Abortion/ Contraception: A rant.
Only 3 months into 2012 and I feel like I’ve heard more Republican and religious people whining about contraception and abortions than any other of year of my life.
I’m 22 years old and I started taking birth control when I was 17 years old, not because I was having sex, but because my period’s were really irregular, I was having horrible mood swings and migraines, and all that combined with bad acne. My nurse practitioner recommended the pill as something that could help with all of these things. Now, even though I was a virgin, I am not religious and have never thought that I was going to save myself for marriage and figured it was better safe than sorry, especially since I was planning on starting college the next fall. And sure, it happened, I lost my virginity and I was really glad that I had already been on birth control to begin with.
Once I was 18 and in college, my mom had lost her job and I no longer had health insurance, and then Planned Parenthood was there to save the day, because I wouldn’t be able to afford the birth control pills that I had grown accustomed to. I ended up dating a guy for the last couple years of college and we lived together. I definitely was not ready to have a child at this time, I was busy working on my degree. Planned Parenthood’s teal card pretty much saved my life my Sophomore year of college when I had a kidney infection, but wouldn’t be able to afford the medication or a trip the Emergency Room when it got really bad. Luckily, the teal card was accepted at the University Health Center and they got me on antibiotics, which really did save my life.
Now, fast forward to present day. I’ve got my Bachelor’s degree and I moved back to my hometown and am living with my mother. I’ve been with my boyfriend for over a year (about a year and a half) and I’m trying to figure out the next step in my life. I work for the school district as a substitute teacher currently, getting not enough work and paid $100/ day, which is like $12-$13/ hour. My boyfriend is still going to community college, and gets a decent amount of financial aid, and works retail and just over minimum wage. He lives in his deceased grandparents house while his mother is trying to sell it currently.
WE ARE NOT READY TO START A FAMILY.
This is why I’m on birth control. I still want to be an archaeologist and travel the world. My boyfriend wants to finish his education and figure out his plans for the future with me. However, if by some unlikely chance, I were to get pregnant, it wouldn’t be this easy decision like the GOP makes it sound like it would be.
I feel like these legislators think that when a woman makes the choice to have an abortion, that she didn’t think it through.
If I were to find out that I was pregnant, this is likely what would happen.
1. I freak out and have a bit of an emotional breakdown.
2. I call my boyfriend to let him know.
3. We discuss our options:
4. Option number one: Nip it in the bud, have an abortion, we are not financially stable or emotionally prepared to start a family.
Option number two: Adoption… I honestly admire the strength of the women who go through with this, but I don’t think I’m strong enough. I don’t think I could carry a child inside me for 9 months and just give it away. If I were to go through with a whole pregnancy, I think I’d feel too attached to just give my child away.
Option number three: Suck it up and have the baby. It would completely change my life, but if my boyfriend and I decided we could go through with it, then I would. I’d want to marry him, first of all. Secondly, I’d want him to take out loans from college and to get a second job. Thirdly, I’d get a second job until I couldn’t work due to the pregnancy. Fourthly, I’d want to get our own place with a bedroom set up for our child.
Now, you see what a huge change that would be, if I were to decide to have a child? But at the same time, I think that my boyfriend and I would make an adorable offspring (1/4 Guamanian, 1/4 Turkish, and 1/2 white!?!? So cute!), and I think that if we really decided that we are old enough and mature enough to start a family (like I said, I’m 22, he’s 25), then I would go through with it. I think I would make a pretty good mom, and he could be an awesome dad.
Do you really think that I need state legislator’s to tell me that I haven’t thought through my choice to have an abortion? I know girls who have had them, and it’s not a pleasant experience. But this is a decision for my boyfriend and me to make. I don’t need the government to make it seem like I hadn’t thought through my decision. I’m not even pregnant and I’ve thought about what options I would have if I were! I mean, seriously- they want to show you an ultrasound, listen to it’s heartbeat, they want your doctor to lie to you about your health so you’re less likely to have an abortion.
Please tell me when the government decided that unborn children have more rights than the women who host them. Why do you they feel like it’s their place to make a difficult decision, even MORE difficult? Do they really think that women get pregnant and just willy-nilly decide, whoooop! Abortion time, YAY!
I mean seriously, what the fuck?
And then, all this anti-contraception bull-shit they keep preaching, *ahem RUSH LIMBAUGH ahem*… seriously?? Do you really think that people should just stop having sex until they want children? I’m sorry, but we live in a world where people enjoy making love and casual sex and all sorts of things, and do you really think that every one should stop using contraception? Our world is already on it’s way to being overpopulated and we haven’t got enough money to help those who aren’t privileged enough to have a decent education and healthcare. Why should we let everyone who isn’t ready have children? It just doesn’t make sense to me. Also, if you make it more difficult to obtain contraception, just think how many unplanned pregnancies there would be and how many more women would need abortions? I mean… really, now? Don’t they see how flawed that logic is?
I’m sick of men legislators thinking that they know what’s in the best interest of women’s health. If you’re pro-life, that’s fine, but don’t take away the rights of others. I’m sorry but I want a house, a husband, a stable income and to have traveled to my heart’s content before I start a family, and I should be allowed to wait until I’m ready without having the government calling me a slut and a whore and trying to make my life more difficult just because they think contraception and abortions are immoral. Yeah, well, guess what I think is immoral? Bringing children into this world when we aren’t ready to take care of them, so fuck your morals, I’ve got my own, thank you very much.
Well, I think that’s all. I don’t even care if no one reads this, it’s just been bothering me so much lately, that I needed to rant about it.
