For those who might not understand why demonstrating there is no connection between abortion and depression is important, it has to do with debunking a favorite talking point among anti-choicers. This inaccurate belief was used as part of the legal reasoning in a recent Supreme Court case that made the medically safest procedure for late term abortions unconstitutional:
"The U.S. Supreme Court, while noting that 'we find no reliable data to measure the phenomenon,' cited adverse mental health outcomes for women as part of the rationale for limiting late term abortions," Blum's team wrote.
Now I must go to bed.
Ok--so here's a study I'd like to see:
ReplyDelete...is there a link between depression and having a child (wanted or unwanted)...
oh, excuse me, I forgot: that's called postpartum depression...so, should I not have a child because I might get depressed??
Another question I'd like to see answered:
...is there a link with depression for women with more than one child...
If there is, should we all just have one child?
Isn't all of this in the same game as the question about abortion and depression--women having or not having babies...
But here's what I really think: ...life's big decisions...all of them...have unforeseeable consequences...good and bad...Truly, the question of whether or not there is a link between abortion and depression is rather ridiculous: for some it will but for some it won't. Some were already incredibly depressed, and some will feel tremendous relief. However, again, all life's big decisions: getting married, buying a house, getting divorced have emotional consequences: So, because some of these consequences may include depression, should people not be allowed to do them? Or, is abortion for some reason a special case? Hmmm...it makes me think: just another attempt at paternalistic legislation.
Steph wins the thread! That was one sweet comment. Thoughtful, juicy, and excellent thinking.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It's almost as if there is something else in play...something besides just the daily bruising we experience from "life choices" that causes this particular issue to have spawned such prolific scrutiny for pathology.
Hmmm...could it be that women's reproductive autonomy (hell, our very bodies) make for a powerful and hotly contested battleground?
I'd also like to point out, as one who has had two abortions and felt sad about each of them, that a BIG part of my sadness was sourced by my own internalized notions of what it means to be a female and have a baby, as defined by patriarchy. IOW, after a hefty dose of deprogramming by feminist theory, reminding me that I am a human being first and a womb second, I found a lot of my sadness (about not pursuing the pregnancies) melt away. So, I think I can safely conclude that patriarchal definitions about what it means to be pregnant and have a baby do more to feed the very experiences they seek to overgeneralize about and use as reason to limit reproductive freedoms.
Rock on--isn't this fun!!!
ReplyDelete