On maternal deaths

I was raised from the perspective that pregnancy can be avoided and that it is smart and forward thinking to prevent unwanted pregnancies until one is emotionally and financially stable enough to raise a child. I don't know whether or not my mother has ever considered herself a feminist. While she might not be as politically vocal as I am, she is above all else, exceedingly practical.

When I was a teen she was never interested in passing moral judgments on whether or not I was sexually active. (I've never discussed the Purity Ball with her, but I'm certain she would find it just as disturbing as I do.) Moreover, she respected the fact that I own my sexuality, and as such it's no ones right to pass judgment. Her concern was making sure I had the knowledge necessary to protect myself against disease and unplanned pregnancy. She drilled it into my brain and I am extremely grateful to her for doing so. She respected my autonomy and made it clear that only I am capable of taking responsibility for my actions.

Christian evangelicals refuse to look at the devastating effects an unplanned pregnancy can have on the course of woman's life-heck, on her entire family. This article in BBC News put if very succinctly when one man was quoted as saying, "Women were too often seen as "containers" for babies and nothing more." After the jump the article is on the lack of progress made on maternal death in the past 20 years.

The article citing a study on global maternal death rates by Harvard professor Ken Hill. Also cited was a separate study on abortion by Dr Iqbal Shah from the World Health Organization. That study showed that the number of abortions taking place in "unsafe" conditions has remained the same. In other words it backs up what the pro-choice movement has known for years. That is, if you make abortion illegal it won't prevent abortions from taking place. It will just make them more dangerous.

But I want to go back to that comment referring to women as "containers". It rings true in regard to the "pro-life" movement. They place so much emphasis on a group of cells that they disregard the life of the mother in question. They disregard her as an individual, who is really the only one qualified to make the decision in question. All emphasis is placed on that group of cells-even before the fertilized egg is implanted. This attitude only continues to objectify women. And then after the baby is born the political conservatives in the US abandon both mother and child.

Can't afford this weeks groceries or don't have health insurance? Well buck up girlie! Maybe you shouldn't have gotten yourself knocked up in the first place. What's that? The condom broke? Too bad! You were raped? Oh well! Work harder, get a better education and a second or third job, but stop your damn complaining and don't expect handouts!