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How Do You Think Abortion Is Perceived In Society? (Page 1)

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This question will likely be answered differently based on the country you live in, your background, personal experience etc.

From my experience, abortion is always something that is spoken about in whispers and as if it is a shameful thing. It's not something one admits to having had done themselves in general conversation. If the abortion was for medical reasons then there is usually sympathy and understanding but I find that the subject of elective abortions is still very much a taboo subject and one that causes judgements to be made about the woman in question.

What are your experiences of the attitude to abortion?
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replied September 6th, 2007
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I feel the majority of people would react a somewhat shameful way. Usually when a person says they had an abortion or are going to have one the response is “why” or “oh” or with some kind of word that expresses concern. Even with abortions being legal for as many years that it has, it is still a procedure that most people don’t take lightly. Or shrug off like it’s no big deal.
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replied September 6th, 2007
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Definitely shameful. I remember in high school the worst thing that spread about a certain girl- "She's had three abortions, you know...."

Having an abortion=being a slut.

I wonder how that will be censored. Wink
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replied September 6th, 2007
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I think it depends as much on location as country its in. I am orginally from the Pacific Northwest area of the United States; Washington State in fact and the general attitude was that it is a womans choice but if you were to go to say Missouri and say you'd had an abortion your likely to be socially lynched if not actually lynched.

unfortunately many equate having had an abortion with 'loose' behavior but those same goody goods who look down finely pointed noses are the same ones who cluck self rightously at an unmarried pregnant women/girl who is nearby. They turn a blind eye to the kid next door having a black eye and titter in after church gossip groups about what nelly next door did last night and she's on her third boyfriend this week!!! did you see her skirt is a bit tight? Doc brenson says she's pregnant... yada yada yada..

Seems like its entirely an area affect.
The closer you get the bible belt in the U.S. the farther rational though and respect for personal business goes away..
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replied September 6th, 2007
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I think many of you are right about how abortions are discussed out loud in society, but I think in people's private thoughts, most of them are grateful that abortion is legal, and the thought of it being outlawed horrifies them.
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replied September 6th, 2007
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I have to admit that although i have always considered myself to be pro-choice, I am guilty of having once attached negative connotations to the idea of a woman I knew actually having one. I no longer feel that way, but it always seemed when i was young it was some ficticious person having the procedure, not someone I knew. Then Someone I knew had one, and I discovered that even people who aren't promiscuous and don't sleep around have abortions. Embarassed So I think that many people have this stigma, even prochoice (not everone, but I think it still exists). It is unfortunate.
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replied September 6th, 2007
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I think that it might have to do with age and experience too, as we get older and experience people who actually have to go through these things we get wiser and less judgmental. It's easy to say lots of things are wrong when you're a kid and idealistic.

I was a VERY idealistic kid. Smile
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replied September 6th, 2007
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Georgia59 wrote:
I think that it might have to do with age and experience too, as we get older and experience people who actually have to go through these things we get wiser and less judgmental. It's easy to say lots of things are wrong when you're a kid and idealistic.

I was a VERY idealistic kid. Smile


I'm not idealistic and I have never changed my mind about what I think of abortion nor it will ever change. And I have grown older and wiser already and still think abortion is WRONG.
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replied September 6th, 2007
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Georgia59 wrote:
I think that it might have to do with age and experience too, as we get older and experience people who actually have to go through these things we get wiser and less judgmental. It's easy to say lots of things are wrong when you're a kid and idealistic.

I was a VERY idealistic kid. Smile


I think you are right. When we are young we are full of black and white clear cut answers; as time goes and we gain knowledge and maturity we realize there is very little black and white but many shades of grey.
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replied September 6th, 2007
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By society, I feel abortion is accepted as a necessary thing. I refuse to say "evil" because that attaches a religious morality to it.

No, I don't think most people like abortion. Death is involved, death of a thing that could become a baby. That's not pretty, it's not nice.

But like viewing an art gallery about the Civil Rights Movement, we realize that although abortion is not a beautiful thing, it is still needed and it is still important in so many ways.

Abortion is hard to look at and discuss. However, I think that many people who get a chance to talk to a woman who aborted come away from the conversation with a quiet layer of respect in their minds - if their minds are open.
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replied September 7th, 2007
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nightangel73 wrote:
Georgia59 wrote:
I think that it might have to do with age and experience too, as we get older and experience people who actually have to go through these things we get wiser and less judgmental. It's easy to say lots of things are wrong when you're a kid and idealistic.

I was a VERY idealistic kid. Smile


I'm not idealistic and I have never changed my mind about what I think of abortion nor it will ever change. And I have grown older and wiser already and still think abortion is WRONG.


How old are you?
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replied September 7th, 2007
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She's like 32 or something.
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replied May 20th, 2009
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I HATE to dig this up BUT..

I was just reading an article on an online magamize today and it said according to gallop poles more Americans are now personally pro-life while being politically pro-choice.

On a personal level most don't want to ever have to deal with it but wants it around just in case someone needs it.
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replied May 20th, 2009
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Phenicks wrote:
I HATE to dig this up BUT..

I was just reading an article on an online magamize today and it said according to gallop poles more Americans are now personally pro-life while being politically pro-choice.

On a personal level most don't want to ever have to deal with it but wants it around just in case someone needs it.


And you can bet that when it is them, and the situation in which they never expected to find themselves happens, they will be pro-choice for themselves as well.
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replied May 20th, 2009
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I'm one of them and I can tell you right now the opportunity came and I had my son. Most children born in the US aren't planned so yeah, that should be your obvious answer.
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replied May 20th, 2009
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oopoopoop wrote:
Phenicks wrote:
I HATE to dig this up BUT..

I was just reading an article on an online magamize today and it said according to gallop poles more Americans are now personally pro-life while being politically pro-choice.

On a personal level most don't want to ever have to deal with it but wants it around just in case someone needs it.


And you can bet that when it is them, and the situation in which they never expected to find themselves happens, they will be pro-choice for themselves as well.


Just because someone has an unplanned pregnancy, it doesn't mean they would abort. It doesn't matter if they're pro-life or pro-choice.

Some pro-choicers probably say they are pro-life for themselves because they probably HAVE been in that situation and couldn't stand the thought of aborting THEIR unborn offspring!
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replied May 21st, 2009
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Having the choice to abort, doesn't mean you will. EVERYONE is pro-choice for themselves -- and some CHHOSE not to abort.
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replied May 21st, 2009
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For some regardless of what the laws or anyone else says abortion isn't an option because of the way they view it personally.

I got offended, downright upset at the offer of abortion when my pregnancy and my crohn's went head on. Asking me "what are you going to do" as a friend if I tell you I'm pregnant is an insult to me because I'd never do it many people don't feel as strong about as I do but most whoa re pro-life for themselves may feel like an embryo/fetus or zygote in THEIR bodies is THEIR baby and an abortion to US would mean killing a child.

Different folk have different definitions and those folk who are personally pro-life yet politically pro-choice simply don't take our self convictions and throw them into the lives of others via legislation.
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replied May 21st, 2009
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Someone who claims they are "pro-life for themself, but pro-choice for everyone else" is essentially saying they would like to have a law prohibitting them, specifically, from having an abortion, while leaving the option available to everyone else. That is just nonsensical. If you are pro-choice, then that is that. YOUR choice might be never to abort under any circumstances, but why should you object to the choice being available to you?

For me, I am pro-abortion for myself, and pro-choice for everyone else. I would never, under any circumstances, not abort.
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replied May 21st, 2009
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oopoopoop wrote:
Someone who claims they are "pro-life for themself, but pro-choice for everyone else" is essentially saying they would like to have a law prohibitting them, specifically, from having an abortion, while leaving the option available to everyone else. That is just nonsensical. If you are pro-choice, then that is that. YOUR choice might be never to abort under any circumstances, but why should you object to the choice being available to you?

For me, I am pro-abortion for myself, and pro-choice for everyone else. I would never, under any circumstances, not abort.


Um, then that would make you pro-CHOICE for yourself also because you would CHOOSE to abort. If you can be Pro-abortion for yourself, then that means others can be ANTI-abortion for themselves even if they do support other women's choices.

Since a person can be anti-abortion for themselves, then that person CAN be pro-life for themselves. That means they are FOR the LIFE of their unborn offspring.
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