In 2012, Women Still Die After Delivering the Wrong Baby Or, No Baby
Last month about this time, I tripped over this heartbreaking headline from India: "Childless Woman Hangs Self".
Only recently did I find another "headline tells the tale" about a different but related horror that occurred at just about the same time, in Afghanistan: "Afghan Woman Killed: She Failed to Have Son."
Ooh! There it is again: A wave of pain for that woman. For the world she lives in. For the world I live in. An empathetic ache in the chest, a tightening that squints the eyes and makes my eyebrows diagonal slants of sadness.
In this instance (because surely there are others), soon after a young Afghan woman delivered her third daughter, her husband and his mother strangled and buried her.
Deep in the NY Times story is this tearjerker: "There were signs of torture that led to suspicions [she] had been killed."
Say a prayer. Support organizations like Women For Women or Global Fund for Women. Stay awake and give a damn.
Barbara
7:45 am on Monday, February 27, 2012
Stories like these become even more heartbreaking when they share the news with the horror of people who torture, abuse and murder their own children.
Both sides of the story make me re-read these news items multiple times, because I cannot believe I am reading correctly.
Teresa K.
9:30 am on Monday, February 27, 2012
Makes me wonder what the punishment would be if the Hubby and Mother-in-Law knew that the MAN decides the sex of the baby : )
Dan LaVigne
1:23 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Women take note something similar can happen here. With state legilators and state governors passing laws to restrict medical rights for women. A candiate running for President wants to restrict and possible take away birth control, contraceptes and other medical procedures. This is the time for all women to ban together and make a strong voice to leave all medical descisions to women not politicians
Callie E.
2:16 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
People are so callous and unthinking. I like the blog - short and to the point: give a damn. It's apathy that's ruining our country, you're right Karen!
Callie E.
2:18 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
He does not want to TAKE AWAY birth control. Some birth control IS abortafacient, and many women don't even know it.
Mary B.W
5:20 am on Friday, March 2, 2012
I wish people knew preventing pregnancy makes sense but once a life begins it is a seperate person and not just a medical procedure. It is barbaric just like above story, WWJD?
*
11:52 am on Friday, March 2, 2012
Have you heard of such things as rape and incest? Fun fun!
Mary B.W
8:26 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
Too bad this procedure of ending this life was only used for extreme cases but it is more often used for birth control. It is just sad and the poor women often hurt the rest of their lives after it's done. Sorry to those that have been through it and know you did what you thought was best.
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10:03 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
We all want to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies, but there is no reason to single out abortion among all a woman's reproductive choices as the one choice which is somehow less valid or acceptable than childbirth, adoption, or other reproductive choices. Abortion is a valid personal decision within the continuum of health care.
Opponents of abortion often portray abortion as a negative problem that society should try to eliminate. While we work to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies, abortion is a valid and acceptable reproductive choice. For most women who have made this choice, abortion is not the problem, but is a life-affirming solution to the problem of unplanned pregnancy.
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10:04 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
The belief that there's a certain "type" of woman who chooses abortion is as outdated as it is ignorant.
In fact, by age 45, over one-third of American women will have had an abortion. These women represent all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, political, and religious backgrounds. They are women we know, and women we love. They are our sisters, our daughters, and our mothers.
Chances are, you either know and love a woman who has had an abortion... or you are one yourself. You are not alone, but are in the company of millions of women in this country who have had abortions and not regretted their choice.
*
10:04 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
While those who oppose keeping abortion safe, legal, and accessible can be vocal and aggressive, they do not represent the majority of people in America.
National polls have consistently shown continued support for abortion rights over the years, with more people identifying as pro-choice than "pro-life." A strong majority (60%) of Americans have consistently and strongly voiced support of Roe v. Wade and keeping abortion legal over the past decade.
Most people support keeping abortion a choice for women, because most people understand the importance of respecting and protecting the lives of women.
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10:06 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
The ability to access safe and legal abortion has been critical for many women as they seek to define and live their lives with dignity. Honoring women means honoring their choices, including the choice of whether and when to have children.
Women are capable of making intelligent and conscientious decisions about their own lives and families. Women deserve the autonomy and dignity to act in accordance with their personal convictions, and to decide what is best for their own lives and families. Women should be trusted and respected to exercise the choices about their bodies and lives that are best for them, and not be forced by the government into personal reproductive decisions that are against their will