I didn’t even fix this one, someone fixed it for me!

“If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.”

The above is a quote by Florynce Kennedy which I recently found in my “Feminism” tag. Now, I am very much against sexism and because of this I am not crazy about the above quote…but I think it raises an interesting point. Abortion is illegal in many states, and in many countries; these states/countries are being lead mostly by men, which by biological limitations usually are incapable of becoming pregnant. Why are people that are probably never going to face this issue/decision in their life, making legal decisions on my behalf? But, as soon as this question runs through my brain I immediately think…No. I disagree with many women who exclude men from the abortion debate, that because they are (usually) incapable of bearing children that they have no place in the discussion - this is a sexist, over simplification of the issue. Yes, whoever’s body is directly involved in the biological development of the child should, in my opinion, have the final say because they are putting their life at risk (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20427256/ns/health-pregnancy/t/more-us-women-dying-childbirth/) however they are not the only opinion. I think the opinion of the father should absolutely be a huge part of the decision making, if maybe not the deciding factor. This brings me back to the original quote “If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.” I really do believe if the men in charge of these countries could understand the responsibility of having a uterus, and all the social rules that come to play in these situations (being a woman, being a pregnant woman, being a pregnant woman who isn’t sure if she wants the baby etc…) they would make more empathetic legal decisions. It’s hard to imagine that kind of pressure put on a woman, I can barely imagine it and I live with my womanhood every damn day.

I really don’t want reproductive issues to drive the sexes/genders apart, but I feel like that is whats happening. Personally, I am a big supporter of choice because I believe in being the only one in charge of my own body and I could never justify criminalizing abortion and sending my fellow sisters back to dark alleyways and dirty “doctors offices” to get illegal abortions. I don’t know if, considering my own morals, if I would be able to get an abortion myself but that opinion and moral dilemma has no place in this discussion - my morals shouldn’t stop you from making your own decision.