A World Without Abortions
by Rebecca Rivero
Hi, my name is Rebecca and I have a lot of thoughts on how to make people’s lives better. Better in the sense that they can enjoy it more, are generally more happy as well as open about their other emotions. I want to help people learn how to express themselves and feel accomplished by simply being an individual. There is a good chance that you agree with me.
However, I am starting to learn that to enact widespread social change, I have to talk to people who might not. I believe that the most effective way to do this is to start by meeting people where they are at and then showing them the rest of the spectrum. I could start by thinking about what we have in common and what goals we have that are in line with one another. It is my objective to find something to agree on with even the individuals where that simple task might be difficult. Sometimes it is as simple taking on a new perspective.
Say for example that an individual or group would like there to be less abortions or none at all. I would have to agree with them wholeheartedly. I agree because I would love to see a world where no woman would ever think to have one performed on her. I don’t particularly think any woman has ever truly enjoyed being presented with a reason to have an abortion nor did they enjoy the aborting process. I would like to hear the perspective of those women if they exist. A world where our health systems and medical resources were so good that a woman would never have to have an abortion to save her life would be extraordinary. A world without any thought of abortion would also have no rape, or unwanted sexual experiences of any kind, only sex that comes from informed consent. All individuals who want to be on birth control would need to have easy access to safe, effective, environmentally friendly, and affordable male and female contraception. We would need to destigmatize sex both for the judgement placed upon it and the media’s depiction of what it is supported to be. Maybe then everyone can have a good idea of what they want and what they have to offer as an individual and not in terms of their worth as a sexual object. Also, for their to be no more abortions, no one would ever force a woman to get an abortion for any reason. Simply put if only women who wanted to be pregnant were, and these women got to remain so under healthy and safe conditions, I do not think we would need to argue about if abortions should be legal. In an informed, communicative, consensual society, there would never be any unwanted pregnancies.
I want to learn how to bring up and discuss potentially triggering or argumentative topics in a way that is well received regardless of with whom I am speaking . It is in the act of presenting challenging solutions to another’s problem where we will be the most considered. It is thinking about solutions in general that will lead us towards them.
However, I am starting to learn that to enact widespread social change, I have to talk to people who might not. I believe that the most effective way to do this is to start by meeting people where they are at and then showing them the rest of the spectrum. I could start by thinking about what we have in common and what goals we have that are in line with one another. It is my objective to find something to agree on with even the individuals where that simple task might be difficult. Sometimes it is as simple taking on a new perspective.
Say for example that an individual or group would like there to be less abortions or none at all. I would have to agree with them wholeheartedly. I agree because I would love to see a world where no woman would ever think to have one performed on her. I don’t particularly think any woman has ever truly enjoyed being presented with a reason to have an abortion nor did they enjoy the aborting process. I would like to hear the perspective of those women if they exist. A world where our health systems and medical resources were so good that a woman would never have to have an abortion to save her life would be extraordinary. A world without any thought of abortion would also have no rape, or unwanted sexual experiences of any kind, only sex that comes from informed consent. All individuals who want to be on birth control would need to have easy access to safe, effective, environmentally friendly, and affordable male and female contraception. We would need to destigmatize sex both for the judgement placed upon it and the media’s depiction of what it is supported to be. Maybe then everyone can have a good idea of what they want and what they have to offer as an individual and not in terms of their worth as a sexual object. Also, for their to be no more abortions, no one would ever force a woman to get an abortion for any reason. Simply put if only women who wanted to be pregnant were, and these women got to remain so under healthy and safe conditions, I do not think we would need to argue about if abortions should be legal. In an informed, communicative, consensual society, there would never be any unwanted pregnancies.
I want to learn how to bring up and discuss potentially triggering or argumentative topics in a way that is well received regardless of with whom I am speaking . It is in the act of presenting challenging solutions to another’s problem where we will be the most considered. It is thinking about solutions in general that will lead us towards them.
