Chapter 6 offered a lot of interesting readings on women and the rights they have been denied since the beginning of time. I have had an abortion and because I knew that it was the right choice for me at that time I have not had any depression or suicidal attempts, etc.
It’s been around 7 years since I had the abortion and I still remember the day I went to the abortion clinic. I took my cousin with me for moral support although she was not allowed any further then the waiting room. When I pulled up to park at the clinic there was a group of protesters there that tried to talk to me before I was able to make it in the clinic door. I was a little upset with the fact that these people thought they had some right to put their noses into my business. It was like I was having a hard enough day and the last thing I needed was for picketers to pursue me as though they had my best interests in mind when they didn’t know me or anything about me. I can remember them giving me pamphlets and telling me that most woman that have abortions end up very depressed and in need of counseling due to the fact of not being able to get over the fact that they had the abortion after the fact.
In my experience I had thought extensively about my decision and I didn’t allow anyone to persuade me otherwise. None of my family believes in abortions but they all understood and wasn’t going to hold it against me which I appreciated because I too was against abortion up too that point. When you think about it like you’re taking another’s life it is a little depressing and it’s hard not to question the mentality of the decision. When you’re actually in the situation, and you come to realize that it’s the right choice for you at that time then regardless of how selfish it may appear to people, it appears as a choice you have as an individual a choice no-one has the right to make for you but you. I guess it goes to say you have to be able to walk a mile in someone’s shoes in order to have the right to judge them.
