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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Redressing balance

43 replies

Gisellagertrude · 30/03/2022 12:16

This site's presentation of issues involved in using home abortion pills - and making of this permanent - is one sided.

How can this site be biased and also reach out to all women - or rather all people who are touched by this issue?

OP posts:
RoseslnTheHospital · 30/03/2022 15:45

There was plenty of discussion about the weighing up of the risk of women being coerced into abortions versus women being coerced into pregnancies they don't want on the original MNHQ campaign post -

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_campaigns/4511045-We-need-you-Lobby-your-MP-for-the-last-chance-to-retain-the-right-to-telemedical-abortion

Regarding raising adoption as an "option" for women debating what to do about a potentially unwanted pregnancy, to blithely suggest it, is to ignore the additional trauma to both mother and baby whilst also minimising the issues around continuing the pregnancy. Thoughts of adoption are only relevant if the woman in question is happy to continue a pregnancy and go through giving birth.

Gisellagertrude · 31/03/2022 14:55

A "returning user," I found the site really great when kids were small...open and friendly.

But somebody said that Mumsnet had become a "bubble" (like so much else...)

Most replies being characterised by a variety of "baddies" - criticism, sarcasm, irritation, defensiveness, speaking in "absolutes" - before my viewpoint is even clear! - would maybe indicate so...

I wanted to see if I was welcomed. Instead I feel challenged.

OP posts:
Tiphaine · 31/03/2022 15:04

What is the alternative perspective you say isn't represented here? Please do state it so we know what you're on about.

MedusasBadHairDay · 31/03/2022 15:30

I don't think anyone here is challenging you, to do that we'd need to understand what you were getting at our the first place. Confused

ditalini · 31/03/2022 15:40

A) Do you mean that you think women should have to visit a health practitioner in person to be prescribed and to take the first does of abortion pills and disagree with the legislation allowing this to be done via telemedicine?

B) Are you saying that you think that most posters disagree with you?

If so,

A) you're entitled to your opinion

B) so is everyone else on this site.

(C I don't think bias means what you think it means)

FemaleAndLearning · 31/03/2022 15:53

I'm still confused.

RoseslnTheHospital · 31/03/2022 15:59

Is it impossible to feel both welcomed and challenged? Why should any one's opinion simply be welcomed without any debate or challenge?

And you still haven't actually said what your opinion is.

AlisonDonut · 31/03/2022 16:04

@KleineDracheKokosnuss

Mumsnet is very pro abortion. The posters are pro abortion save for a small number. Threads on ‘I don’t want this child’ tend to offer a binary choice now: keep or just get rid. Even mention of adoption has pretty much vanished as compared to threads even 10 years ago.

I’ve seen little discussion re: this law of the risk of partners or others using the service to cause abortions that a woman doesn’t want. I don’t think anyone even noticed the news report that the service had been used to abort a baby that was past the abortion time limit (www.thesun.co.uk/news/11690506/police-probe-death-of-unborn-baby-after-woman-has-illegal-abortion-by-post-at-28-weeks-four-weeks-past-limit/).

But mumsnet is reflective of the majority stance our society takes, as also reflected in the media. Abortion is sacrosanct, must be available without checks and balances, and must not be questioned.

Anyone can post so presumably those that have opposite view are not chained up in Mumsnet dungeons so are choosing not to post?
mudgetastic · 31/03/2022 16:46

I think it you want to redress balance it would be more productive to post compelling arguments on the relevant threads rather than starting a new thread to have a moan

But yes since abortion is the exact opposite of a walk in the park /party / bucket list life enhancing experience that you will need to work hard to convince anyone that when a woman asks for one she should be challenged and potentially refuses

DomesticatedZombie · 31/03/2022 18:09

Anyone can post so presumably those that have opposite view are not chained up in Mumsnet dungeons so are choosing not to post?

I've been in the Mumsnet dungeon for 6 years, 5 months and 4 days. You have to leave your shoes at the door, of course.

mudgetastic · 31/03/2022 18:15

Is the food good though? How do they serve the weetabix?

PrelateChuckles · 31/03/2022 18:19

Please can you be specific and set out what you are talking about?

Vague nods to other threads aren't that helpful.

AlisonDonut · 31/03/2022 18:20

@DomesticatedZombie

Anyone can post so presumably those that have opposite view are not chained up in Mumsnet dungeons so are choosing not to post?

I've been in the Mumsnet dungeon for 6 years, 5 months and 4 days. You have to leave your shoes at the door, of course.

Well you are famously domesticated!
Echobelly · 31/03/2022 18:25

The OP presumably has some concerns about women taking pill for abortion without doctor's supervision. But hasn't made clear what these are.

MedusasBadHairDay · 31/03/2022 18:32

@Echobelly

The OP presumably has some concerns about women taking pill for abortion without doctor's supervision. But hasn't made clear what these are.
The OP is being so vague and evasive that it's possible they think abortion shouldn't be allowed full stop
Masterblasterjammin · 31/03/2022 18:37

Telemedicine abortions are proven to be safe and effective, and the overwhelming majority of women who accessed the service preferred it. There is still discussion with a healthcare professional, and should that professional feel that the woman needs closer monitoring and supervision in person, then that is still the case. But there is still monitoring and supervision.

What it removes is the decades old requirement for a woman to require the permission of two doctors to have an abortion. And the decades old requirement for abortions to take place on licensed premises. These requirements were put into place to redress the problem of ‘backstreet abortions’, which was one of the largest causes of mortality in females of child bearing age. Obviously developments in medicine have rendered these requirements largely redundant.

Telemedicine abortions have also been proven to facilitate earlier abortions, which are proven to be safer for women. Telemedicine abortions have made it easier for women who were previously buying abortion pills illegally online, perhaps due to an inability to visit their doctor due to fear of domestic violence from their partner, to access safe and regulated abortions from home. These women then have access to counselling and safeguarding services, making it even safer for women.

Even without the obvious safety benefits, telemedicine abortions are incredibly cost effective, and are cheaper than the traditional model.

I have no idea what your actual concerns are, but thought maybe some clear information might be helpful.

SamphiretheStickerist · 01/04/2022 08:01

@Echobelly

The OP presumably has some concerns about women taking pill for abortion without doctor's supervision. But hasn't made clear what these are.
I camer back this morning to see if the OPs perspective had been clarified. But no! I still have no idea whether she thinks this is a good or a bad thing.

And she thinks she is the one being challenged!

picklemewalnuts · 01/04/2022 08:25

@Gisellagertrude

My question is this:

if this site is "by parents for parents" this means all parents, yes.

So all biases are, of course, allowed.

When one bias is hardly mentioned - one self-evident by its absence - what does it say about this site and its inclusion of all? Its attraction of all?

A temporary emergency covid-related law-change tonight probably becomes permanent, if tonight's Commons vote turns out as expected. as expected.

Why was it supposed to be temporary? And only for an emergency?

There problems associated with in effect anonymising abortion pill access - and permanently hardly figure if at all on this site.

When a site becomes one-sided it is a ghetto.

I am completely unaware of the issues you see. You need to spell it out.

One poster has said that pills were used to terminate a baby past the legal date. I hadn't heard that, it is appalling, and steps need to be taken to make that harder.

What other problems are there?

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