silver

Because my reading comprehension falls to approximately Grade 1 levels when I try to read on the computer, let me state this bluntly: I am pro-choice.

*exhales*

Alright. Here's why.

Someone on wtf_sexism  said awhile ago (paraphrased) that they were pro-choice because it's not their place to make others' decisions. And that's it, spot-on for me: the choice, and the individuality.

Firstly, I dislike the pro-life movement because it throws a big, generalized solution over what is actually incredibly variable circumstances. There isn't room for a what-if scenario. No abortion. Regardless of the thousands of factors that affect who we are: wealth, position, education, relationship with significant other, family, friends, peers, geographical location, belief systems and world-views--a pro-life stance puts a "Don't do an abortion" action on it.

And for me, someone who's been raised in a society that values the right to a fair trial, to an impartial judge, to punishment that is adjusted according to the act, and most specifically, to treating each case individually, the pro-life stance jars me. There are no two identical cases, and I believe that because of that, we cannot apply the same action to both blindly. If after considering both cases, the same action--say, $300 fine--is deemed to be a the best idea, then by all means apply it. But just slapping on "action A happens and triggers action B automatically" doesn't cut it for me. Pro-choice, though, leaves two roads open. There is room for flexibility and individual case-by-case analysis.

This does link back to the feminism post I made: that feminism, in my mind, can be summed up in one word: choice. (As in, a housewife is just as much a feminist as a career woman, as long as they've chosen that path.) You either have choice, or you don't. Having restrictions on what you can choose makes it not a choice. I do not want to make choices like this for other women because you know what? It's not my life. I will not be dealing with repercussions, whether it comes from others or from within yourself. It won't be me who has to explain to others, to go out everyday having decided to or not to carry a child. It's not my life. Therefore, I don't see a justification that would allow me to waltz in and pluck that choice out of someone's hands. Who am I to make a life-changing choice for someone who I may not even meet, when passing laws about this topic?


That is why I am pro-choice. This post, you may notice, refers Not At All as to the sanctity of life as a fetus/zygote.