HBO Documentary: Abortion Stories Women Tell

I’ve always believed that a woman’s right to choose whether or not to seek an abortion is the woman’s decision and hers alone. It should be a private decision between herself and her doctor. In the mid 1970’s, one year after abortion became legal, that’s how it was for me, and i have never regretted that decision. It was based entirely on my immaturity at the time and my understanding that I was not equipped to raise another human being. Hawkins’ explanation of abortion, it’s place in controlling population and the myriad environmental issues regarding poorer women and their families, along with privacy, are all issues I agree with. It is, however, the first analysis taking into consideration “all of life,” including nature, the environment, animals, insects and people in the same category as ‘pro-life.’ In Hawkins research, it the ultimate, all encompassing “pro-life” movement. This allows all of life to be included, and therefore inclusive, in the effort of population control. What has been a multifaceted issue can be looked at as an all encompassing life issue, one where each small and large section of a greater problem can be seen as one whole. Part of the constraints of trying to fix something piecemeal is that it never really gets fixed. It is like putting a band aid on a deep stab wound.

Since Hawkins’ research in 1994 our world population has risen to nearly 8 billion with more births than deaths each day. As women of the United States struggle to hold onto their legal right to an abortion, 1/3 of the worlds population do not have access to legal, safe abortion rights. 26 countries have a total ban on abortion. 39 other countries have abortion legal only if the life of the mother is at stake (https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6409621/abortion-map-third-of-world-countries-ban-illegal-jail-miscarriages/). Many women have died or are in prison due to seeking out abortion in unsafe conditions and/or being accused of aborting their pregnancy even if they miscarry. Legalizing abortion in these countries would allow women to decide when and if children are a part of their future. Mortality rates are higher for women and children in regions where abortion is illegal.

Green – legal Orange – in rare circumstances Red – illegal

Today, more than ever, “(t)he links between population growth, poverty, and environmental degradation…” are well known and are only getting worse (Hawkins p 690). According to actionagainsthunger.org, 780 million people live in extreme poverty. 45% of all childhood deaths are due to starvation and undernutrition. Starvation is due to lack of a steady income for the family, no access to proper food, clean water or healthcare. Along with income, food, water and healthcare, reliable sanitation, clean cooking fuel, electricity, flooring material and at least five years of education can and do reduce child and maternal mortality (Alkire p 16). Women and their children are at the greatest risk of death due to poverty and lack of education regarding the truths of birth control, abortion and gynecological health. “(W)omen who can regulate their fertility, including access to safe abortion, can take advantage of opportunities for education, employment, and political empowerment, and have a greater ability to achieve and maintain overall health and well-being as well as to maintain their productivity and contributions to society. For example, when girls with unwanted pregnancies are allowed to stay in school rather than being forced to drop out, their chances of later gaining an income above poverty level are greatly increased” (Crane p 7).

“Thomson and the Case of the Sickly Violinist” (https://www.iep.utm.edu/abortion/#SH3g) is a fascinating article from 1971 in which Thomson argues that just because someone believes they can ‘use’ anothers’ body to keep themselves alive, does not give them the right to do so, no matter how much they feel they deserve to. She states that 1) “the right to live does not include the right to be given the means necessary for survival” and 2) “the right to live does not include the right not to be killed”. The rights of the person being used by the other to stay alive have been unjustly usurped and they must be afforded all their rights to live a normal life. This is clearly relatable to a woman’s right to choose whether to carry her pregnancy to term.

In the United States alone, where there has been abortion bans and the closing of clinics, there has been a rise in maternal mortality rates. This has affected women of color significantly more than white women due to most of the bans being introduced in southern states. Louisiana and Georgia rank first and second in maternal mortality, adversely affecting women of color (https://www.businessinsider.com/states-passing-abortion-bans-have-highest-infant-mortality-rates-2019-5).

Annotated Bibliography

Alkire, Sabina and Santos, Maria Emma. “Acute Multidimensional Poverty: A New Index for Developing Countries.” Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative, Working Paper No. 38. July 2010.

Utilizing MPI (Multidimensional Poverty Index), the authors analyze 104 countries using health, education and standard of living to determine possible solutions and policies that address the interlocking issues poor people face. MPI measures poverty in the selected countries comparably but broadly. A more individualized study by country is necessary for more direct input and results as poverty changes from region to region.

Crane, Barbara B. and Smith, Charlotte E. Hord. “Access to Safe Abortion: An Essential Strategy for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals to Improve Maternal Health, Promote Gender Equality, and Reduce Poverty.” UN Millennium Project. February, 2006.

An in-depth look at legal/illegal abortion and it’s implications regarding women, families, poverty, the health of women, policies, and the larger international community. Often it is the policy makers themselves, mainly male, who refuse to change their policies and so it is the women who suffer.