Abortion is often seen as some kind of horrendous act done by monsters but what proponents of this perception fail to comprehend is the fact that, contrary to popular belief, it is actually relatively common. Average women with the same heart, love and emotions are sometimes forced to abort, and it’s never an easy decision.

 

Whether you choose to abort due to financial, social or personal reasons, you as an individual may feel it is the right thing to do. Who gives anyone else the right to say it is not or even judge you?

 

When looked at from a different point of view, abortion could be seen as the ultimate act of love, responsibility and maturity. It takes a strong woman to realise and accept that she would never, in her current position, be able to be responsible for the life of another human being… and then make one of the most difficult decisions of her life: aborting her own.

 

However, even after 15 years of legalisation in our country, many women, especially young women, still resort to ‘backstreet abortions’. Their decision is made either out of fear of being judged or turned on and rejected. This has resulted in the deaths of many of these women. Yet why is it that those who judge these helpless women aren’t seen as murderers themselves?

 

When it comes to the topic of abortion, society always seems to take the moral high-ground, absolutely crucifying any women for the mere thought of abortion.  Yet it’s that very same society that rapes its women, leaving them pregnant and forced to raise an unwanted child, the same society that violently kills their women without hesitation or remorse. That very same society breaks down women for merely taking responsibility of her life and those around her.

 

What also needs to be understood is that, although you have the right to terminate a pregnancy, you also have the responsibility not to abuse that right. You can’t also use it as some weird and twisted form of contraception. Reckless and unsafe sex has its consequences and if you choose to do so over and over again, your right to an abortion each and every time should be revoked. Yes, mistakes happen… but it’s also up to us to learn from those mistakes. Falling pregnant is more than a mere inconvenience… it can change the lives of many.

 

The topic of abortion is clearly not as black and white as some believe it to be. Instead, there are many extenuating circumstances. Yet this seems to fade in the minds of many as 70% of South Africans perceive abortion as wrong and immoral. Have these very same people ever thought about the reasoning behind it, ever tried to understand what it really entails, physically, emotionally and mentally? What could a woman’s driving force be for an abortion?

 

There are hundreds of reasons that a woman could use to justify such a medical procedure. She might refuse to subject her child to the poverty-enslaved life that she is trapped in, knowing their life would be nothing but a day-to-day struggle to survive. Or choosing to abort, not wanting to bring a child into an abusive and unstable family in which the child could be scared for its life… now wouldn’t that be wrong and irresponsible of a woman to knowingly bring an innocent child into such an context?

 

One of the most crucial things that society needs to realise is that all imposing bans and taboos does is make abortion unsafe.

 

There’s always going to be uproar when it comes to the topic of abortion. It’s purely what you make of it and your understanding. But you do need to remember that you always need to do right by yourself first. Whatever that might be.