In regard to Nik Antovich’s column (“Stage of development crucial to the abortion debate,” ODE April 29), I would like to bring up a key point that is missing from your argument: gender. While I respect your right to have an opinion on this subject, your maleness prohibits you from fully understanding the issue of abortion. Because of this, I feel that you are wielding your influence as a columnist unjustly . Because you can never conceive or give birth, you will also never have to make the difficult decision of whether or not to terminate a pregnancy.
Your biological inability to become pregnant prevents you from completely understanding the physical, psychological, financial and social burdens of pregnancy, birth and child rearing. I mean this as no insult; I would never fault anyone for a flip of the proverbial biological coin. But unless one has experienced pregnancy and/or abortion (or at least has the possibility of experiencing them), one cannot fully empathize with the ramifications of such an experience.
I understand that you may disagree with my accusation, claiming that you do empathize with those who experience unwanted pregnancies. To clarify, let me ask you a few questions. Have you ever sat on toilet, weeping, and prayed “Please, please God let me get my period”? Have you ever become pregnant? Have you ever had to make the heart-wrenching decision between carrying that pregnancy to term or terminating it because of a lack of money, support, education or time? Without these experiences, you cannot fully comprehend why someone would choose abortion. Without these experiences, you cannot fully understand what constitutes a woman’s civil rights. And without these experiences, you cannot fully have empathy for those women who accidentally become pregnant.
In a perfect world, every child would be wanted; society would be supportive of mothers and children, through subsidized childcare, universal health care and humane birthing facilities; women wouldn’t have to choose between motherhood and an education, a career or simple survival. Unfortunately, we do not live in this world. Until we do, abortion must remain a viable option. I hope you will consider these issues the next time you write on the topic of abortion. As someone who is lacking in the most concrete information on the topic, and as a person who influences thousands of people through columns, it is your duty to understand your personal limitations on the
subject and act accordingly.
Makenna Davis
University student
[email protected]
Males’ unable to fully understand the issues surrounding abortion
Daily Emerald
May 5, 2008
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