Poland bans almost all abortions

[ArabellaScott]

Frightening,

'Poland's top court has ruled that abortions in cases of foetal defects are unconstitutional.

...

Once the decision comes into effect, terminations will only be allowed in cases of rape or incest, or if the mother's health is at risk.'

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54642108

This whole thread, in combination with events in the US (where abortion rights are at real risk now) and the trans propaganda makes me feel as if I am a soldier fighting against two fronts at the same time. Those who argue that gender critical feminists are working with the far right might wish to think how the far left is actually the group which is working with the far right. Neither group now wants women to organise and fight for their rights as a sex.

I remember this case with horror. A dead woman kept on life support for weeks to incubate a foetus.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP_v._HSE

Those who argue that gender critical feminists are working with the far right might wish to think how the far left is actually the group which is working with the far right. Neither group now wants women to organise and fight for their rights as a sex.

Very well put. It does feel like women’s rights are under heavy attack from both right and left, and many that see the threat from the right (like this one) are tragically blind to the threat from the left. Or is that wilfully blind?

Whatever. The end result is that they are working in tandem to make the world a much worse, more dangerous place for women, and we are run ragged in our attempts to fend them both off.

@FairFridaythe13th

What is happening? And in Norway it looks like you can get 3 years jail for misgendering someone - and you can bet your boots it will be women filling up the jails. It seems like a worldwide clamp down on women.

No - but it really does seem to be happening in Europe. Very worrying.

@FairFridaythe13th Sorry, forgot the Anglosphere too!

Thank you Agrona. Truly a arrowing case resulting in a landmark ruling about the right of pregnant women to prioritise their own health over that of the fetus they're carrying.

Can I remind everyone that today , 28th October is the 8th anniversary of the death of Savita Halappanavar. She was 31 when she unnecessarily died due to a “ septic miscarriage “, a mismanaged miscarriage and was denied proper care and compassion , a tragedy that should never have happened. Rest In Peace Savita

Amen to that

Shit, it's happening: www.thetimes.co.uk/article/poland-implements-near-total-ban-on-abortions-0r6656cks

From yesterday's paper:

Protests broke out across Poland as the government brought into immediate effect a controversial law that effectively outlaws abortion.

The official publication of a court ruling late yesterday tightens already strict laws in Poland, which will now permit the procedure only in cases of rape, incest and when the mother’s life is at risk.

My son is disabled. It's early days and the terrifying fear of whether I can emotionally and physically do this is real. I love my son more than anything, but this is something I am having to summon super human strength and resilience for, as instead of a mother I am now a carer.
I'm fed up with being used as some kind of gotcha for people wanting to justify banning abortions. People who aren't facing a lifetime of uncertainty like I am. People who don't realise how terrible support for disability in this country (and others) really is. I realise that I may be able to get through this: I have a partner who will support us both emotionally and physically and some savings I can throw at physio. I am very lucky in this. Not everyone could do this. Resources for disability are scarce. Adding extra disabled people whose caregivers can't cope won't help me at all.

People act like a disabled child is some kind of cute pet have no idea of the emotional toll of the reality. My life has changed forever and it's not something I would have stepped lightly into. I am choosing to raise my son rather than adoption, but I'd never judge someone for choosing not to continue a pregnancy if they had the option to.

My son is not a fucking gotcha. He's a human being with high needs. If you actually cared about all the little babies you'd be campaigning to improve medical care for disabled people or family planning for young women etc. You'd be asking for better medical care for women in labour.

My son is beautiful. I'd never use him as a weapon against other women.

Dreadful.

97% catholic country, with a -1.4% birth rate, and not many 'foreigners' available to do the shitty jobs, (as poland is a bit 'white power', and more than a little backward in terms of 'traditional gender roles') so this doesn't surprise me, one bit... it's not about 'saving' babies though, it's mainly about ensuring that the population increases so they have bodies available to pay taxes and wipe arses, methinks...

and to close the 'loophole' of 'birth defects'...

They are such hypocrites.

Before they had strict rules. And women went to other countries. As with Northern Ireland and Ireland they turned a blind eye.

If they were serious they would make every woman leaving take a pregnancy test.

That never happens.

The women and girls who can afford to travel and pay. They turn a blind eye.

Massive protests about this, again, now.

Power to my polish sisters. You are brave to march.

TheBuffster

More illegal back street abortionists , and more maternal deaths...

What a dreadful time for women in Poland.

yaboo I hadn't realised they had a falling birthrate. I wonder why that's the case.

It's an interesting line of thought and I wonder if researchers have already looked at it - countries that aren't open to foreigners are more likely to curb women's reproductive rights to deal with decreasing population issues, while countries that have liberal reproductive rights tend to skew towards relying on migrants to make up for the population shortfall and do all the more poorly paid jobs.

I had a TFMR of a pregnancy where the child would either die around the end of term or soon after birth. I had to push in the UK to have the termination I wanted, they were pushing me in one direction, I was pushing for another. It was intensely stressful. I have no idea what would have happened if an abortion hadn’t been possible at all. I wonder if I’d have left the country or investigated black market alternatives? I think I probably would have.

@bathsh3ba

It is saying that the life of the woman who chooses to abort a foetus like her is more important than that of the foetus, ie her life has less value.

And the alternative says that a woman's primary role is to be an incubator and then very likely a carer, and who cares what she may have wanted to do with her own life, she's just a woman.

Weirdly, as a woman I can't get behind that.

@TheBuffster

My post crossed yours. Please don't take it as any comment on your situation. You are making a decision that's right for you in a society that trusts you to decide.

@Blibbyblobby thank you. I never thought I would find myself in this situation and am just doing the best I can. I'm not a super human and am just going to have to learn to live with it. But my life has changed forever, and possibilities that should have been available to me like going back to work are off. We may be able to survive on one wage but it's uncertain. Not something I would wish on anyone and so I fully support a woman's right to choose.
@SunsetBeetch
Thank you. I just have to hope it will be ok, or as ok as it can be.