The thing that drives me crazy is how it is a fact -- women are not valued as highly as men; in business, in government, in courts, anywhere in society. YET, when it may be that someone is actively CHOSING A CHILD based upon that value, well, the shit hits that fan. Worried about gender selection? Fights for women's equality. Tax dowries. sm
Most middle-of-the-roaders on abortion accept it in some cases: rape, incest, risk to life or health of the woman, fetal deformity.
But then the all-pervasive misogyny kicks in.
How do we know a woman is telling the truth about rape or incest? Does it have to be violent rape?
How do we know a woman's health is really endangered? Should a woman be evaluated by more than one doctor to make sure?
What about mental health as a reason? Does a woman have to attempt suicide or just threaten it?
How bad does fetal deformity have to be? Is anencephaly (i.e. having no brain and no chance of survival) a good enough reason? (Nope, according to the Vatican Taliban.)
How handicapped, dependent, limited, distorted a life does the fetus have to face?
How mocked, vilified and shunned will its existence be?
If, simply by virtue of a genetic 'mishap', the fetus will face relentless, lifelong, murderous hatred, is that a good enough reason?
In many benighted places in the world, the genetic mishap of having XX chromosomes IS a good enough reason. I wonder how many women forced to abort a female fetus are quietly happy that they have spared one from a life like theirs.
