnt wish to show up at the birth registration and the couple are not married the mother cannot add him as a father. This makes it significantly harder for her to seek child support. It is very easy for a man to avoid responsibility for his child if he chooses

I’ve had an abortion and feel zero guilt about it. I did the right thing at the time. It doesn’t mean it wasn’t upsetting and painful (physically and mentally). Men can piss off thinking they can have a say on our experiences.

A man should have equal responsibility for his child as a woman but no say in the pathway to birth

A man should have equal responsibility for his child as a woman but not have to go through the sometimes life-threatening, often extremely painful and traumatic childbirth

Damn you biology. Cuts both ways.

'The pathway to birth' is gestation in a female body.

I didn’t watch the programme, but, whilst I do have sympathy with a man who wanted a baby and it was aborted against his wishes, the idea of any woman having to justify her choice before a panel is totally abhorrent. It suggests to me that this man is in reality looking to get revenge on women for his ex terminating the pregnancy, if he was pro-choice previously.